This week’s return of the N.C. General Assembly prompted a number of media outlets to seek the John Locke Foundation’s input on state issues. John Hood offered his thoughts to the News & Observer about Gov. Beverly Perdue’s proposed reform efforts. Hood also discussed with the Winston-Salem Journal the role top Senate budget writer Linda Garrou will play during this year’s session. On the opening day of the new legislative session, N.C. Senate Republicans highlighted in their daily e-mail bulletin Hood’s column offering advice about potential budget cuts. Meanwhile, Vice President for Outreach Becki Gray granted an interview to the N.C. News Network about the upcoming session, and Vice President for Development Chad Adams discussed legislative issues in a series of interviews recorded with Whiteville’s WTXY Radio. (Adams made another radio appearance this week; he took part in WLTT’s  hourlong roundtable discussion of the future of education in North Carolina.) The Tryon Daily Bulletin reprinted a recent Carolina Journal article from Executive Editor Don Carrington highlighting the scandals and other problems outgoing Gov. Mike Easley dumped in Perdue’s lap. Meanwhile, Fiscal Policy Analyst Joseph Coletti‘s recent chat with UNC Public Television about the state’s budget woes will appear on this week’s opening edition of “Legislative Week In Review.” Coletti also learned this week that N.C. House Republicans in Minnesota have studied his Taxpayers’ Return on Investment report, thanks to this column.