Young Dems call for temp tax to avoid education cuts

At their lobby day Thursday, the Young Democrats of NC held a press conference to call on the GOP to keep a one-cent temporary sales tax.

YDNC President Sam Spencer derided Republican leaders for "fuzzy math" and "false austerity," pointing to recent polls that show most NC voters would support keeping the temporary taxes for another year to avoid deep cuts to education and health care.

"One cent makes sense," said Spencer, noting that the sales tax would disproportionately affect young people who don't pay much in property or income taxes. Still, he said, “We are the ones who stand to lose the most from decision that attack our fundamental rights.”

"After a century of Democratic progress, two years of Republican control are not a mandate - they are an anomaly," Spencer said. "Republicans in the North Carolina House and Senate should recognize that North Carolina’s priorities – education and job creation – didn’t change when they took control of the General Assembly." 

Watch the whole press conference at right.