PROVIDENCE, RI -- Governor Carcieri has asked Democratic General Assembly leaders to give him a two-week extension on delivering his proposed tax-and-spending plan for next year.

The first extension gave him until next Tuesday to present his proposed 2009-10 budget.

But in a letter going out this afternoon to House Speaker William J. Murphy and Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed, he asks permission to deliver the proposal Feb. 24.

"As we discussed, this extension will give us time to incorporate any changes made through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan currently before the United States Congress,'' he wrote, referring to President Obama's stimuls plan.

Lawmakers are expected to agree to his request.

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