JLF president analyzes state political developments and other items of interest

The Charlotte Business Journal interviewed John Hood about the Queen City’s growing role in state politics. (“Charlotte is going to matter more in state politics than it used to,” said John Hood, president of the John Locke Foundation, which tracks state government. “More so than 10 years ago, when it was taken for granted. The Charlotte area got hit pretty hard (during the recession). That refocused attention that you can’t assume urban and suburban growth and just worry about rural growth (across the state). You have to worry about both.”) N.C. Senate Republicans promoted in their daily press emails this week Hood’s columns on important numbers in state public policy debates, questionable claims about film incentives, and bad news for supporters of rail transit.

The Durham Herald-Sun, Asheville Citizen-Times, High Point Enterprise, Dunn Daily Record, Carteret County News-Times, and Forest City Daily Courier are among the publications that published an N.C. Spin column from Tom Campbell citing Carolina Journal Associate Editor Dan Way‘s article on North Carolina’s state budget stalemate. NCPoliticalNews.com promoted two recent articles from Way about the N.C. Senate’s Medicaid reform plan. NCPoliticalNews.com also cited Way’s article on recent Obamacare court decisions. The Senate GOP promoted one of the Medicaid articles in their daily press email.

The Duplin Times and Kernersville News published Associate Editor Michael Lowrey‘s column on sales tax proposals in Mecklenburg and Guilford counties. NCPoliticalNews.com promoted Lowrey’s article on a recent court ruling involving traffic stops and drug-sniffing dogs.

The Greensboro News & Record published both a column and letter responding to Donna Martinez’s recent column panning teacher tenure. Philanthropy Daily cited Associate Editor Barry Smith‘s “Locker Room” blog entry on North Carolina’s decision to replace Common Core public school standards. N.C. Senate Republicans highlighted Smith’s article on a state audit raising questions about excessive spending from a former Tarboro city manager.

N.C. History Project Founding Director Troy Kickler addressed the Davidson County Tea Party group this week on the theme “Why The Constitution Is Essential.” A Wilmington Star-News article on the fight over state film incentives cited the John Locke Foundation. A Washington Post article and graphic on state budget director Art Pope also mentioned JLF.