NC Gov Purdue Vetoes GOP-Backed Fiscal Plan

North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue Tuesday vetoed a Republican-backed spending plan designed to alleviate the state’s fiscal crisis, the Raleigh News & Observer reported Wednesday.

Perdue, a Democrat, said she vetoed the bill because it would eliminate money that provides incentives for companies to expand or open in the state.

Republicans have enough votes to override the veto in the Senate, but are four votes shy in the state House.

"Gov. Perdue's veto makes it more difficult to balance the state's budget without cutting teachers' jobs and negatively impacting our classrooms," state Senate leader Phil Berger said in a statement.

"And while her solution is to raise taxes that destroy private sector jobs, Senate Republicans refuse to reach further into North Carolinians' pockets."

In her owned prepared statement Perdue countered: "The bill in its current form forces a one-time cash grab from funds that are intended to create jobs and spur economic development. That's not the right move for North Carolina, where jobs simply must be our No. 1 priority."