Lawmakers and interest groups want to take advantage of an impasse in North Carolina's budget talks by trying to build support for alternative ways to find more revenue.

Amusement machine owners and lawmakers who want to legalize video poker again held a news conference Tuesday announcing support from the State Employees Association and the Legislative Black Caucus. Guilford County Rep. Earl Jones says the video poker bill he introduced would raise $500 million for the state without raising taxes.

Republican leaders released a list of $633 million in cuts and cost savings to narrow this year's budget shortfall.

House and Senate Democrats are at odds again over how to raise $1 billion after Gov. Beverly Perdue rejected an income tax proposal.