I’m glad some members of Congress are finally looking into the harmful effects Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) have on patients, especially when it comes to the out-of-pocket costs that come along with many prescription drugs and treatments.
All in Opinion
Governor Cooper Statement in Response to General Assembly Election Bills
Governor Roy Cooper issued the following statement on the General Assembly's passage of Senate Bill 747 Elections Law Changes, which the General Assembly passed on Wednesday night, as well as other harmful bills also currently being pushed by extreme MAGA Republican legislators, Senate Bill 749 and House Bill 772:
John Hood: Budget delay strengthens case for limits
RALEIGH — House Speaker Tim Moore told reporters last week that the North Carolina General Assembly is unlikely to craft and approve a state budget deal before Labor Day. That’s more than two months into the 2023-24 fiscal year that began July 1.
Murphy introduces the senior citizens' freedom to work act
Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03), introduced the Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act. This legislation repeals the retirement earnings test (RET), which reduces benefits for Social Security beneficiaries who claim early retirement but choose to continue working and make above a certain threshold.
Attorney General Josh Stein: The General Assembly is Failing North Carolinians
(RALEIGH) Attorney General Josh Stein today released the following statement as the North Carolina General Assembly continues to delay passing a budget that helps North Carolina families.
Op-Ed: Proposed budget language removing boundary limits on hospital authorities is bad policy
The state budget proposal currently being negotiated by House and Senate leaders contains language that would allow local hospital authorities to expand unfairly throughout the state. This is a bad idea.
John Hood: State economy rests on diverse portfolio
RALEIGH — The late Harry Markowitz, who won the 1990 Nobel prize in economics for his work on portfolio theory, reportedly said “diversification is the only free lunch” in investing. By distributing your savings across a broad base of stocks, bonds, and other asset classes, you maximize long-term gains and minimize risk — assuming that the performance of the assets in question isn’t strongly correlated.
OP-ED: UNC Health antitrust exemptions in the budget would hurt consumers
Right now, the proposed state budget includes changes that would be a huge step backward for healthcare in North Carolina. As our options for healthcare grow, patients deserve the protections currently in place to ensure that growth is fair.
Letter to the Editor: A critical issue surrounding the Medicare Part D program
There is a critical issue surrounding the Medicare Part D program, specifically as it relates to coverage.
More Regulation is not the Solution for NC Small Businesses
There are likely only a few weeks left in this year’s North Carolina legislative session, and health care has been one of the hottest topics in Raleigh. Issues like expanding Medicaid and legalizing medical marijuana have gotten the most attention, but other major proposals have flown under the radar.
John Hood: Roots of American freedom run deep
Last month I joined dozens of other writers, scholars, activists, and leaders across the country to declare ourselves “Freedom Conservatives.” What do FreeCons stand for? You can read our statement of common principles at FreedomConservatism.org.
The Elevator Queen Cherie Berry endorses Luke Farley for Commissioner of Labor
Former Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry, the longest-serving commissioner in North Carolina history, has endorsed Luke Farley to be the next Labor Commissioner.
John Hood: Gas Pipeline Will Help North Carolinians
Over the next 25 years, the market for electrical power in North Carolina will undergo dramatic change. If progressives get their way, government will use a combination of subsidies and mandates to vastly expand our dependence on solar and wind. If cooler heads prevail, we will vastly expand our use of nuclear energy
John Hood: Where Georgia beats North Carolina
A new study of occupational-licensing laws is out — and the results aren’t pretty for North Carolina. According to a report by the Archbridge Institute, which studies barriers to economic mobility, the Tar Heel State has the eighth-highest level of occupational licensing in the country.
John Hood: Yes, North Carolina Governors Matter
With my longtime friend Andy Wells, a former state senator, joining the Republican primary field for governor and Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan publicly considering a run for the Democratic nomination, now seems like an opportune time to answer a frequently voiced question.
John Hood: NCInnovation Is a Bridge Too Far
North Carolina has enjoyed more than a decade of conservative governance. It’s brought our state impressive growth and widespread acclaim. The General Assembly has reformed and reduced state taxes, lightened the regulatory burden, invested in infrastructure, and promoted choice and competition in public services, among other accomplishments.
John Hood: Conservatives must stand for freedom
In North Carolina, the political label “conservative” is more popular than the terms “liberal” or “progressive.” In the most recent John Locke Foundation poll, for example, 46% of likely voters described themselves as conservatives, with 25% picking the liberal label and the rest either “moderate” or nothing at all. If we broaden out to include all North Carolinians, not just those who reliably vote, the gap shrinks a bit. But conservatives still form a plurality — and they significantly outnumber liberals.
No New Taxes On Tobacco Harm Reduction Products
Access to better, safer alternatives to cigarettes is once again under attack, this time in North Carolina where lawmakers are considering a new tax on nicotine pouches. Proposals such as these have become all too familiar as more and more lawmakers look at ways to restrict access to reduced harm products that adults use as alternatives to tobacco products.
John Hood: Our COVID outcomes were average
Because Gov. Roy Cooper’s former secretary of health and human services, Mandy Cohen, just got the nod from President Joe Biden to be the next director of the Centers for Disease Control, politicians and analysts are again debating how North Carolinians fared during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keep High Speed Internet Affordable in North Carolina
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which is responsible for making high-speed internet affordable for over 750,000 North Carolinians, is expected to run out of funds in early 2024. There are many factors that go into our most low income and rural Americans not having access to high-speed internet, but affordability and access are two of the biggest issues. This program plays a key role in addressing the digital divide. If we let it expire, the most significant negative impact would be felt by those in rural communities.