RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton says he supports Gov. Beverly Perdue's proposal to raise the sales tax temporarily to make up for spending reductions authored by Republicans, and that Democrats say have harmed public education.
Dalton said in an interview Friday he's not thrilled with raising taxes but said Perdue's suggestion of a three-quarter-cent increase is one way to solve the problem. He said Republicans haven't offered any other solutions.
Dalton's views are more important now that he's decided to run for governor after Perdue announced Thursday she wouldn't seek a second term. Perdue said she was concerned a re-election bid would make her education fight with Republicans too partisan.
Republican legislators let expire last year a penny sales tax increase approved by Perdue and Democrats in 2009.
