By GARY D. ROBERTSON
Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The leader of the North Carolina Senate has invited Gov. Beverly Perdue to debate him about her planned state budget proposal this spring that would raise the sales tax to generate more money for public education.

Republican Sen. Phil Berger of Rockingham County offered the idea Tuesday at a news conference in Raleigh. Berger says the citizens of the state deserve to hear the governor and a legislative leader make their pitches.

The Democratic governor announced last week her spending plan would raise the sales tax by three-quarters of a penny to make up
for the GOP-led Legislature's decision last year to let expire a penny increase in the sales tax.

Berger last week called the proposal dead on arrival at the Legislature. The budget-adjusting session begins in May.