Budgets, boondoggles, and courtroom battles all helped John Locke Foundation experts earn media air time this week. President John Hood discussed the state budget with Barlow Herget on State Government Radio Thursday. Fiscal and Health Care Policy Analyst Joseph Coletti explained the proposed “tax on taxes” for WPTF Radio listeners Wednesday afternoon, then offered an update on the budget debate Thursday during an appearance with Tara Servatius on WBT’s afternoon program. Speaking of WPTF, Vice President for Research and Resident Scholar Roy Cordato joined Scott Fitzgerald Monday morning to dissect the latest state unemployment numbers. (N.C. Senate Republicans also highlighted Cordato’s reaction to the unemployment data in an e-mail blast Monday. Another Senate GOP e-mail Thursday pointed to Coletti’s report on the downside of expanding North Carolina’s film production tax credit.) Meanwhile, the court fight over leadership of the N.C. Department of Public Instruction led to more radio appearances. JLF Education Policy Analyst Terry Stoops discussed the topic with Lockwood Phillips on WTKF, while Lindalyn Kakadelis of the N.C. Education Alliance shared her thoughts with WFAE. Television outlets also turned to JLF experts for help. WTVD interviewed Research Director and Local Government Analyst Michael Sanera for a story about the Raleigh Convention Center boondoggle, while WITN referenced the Locke Foundation’s concerns about the government-run state lottery.
