For the first time in years, North Carolina will have a budget in place in time for the start of the fiscal year on July 1. John Locke Foundation Director of Health and Fiscal Policy Studies Joe Coletti discusses the details of the final budget, including spending on K-12 education and higher education, tax rates, and more. Coletti also comments on the politics of the budget deal, which saw the Republican led General Assembly override the veto of Gov. Beverly Perdue, with the help of five House Democrats. Then we turn to a brewing controversy in K-12 education. No one really knows how much North Carolina spends to educate illegal immigrants in public schools, but some lawmakers want to get a handle on that figure. Rep. Dale Folwell, R-Forsyth, sponsored legislation called the Safe Schools Act. One of its chief components called on school officials to ask about newly enrolled students’ immigration status. Folwell explained the legislation during a recent debate. You’ll hear his comments, along with criticism from Jose Rico of the N.C. Dream Team, immigrant Viridiana Martinez, and State Board of Education attorney Ann McColl. Next is a debate over an issue of key importance to teens and adults. Some state lawmakers want to study whether North Carolina needs to mandate formal driver’s education classes for every new driver. You’ll hear debate on the topic among Reps. Jamie Boles, R-Moore, Becky Carney, D-Mecklenburg, and Ric Killian, R-Mecklenburg. That’s followed by a look at free markets. Many people fear that greedy businessmen will ruin the environment. Jonathan Adler, law professor at Case Western Reserve University, responds that free markets work better than government regulation to protect the environment. He explains why. And finally, recent headlines have touted big jumps in North Carolina’s high school graduation rates. John Locke Foundation Director of Education Studies Terry Stoops digs deeper into the new data and discusses what the numbers do and don’t mean.