In the wake of President Obama’s decision to allow limited offshore drilling in limited locations following President Bush’s lifting of the drilling ban in 2008, eyes are on North Carolina, where two panels, one appointed by Gov. Perdue and one appointed by state lawmakers, are looking at the issue. Daren Bakst, JLF’s director of legal and regulatory studies, clarifies what President Obama has and hasn’t done via his recent announcement, how the move might affect North Carolina, and the benefits to the state of drilling for oil and natural gas. Bakst also refutes often cited arguments against drilling, including those related to the environment and tourism. Next, we turn to the continuing discussion of the new health insurance law. Supporters and critics will debate for a long time to come the pros and cons of the recent federal health-care reform legislation. U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan touted the legislation’s benefits during a recent speech on the Senate floor. You’ll hear highlights from that presentation, along with reaction from Joseph Coletti, John Locke Foundation health and fiscal policy analyst. Then, we continue to delve into the issue of offshore drilling. A legislative study committee spent months examining the potential benefits and drawbacks of offshore drilling. Despite its work, the group had a hard time nailing down good estimates of costs and benefits. Committee co-chairmen James Leutze and Douglas Rader outlined their concerns about the lack of helpful data during one of the group’s final meetings. That’s followed by comments from former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum, who recently had a high-profile break with his former employer, the American Enterprise Institute. Before his split from AEI, Frum discussed the future of American conservatism during the annual John W. Pope Lecture at N.C. State University. Frum shares themes from that speech in an interview with Carolina Journal Radio. And finally, does the strength of the U.S. economy and our role in the world require the U.S. to have more and more college graduates? George Leef of the Pope Center for Higher Education Policy argues that, no, it doesn’t. Leef explains his view and counteracts arguments he encountered when he was one of our debaters who discussed the issue before the National Press Club earlier this year.