Dear editor,

Recently Gov Bev Perdue proposed a sales tax increase to benefit education. Now she has dropped out of the Governor’s race stating that her presence in the race “polarizes” what she wishes to provide for education.

However, let us go back a couple of years. In 2005 when Perdue was Lt. Gov and Easley was governor, the state fought over a proposed education lottery. One day when two senators who opposed the lottery had excused absences, a special vote was called and Perdue voted to break the tie and Gov Easley signed the lottery into law.

Now let us go to February 2009 when now Gov. Perdue found herself in a budget mess that had been created over the years by Democratic spending. To help balance the budget she went straight to the “education” lottery and emptied it of $88 million. She then removed $50 million from the lottery reserve and $38 million from school construction.

Question is: are we talking about the same person? What caused her to now champion education when not long ago she emptied the very entity developed to provide monies to education?

What she now knows is that her chances of re-election are slim. Perhaps high-level Democratic leaders have advised her to clear the deck and open it up to someone more electable. With the DNC having its presidential convention in the Tar Heel state, she could only look like a liability.

Yes, she made many personal appearances. However, the true test is that she was not able to work with a General Assembly elected by the people to stop tax and spend economics. Having to cut your own personal expenses is never easy. Having to cut state expenses and attempt to bring the state budget closer to a true balance is a monumental task that has required bravery and tough choices.

Perdue chose to work against making these tough choices so she now finds herself as a one-term governor.

DIANNE M. LAYDEN 
Chairwoman, Perquimans 
County Republican Party