A day after telling budget negotiators to hurry up and pass a budget that protects education, Gov. Beverly Perdue said today she can't support the tax deal in the House and Senate.
"I have spoken with the President Pro Tem and the Speaker today and told them that I would not support a budget with an income tax increase on North Carolina’s working families. I reemphasized the need to protect public schools," Perdue said in a written statement.
The current tax proposal would tack a 2 percent surcharge on the income tax bill for every North Carolinian who has to file a return.
"She has made it very clear about how she feels about this tax and she hopes that will spur them in the right direction," said Chrissy Pearson, a spokeswoman for the governor.
Perdue's statement doesn't use the word "veto," but House majority leader Hugh Holliman said the statement has left him thinking that budget negotiators may be headed back to the bargaining table. He said Perdue is also asking for another $200 million in new taxes to pay for cuts to education.
Holliman said extending income tax increases to wealthier state residents could be done.
"Raising the other $200 million will be much harder to do," said Holliman, who added that budget negotiators will have to work through the weekend. The budget compromise was a hard fought middle ground between House and Senate proposals. Reaching a new deal won't be easy, he said.
"It's not good," Holliman said.
Update: Post now includes a more complete description of Perdue's previous comments.
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Re: Perdue calls for new budget deal
I think other comments are mostly on target! However, as one respondent said everyone has seen a drop in income in recent months...so, we've all had to cut services....except the legislature.
I don't think the governor, senate or house has made any effort to curtail their expenses! They all seem to be interested in cutting services to every tax payer other than themselves.
They should be ashamed to even consider cutting services to the very citizens who cannot speak for themselves (children and mentally ill)!
Cut the fat! One prime example is the "CEO" of DPI.....at the salary offered him? A slap in the face to all of us.
Thank goodness the courts prevailed and he had the good sense to 'retire'.
But, how many more unnecessary appointees are there of which we are unaware?