Three once powerful men in North Carolina politics are back in the news. Carolina Journal Managing Editor Rick Henderson discusses the developments in the very public political and legal troubles for former North Carolina lottery commissioner Kevin Geddings, current state Sen. R.C. Soles who is retiring from the legislature this year, and Don Beason, once considered the most powerful lobbyist in the state. Geddings has been exonerated on “honest services” fraud for which he served roughly three years in prison, Soles was involved in a car accident with a familiar name, and Beason is fighting a fine related to his lobbying. Then we turn to the economy and the so-called “summer of recovery” and the politics of the fall. Vice President Joe Biden recently suggested to the Democratic National Committee that a return to Republican-led government would be like returning to “George W. Bush on steroids.” That comment amused Roy Cordato, John Locke Foundation Vice President for Research and Resident Scholar, because Cordato has described the Democratic Obama administration’s anti-recessionary policies as “George W. Bush on steroids.” You’ll hear Biden’s initial comments and Cordato’s response. Next we take a look at the status of a key benefit for state government workers. The state government’s health plan for government workers, teachers, and retirees should finish the budget year in the black, but there won’t be much of a cushion in the event of unexpected expenses. The State Health Plan’s Mona Moon delivered that message recently to N.C. legislators. You’ll hear details. That’s followed by a look at immigration with a North Carolina expert. We’ve heard the word “amnesty” used often in the debate about immigration. Jacob Vigdor, professor of public policy and economics at Duke University, has been focusing his attention on another “a” word: assimilation. Vigdor explains the important of immigrant assimilation and suggests policy changes that might improve assimilation. And finally, JLF’s Director of Legal and Regulatory Studies, Daren Bakst, dissects a recent study by the anti-nuclear power advocacy group NC WARN. The group’s study concludes that solar power is less expensive than nuclear power. Bakst says the opposite is true and points out the problems and misinformation with the study, as well as the facts about the two energy sources.