The Winston-Salem Journal published an op-ed over the weekend from Joseph Coletti, Director of Health and Fiscal Policy Studies, outlining nearly $2 billion in cuts the General Assembly could make to North Carolina’s state budget. This weekend the Greensboro News & Record will publish a column from Coletti on the benefits of state-level health care deregulation. Coletti also released a new Spotlight report this week comparing targeted tax incentives to the lottery. WittySparks.com highlighted a video of Coletti discussing the report. The America Unbound business policy blog promoted a different video clip of Coletti discussing how North Carolina tax policy affects unemployment. Meanwhile, a News & Observer story about Raleigh City Council’s decision to shovel more money toward convention center subsidies mentioned the John Locke Foundation’s criticism of those subsidies. Michael Sanera, the chief critic of convention center incentives, also contributed an op-ed today to the N&O critiquing plans for so-called high-speed rail in North Carolina. Sanera attracted attention from N.C. Senate Republicans for his recent CJ column debunking rail myths. A Greensboro News & Record editorial on the recent N.C. Supreme Court decision regarding decades-old life prison sentences quoted Daren Bakst, John Locke Foundation Director of Legal and Regulatory Studies. Meanwhile, Bakst’s recent work comparing the costs of nuclear and solar energy continues to attract attention. Italy’s leading financial daily, Il Sole 24 Ore, covered the issue, and the most recent Heritage Foundation Insider Online featured Bakst’s report. Meanwhile, several pro-solar power websites have featured a video clip of Bakst discussing the report, including New Solar Power, Go Solar Power for Homes, and DIY Solar Cells Guide. Bakst also submitted comments (PDF link) this week to the N.C. Utilities Commission in a case involving thermal energy and poultry waste.
