An Independent Weekly article this week on the N.C. House budget plan quoted extensively from John Hood’s Daily Journal column outlining a potential scenario for finalizing this year’s state budget negotiations. Speaking of Hood’s daily column, N.C. Senate Republicans promoted in their press emails Hood’s columns on conspiracy theories, forced annexation, and silly Democratic claims about potential state job losses linked to Republican budget plans. The state GOP also highlighted the column on silly Democratic job claims. Hood’s contributions this week to National Review Online’s primary blog, “The Corner,” included observations on both important policy issues — such as the nation’s fiscal and economic problems — and minor trivia such as Britain’s recent royal wedding.