As North Carolina continues to struggle with an official unemployment rate near 10 percent — and a much higher level of real unemployment — government officials continue to pursue policies that slow economic recovery. Joseph Coletti, John Locke Foundation Director of Health and Fiscal Policy Studies, dissected some of the those counterproductive government policies, including targeted tax breaks and grants, during radio appearances during the past week with Bill LuMaye on WPTF and Lockwood Phillips on WTKF. Coletti also learned that the American Legislative Exchange Council accepted his model legislation dubbed the Patients First Medicaid Reform Act. It would “put patients in charge of their care and provide them incentives to control their medical dollars.” On the health care front, the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader picked up a report quoting Coletti on the impending federal insurance changes for Americans up to 26 years old. North Carolina’s Associated Press also interviewed Coletti for an upcoming report on fall sales-tax referendums scheduled across North Carolina. The Cary News interviewed Michael Sanera, Director of Research and Local Government Studies, for an article that discusses his critique of a recent global warming resolution in Apex. The Tampa Tribune interviewed Sanera for a story about light-rail plans. Tampa is considering a program modeled after Charlotte’s LYNX line. Sanera enlightened WLTT Radio’s morning show audience during an appearance this week with Chad Adams, and he will join Bill LuMaye on WPTF this afternoon to discuss Garner’s refusal to allow a developer to reduce the number of bricks used on the front of newly built houses. Roy Cordato, Vice President for Research and Resident Scholar, continues to attract attention for his comments suggesting that President Obama’s anti-recessionary policies represent a case of “George W. Bush on steroids.” After the vice president picked up the Bush-on-steroids theme, a CarolinaJournal.tv video clip of Cordato discussing the topic attracted attention from the Joe Biden Videos website. The Eagle Forum and Moral Liberal websites promoted an article quoting Terry Stoops, Director of Education Studies, reacting to North Carolina’s win in the latest Race to the Top federal education grant competition. Daren Bakst, Director of Legal and Regulatory Studies, reports that his official public comment on whether the N.C. Utilities Commission can change state law to allow thermal power from biomass to count toward Senate Bill 3’s renewable energy requirements has prompted responses. Follow that discussion here. NC Rumors picked up today’s Carolina Journal Online interview with Bakst about a new state law mandating DNA collection from people arrested on certain felony charges. The Heritage Foundation’s Insider Online and Watchdog.org promoted Randal O’Toole’s new JLF Spotlight report on public transit in North Carolina.
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