How McCrory gets judged
Pat McCrory will likely run for reelection next year as governor of North Carolina against longtime Attorney General Roy Cooper. Both men are capable candidates who will run skillful, well-funded... Read More
NC SPIN Posts by John Hood
Stick with fiscal discipline
As you may have heard, there is good news out of the state capital: General Fund revenue is now projected to grow significantly faster than budget officials and legislative staffers had once thought... Read More
Taxes about to drop again
Because of tough decisions made by the General Assembly and Gov. Pat McCrory, North Carolina’s payroll tax is expected to drop by about $280 million in 2016 and as much as $700 million by 2017. What... Read More
Starting point on road funds
Republican lawmakers in Raleigh have spent the past several months grappling with two conflicting desires: 1) addressing the demonstrable need to repair and expand North Carolina’s system of roads... Read More
Fallacies impede sound policy
Those who advocate rational public policy, based on a thorough understanding of the principles of human action and the benefits of voluntary exchange, are bound to be disappointed much of the time... Read More
Bond bite is too big
Interest rates are low. There are very real needs for public capital spending across North Carolina, resulting from years of inadequate facility maintenance and an ever-increasing population. At the... Read More
Please raise this tax
Never let it be said that I am against all tax increases. Please raise the tax on state and local government bonds – immediately. The federal tax deduction on these bonds has a fiscal impact of... Read More
Budget crisis didn't occur
A funny thing has happened on the way to North Carolina’s great budget crisis of 2015. Well, strictly speaking, what happened is funny if you are on the Right side of the political spectrum. If you... Read More
Individual freedom
Have you been eating right? Getting enough exercise? How far away are you from your ideal weight? You may think that I have no business asking you such personal questions, but I beg to differ. Privacy... Read More
Serious people make silly claim
North Carolina routinely routes tax dollars to private service providers — both directly, in the form of Medicaid reimbursements and college tuition grants, as well as indirectly, in the form of... Read More
