Legislators react to Governor's proposed budget

ATLANTA - Democrats are quickly lining up to oppose tax increases in Governor Perdue&#39;s new budget, which he presented Wednesday morning. <br> <br> Citing huge deficits in the state budget, Governor Perdue is asking for increase in taxes on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, as well as higher property taxes. <br> <br> House Democratic leader Jimmy Skipper of Americus says it&#39;s going to be hard to get anybody on board for a tax increase, especially in a tough economic time like this. Skipper said, ``A lot of people have lost their jobs and they certainly don&#39;t need to be sending more of their money to the government.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Representative Fran Millar, a Republican from DeKalb County, has signed anti-tax increase pledges in the past. But she says legislators should be patient with Perdue because he&#39;s forced to deal with a fiscal situation he just inherited. <br> <br> The proposed ``sin tax&#39;&#39; increases would last for four years and are designed both to raise revenue and to address health problems, especially teen smoking. Perdue says he does not want to make them permanent.