RALEIGH, N.C.  – North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Tom Fetzer says people don’t trust Gov. Beverly Perdue in her proposal to raise sales taxes temporarily.

Fetzer said at a news conference Thursday that Perdue has no credibility on taxes.

He says Perdue presided over the Democratic-led Senate as lieutenant governor when it approved a sales tax increase in 2001 that was supposed to last only two years. A quarter-penny of that tax is now permanent.

Perdue suggested earlier this week that lawmakers approve a one-cent sales tax increase that would last 13 months to help deal with a large budget gap and protect education and other vital services.

The GOP says the gap is exaggerated and no new taxes are needed.