RALEIGH — For more than a decade, the North Carolina General Assembly has pursued a prudent and successful strategy of making our state one of the best places in the country to live, work, and invest.
All in Opinion
Holdover Biden FTC Rules Need Congressional and White House Attention
Tens of thousands of new small businesses open every year in the Tar Heel state. The North Carolinians behind these businesses embody the American Dream.
Op-Ed: Offshore wind energy is good for N.C., U.S.
As North Carolina looks to strengthen its economy and energy security, offshore wind presents a smart opportunity for economic growth and job creation. With over $10 billion in private investment already fueling the U.S. offshore wind supply chain, this industry is proving to be a driver of local business development, manufacturing expansion, and workforce growth
John Hood: Andrew Jackson Was No Protectionist
Shortly before Donald Trump’s return to the White House, staffers made sure to rehang an Andrew Jackson portrait that Joe Biden had removed. Trump described America’s seventh president as “a very tough person” who nevertheless had “a big heart.”
Jackson and Bipartisan Coalition Urge FDA to Take Action Against Counterfeit Drug Sellers
RALEIGH – Today, Attorney General Jeff Jackson and 37 bipartisan Attorneys General called on the Food and Drug Administration to stop bad actors from selling harmful counterfeit versions of popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound or illegally selling active ingredients of those drugs online.
How the government gives away millions to the liquor industry—and what you can do about it
It’s no secret the U.S. government is fraught with waste, fraud, and abuse. Still, the headlines about various boondoggles unearthed by Elon Musk’s D.O.G.E. are startling. It’s one thing to know that our taxpayer dollars could be better spent, but seeing it all brought to light is another entirely
Governor Stein Highlights Public Safety Priorities at Rehabilitation & Reentry Conference
(RALEIGH) Governor Stein joined the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, elected officials, law enforcement, and advocates at the North Carolina Rehabilitation and Reentry Conference to reaffirm North Carolina’s commitment to enhancing reentry processes to promote public safety, reduce recidivism, and improve outcomes.
John Hood: Strong economies are also messy
RALEIGH — According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, North Carolina businesses shed nearly 920,000 jobs over the latest 12-month period. Do you find that astounding? Disturbing? Terrifying?
John Hood: Why North Carolinians Downsized Governors
RALEIGH — There are many critters designated by law to symbolize North Carolina. For example, we have an official state bird (red cardinal), reptile (eastern box turtle), horse (colonial Spanish mustang), mollusk (Scotch bonnet), dog (Plott Hound), and mammal (eastern gray squirrel), as well as two state amphibians (the marbled salamander and Pine Barrens tree frog).
Op-Ed: Expand Access to Anti-Obesity Medications to Improve Lives, Reduce Long Term Costs
Obesity rates are skyrocketing in our nation. In the last two decades, obesity has doubled among American adults. Despite the growing consensus and greater understanding of the disease, many people continue to view obesity as a lifestyle choice or personal failure. It’s important to understand that for many Americans, obesity is not a choice. It’s a chronic disease that affects every layer of a patient’s life.
Op-Ed: Senator Lazzara's take on rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug
Nowadays, it’s easy for important information on key issues to get lost. That’s why I am glad that Senator Michael Lazzara took the time to highlight the significance of rescheduling cannabis in his op-ed, “Rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug.” With growing evidence that cannabis has many therapeutic benefits, we cannot ignore the reality that cannabis-based treatments work.
Op-Ed: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Although the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tried to address the high cost of prescription drugs, this Forbes article rightly points out the unintended consequences of its "pill penalty.” In the short term, this pill penalty raises the cost of prescription tablets and capsules; in the long term, it stifles important pharmaceutical innovation and research into convenient, easy-to-use pills.
State audit exposes NCInnovation’s transparency problem
On March 13, the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor released its performance audit of NCInnovation (NCI), a state-backed private nonprofit created to help commercialize research from North Carolina universities.
NC moves to rein in bureaucratic power with REINS Act and CON repeal
North Carolina is one of several states considering passage of the REINS Act, which would require that rules and regulation set by state agencies with an economic impact of $1 million or more in one year be codified by the state legislature.
Op-Ed: This TikTok Feature Actually Makes You Smarter
For years, critics have accused tech of "rotting young minds." But in an unexpected twist, TikTok has quietly rolled out a feature that's doing the opposite: making kids smarter.
Senator Michael Lazzara: Rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug
I have countless Veterans in my district and am a Veteran myself and have long championed policies that promote economic growth, public safety, and personal freedom. That’s why I side with President Trump on rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug—a move that would not only facilitate research opportunities in the industry but also establish better regulatory frameworks for businesses and consumers alike.
John Hood: Pacesetting States Offer Growth Lessons
RALEIGH — North Carolina is one of the fastest-growing states in the country. If present trends continue, we’ll surpass Georgia and become the eighth-most-populous state by 2030. There’s even an outside chance we’ll overtake seventh-ranked Ohio.
Governor's proposed budget does not fully fund state retirement system
(Raleigh, N.C.) — State Treasurer Brad Briner is responding to the budget proposal put forward by Gov. Josh Stein today:
John Hood: Set Clear Priorities for Road Funding
RALEIGH — In recent weeks, I’ve written several columns flagging areas where North Carolina lags behind other states. We don’t do a good job of providing patients access to telehealth services, for example, and our education system — previously among the best in the country in converting public investment into reading and math performance — has tumbled in the rankings since the school shutdowns of the COVID era.
Leader Reives Statement on DEI Legislation
"This Session's focus on DEI is the same tired playbook we have seen year after year from Republican Leadership: Find a cultural issue that national Republicans are using to divide people and bring it to North Carolina,"