Jon Sanders

Director of Regulatory Studies
Jon Sanders studies regulatory policy, a veritable kudzu of invasive government and unintended consequences. As director of regulatory studies at the John Locke Foundation, Jon gets into the weeds in all kinds of policy areas, including electricity, occupational licensing, hydraulic fracturing, the minimum wage, poverty and opportunity, state rulemaking, film and other incentives programs, certificates of need, and cronyism.

Posts by Jon Sanders (page 1)

  • Legalizing hemp requires an exemption from a strange tax

    The Farm Bill of 2019 would establish a state plan for the regulation, cultivation, and handling of hemp products. One of the steps necessary to do that requires exempting people from having to pay the Unauthorized Substances Tax. The what tax? Exactly.
    Jon Sanders, June 24, 2019

  • Local governments still don’t need to get in the broadband business

    Cross-subsidization, unfair competition, and taxpayers being on the hook for service costs were particularly bad problems leading to the Level Playing Field Law in 2011. But look what HB 431 would do.
    Jon Sanders, June 21, 2019

  • Highlights of the ‘Freedom to Work’ bill

    Being able to petition the board “at any time” is a particularly strong reform. For people whose conviction record would disqualify them from the license no matter what, being able to find out beforehand would save them a great deal of time and money, let alone heartbreak.
    Jon Sanders, June 20, 2019
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  • Can higher property taxes in Orange County save the planet?

    Could Orange County do anything to influence the world's climate, with or without resorting to higher taxes? Do the math; the answer is a clear no. But they can make things more expensive for residents.
    Jon Sanders, June 19, 2019

  • Reducing recidivism by giving rehabilitated offenders greater opportunities to work

    Here is why the changes House Bill 770 would make to how licensing boards treat applicants with conviction records are important.
    Jon Sanders, June 18, 2019

  • How boosting distilleries can boost local communities

    Since the end of Prohibition, NC distilleries have faced a very restrictive regulatory environment, even more so than wineries and breweries. The good news is that relaxing these restrictions can bring about catch-up growth in the distillery industry here.
    Jon Sanders, June 17, 2019

  • There IS a bill to modernize and adopt a license system for liquor in NC

    In two reports this year, the John Locke Foundation has made the case for modernizing and adopting a license model for liquor sales in North Carolina. That's the kind of model North Carolina already has for beer and wine.
    Jon Sanders, June 14, 2019
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  • ‘Low-cost’ solar subsidized to the tune of over a billion dollars

    Carolina Journal reported that NC went over the $1 billion mark in renewable energy investment tax credits for solar. Here's a tip: something that doesn't cost you much more as consumers but costs you a great deal as taxpayers costs you a great deal, period.
    Jon Sanders, June 14, 2019