The state’s budget woes have generated the most pressing problem on new Gov. Beverly Perdue’s agenda. John Locke Foundation experts have shared their opinions about the steps Perdue is taking to fill holes in the state spending plan. The Associated Press interviewed JLF President John Hood this week about Perdue’s discussion of diverting lottery revenue away from education programs to plug the budget hole. That story ended up on the high-traffic WRAL Television Web site, along with those of WCNC and WNCN Television, WBT Radio, and even out-of-state outlets such as the CBS Television affiliate in Denver, Colo. The Fayetteville Observer also quoted Hood in its own article on the same topic. As Perdue prepares to deliver next week’s State of the State address, News 14 Carolina interviewed Fiscal Policy Analyst Joseph Coletti about the likely impact of the budget problems on Perdue’s message. You can watch the interview at 6 p.m. today or 11 a.m. Sunday. (Coletti also earned some national exposure this week, when National Review‘s John J. Miller highlighted in “The Corner” blog a recent Coletti column featuring the Dr. Seuss character the Lorax.) In other budget-related news, federal stimulus money will likely influence Perdue’s budget priorities this year. JLF Vice President for Outreach Becki Gray discussed the stimulus package this week during a presentation to the General Assembly’s Conservative Caucus. Meanwhile, new Carolina Journal columnist Andy Taylor, political science chairman at N.C. State University, recently focused his attention on North Carolina’s share of that stimulus money. The Leland Tribune picked up that column.