RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue and Senate leader Marc Basnight believe people raising illegal campaign contributions should face felony charges instead of the current misdemeanors.

The two Democrats said on Wednesday they want tougher penalties for crimes like those involving a Wilmington businessman who gave them $148,000 in unlawful donations.

Multiple media outlets reported Basnight saying lawmakers will consider changes when they reconvene next week in Raleigh. Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson also said the governor will require donors to attest their contributions are lawful.

Rusty Carter was fined and sentenced to unsupervised probation on Tuesday. A prosecutor said Carter gave bonuses to employees with the understanding some of it would go to campaigns.

There's been no evidence Perdue and Basnight knew the donations were illegal when they received them.

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