John Hood's Syndicated Weekly Column | 2013 Archive
June
Jun. 21th — Tax Reform Takes a Good TurnThe House tax plan puts us on the road to the right destination. The new Senate tax plan puts us even further down that road. Let’s make the journey as short as possible.
Jun. 14th — Medicaid Costs Are ExplodingDuring the past year, North Carolinians have heard many things about Obamacare, Medicaid, and health care reform that turned out to be untrue.
Jun. 7th — House Offers Broad Tax CutMore than 80 percent of North Carolina households would pay less state tax under the House plan than they currently do, including all households below $40,000 in income.
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May
May. 31st — Carolina Needs Capital IdeasWhat our economy needs now is more capitalism — by which I mean more risk-takers willing to invest their private capital in new and existing enterprises in North Carolina.
May. 24th — Reform Case in Four NumbersIn the spirit of keeping things simple, the case for reforming North Carolina’s medical-assistance programs can be expressed in four numbers: 12, 15, 17, and 48.
May. 17th — NC Activists Need Teachable TuesdaysTo use your body to obstruct the operation of government, and then to object when the police arrest and charge you for the crime, is to engage in uncivil disobedience.
May. 10th — Conservative Case for Spending MoreWe can have better roads, and thus a healthier economy in the long run, without raising taxes.
May. 3rd — In the Absence of ArgumentOn the top issue facing North Carolina, economic growth, it is difficult to argue that Republican policies have failed when they are, at most, two years old.
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April
Apr. 26th — Governor Should Be Mr. Fix-ItTo assume that governors or presidents must make their political careers with new spending, however, is to reveal the usual bias of the insiders and commentators who make up the political class.
Apr. 19th — Research Guides Policy InitiativesTo the extent Gov. McCrory and state lawmakers can reform the state tax code to reduce marginal tax rates, especially on private capital formation, North Carolina’s economy will likely show immediate, significant improvement.
Apr. 12th — Medicaid Reform Holds PromiseThere are many unknowns regarding the proposal Gov. Pat McCrory announced last week to use competitive contracting to reform North Carolina’s Medicaid program. But what I do know about it suggests the governor is heading in the right direction.
Apr. 5th — Time to Fix Our InterstatesMotorists can cover the cost of a better, safer, and less-congested system as long as the state sets firm priorities and embraces new ideas.
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March
Mar. 29th — A Good First Fiscal StepThe idea that a new governor might be willing to make his reputation on cleaning up the messes left by his predecessors, rather than create new signature messes of his own, may seem novel in political terms.
Mar. 22nd — A Modest Proposal on Electric PowerEven windmills and solar panels fail to maximize the potential creation of job years from high-cost electricity.
Mar. 15th — For Many Happy ReturnsThese are among the reasons why tax reform is a bit like a TV meteorologist. That is, it looks great from afar, or on a low-resolution screen.
Mar. 8th — NC Progress Requires GrowthThe main levers that state and local policymakers can operate to boost economic growth in the short run involve the cost of doing business in the private sector.
Mar. 1st — Don't Overdose on GovernmentIn public policy, the distinction between what is valuable on average and what is valuable at the margin often mirrors the distinction between progressives and conservatives.
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February
Feb. 22nd — Seasons of Change in CarolinaThe great political drama that is Republican rule in Raleigh has only just begun its first act. It's a bit early to start writing reviews of it.
Feb. 15th — Saying No Is A StartRepeal is impossible while Obama is president. But Congress may find it necessary to revisit key provisions of what will soon be revealed as an unworkable law.
Feb. 8th — No Time to Relive Glory DaysWhile you are reliving your high-school glory days, the rest of us are trying to win some games this season. Mind if we get back to it?
Feb. 1st — A Freedom Agenda for NCNorth Carolina should reclaim our heritage and resume our leadership in the cause of liberty. Let’s be “First in Freedom” once more.
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January
Jan. 25th — Breaking Up Is Hard to DoBut there is no reason why North Carolina students, families, educators, and policymakers must live with the negative consequences of past political decisions.
Jan. 18th — May I Speak to Mr. Locke?If John Locke, that dogged champion of empiricism, were alive today, he would encourage us to accept reality as it is, not as we wish it might be.
Jan. 11th — Let's Reform Judicial ElectionsState lawmakers should repeal the government-funding system entirely and restore party labels to our statewide judicial races.
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