Lawmakers in Arizona are locked into a heated debate about the state budget.

The Republican majority wants to put university funding on the chopping block, and Democrats are fighting to protect money for higher education.

In Appropriations Committee hearings earlier this month, Democrats offered an amendment to the budget that would have used federal stimulus money to restore the college cuts, but that proposal was rejected by all the GOP members of the committee.

Now, in an effort to bring voters into the process, Democrats are holding a series of townhall-style, budget hearings around the state, targeting college campuses as an important set of venues.

Sen. Rebecca Rios, the Assistant Democratic Leader, told reporters:

Our communities are facing draconian cuts outlined in the Republican budget proposals, but they were not given a voice at the State Capitol. We are holding these hearings to provide more transparency in the process and to hear directly from the public how these cuts will affect their daily lives.

So far, turnout to these public budget hearings has been excellent -- more than 150 citizens attended the last meeting.