The focus has been on the state budget, but state lawmakers passed and Gov. Beverly Perdue signed hundreds of bills into law during the legislative session. John Locke Foundation Vice President for Outreach Becki Gray provides her view on new laws she believes are good for citizens, as well as those that are bad by limiting freedom and personal rights. Then we look at the impact of a legendary free marketer. When we consider why a politician makes the decisions she makes, and not just the decisions themselves, we owe a debt to Milton Friedman. That’s according to Jennis Biser, assistant professor of economics and finance at N.C. A&T University. Biser recently discussed the role Friedman played in the development of ‘public choice theory’ during a special lecture celebrating the late economist’s birthday. Biser discussed the same topic in a one-on-one interview with Carolina Journal Radio. Next, Gov. Beverly Perdue played a high-profile role in the closing days of the state budget debate, at one point rejecting a deal that would have raised income taxes for all North Carolina taxpayers. In the end, Perdue still accepted a budget that raises state taxes about $1 billion a year. You’ll hear her explain the reasons for her budget choices. That’s followed by the view from the state GOP. Republicans haven’t had much power in North Carolina state government in recent years, but new state party chairman Tom Fetzer hopes to change that situation. He has been vocal in opposing Democratic policies since taking the chairman’s job this summer. He explains his priorities for the GOP in preparation for the next partisan election battle. And finally, Locke Foundation education policy analyst Terry Stoops assesses the new state K-12 education budget. As kids head back to school, will they encounter larger classes, fewer teachers, and tapped-out supply budgets as some have feared? Stoops offers the details on how K-12 education fared.