RALEIGH — The North Carolina chapter of the free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP-NC) today condemned Governor Easley's budget plan, which would increase spending and hike taxes on citizens by about $165 million, even as the state enjoys a $150 million revenue surplus. The proposal to raise cigarette taxes by 57 percent (20 cents per pack) and taxes on beer (80 percent), wine (19 percent), and liquor (32 percent), calls attention to lawmakers' addiction to spending hard-earned tax dollars, the group says.

NORTH CAROLINA — Taxpayers from across all parts of North Carolina sent a clear message to local elected officials that their taxes are already too high. Voters in 22 counties refused to pass local tax referenda, thanks in part to the hard work of the grassroots members of Americans for Prosperity (AFP).

The grassroots free-market group Americans for Prosperity-North Carolina today announced a detailed campaign to help secure defeat of the proposed sales tax increase that is on the ballot in Lee County on May 6th. The group will work to inform voters of the already high tax burden in Lee County, and will urge citizens to reject the calls for an increase in the regressive sales tax.