Gov. Bev Perdue will ask legislators to spend an additional $562 million on K-12 schools and increase the state sales tax in the $20.9 billion budget she plans to release Thursday.

But Republican lawmakers on Wednesday made it clear they weren't interested, setting up a rematch of last year's budget battles between the Democratic governor and the GOP-led legislature.

This time, however, Perdue is a lame duck and education cuts are expected to be a key part of the Democrats' battle to retain control over the governor's office.

Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, who won the Democrat primary on Tuesday, has sought to tie his opponent, former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, to the legislative budget cuts.