Shut out of the budget talks, Democratic senators have stepped up efforts to counter a proposal emerging from the Republican side.

And if speeches on Jan. 28 were any indication, the two parties are heading for a major showdown once a budget is brought to the floor for debate.  

During a Senate Appropriations committee hearing on Jan 29, Democrats complained they were shut out of the process while Republicans blamed their colleagues and former Gov. Janet Napolitano for the deficit Arizona now finds itself grappling with.

Democrats offered amendments to restore some spending and to reduce cuts proposed in the GOP-backed budget package. The amendments failed.

In addition to committee amendments, Democrats were also set to offer floor amendments that would reflect their priorities, minority leaders said.

Democrats are also drumming up support for alternatives to the proposed cuts by holding public hearings across the state.   

"We are preparing amendments to the chairmen's options, taking some of the vehicles that the governor laid in out in her initial plan and in her revised plan," said Senate Minority Leader Jorge Garcia.

Garcia was referring to former Gov. Janet Napolitano's budget proposal to fix the fiscal year 2009 deficit.

Napolitano's plan included payment deferrals, agency fund transfers and taking money out of the rainy day fund. That plan also anticipated receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in aid from the federal government. Garcia emphasized Democrats are considering only some of Napolitano's proposed alternatives.

Garcia said he wouldn't expect the Democrats' amendments to pass. But his caucus wanted to make sure Gov. Jan Brewer saw the amendments and understood what they were doing.

"And maybe she can at that point exert some influence as we move from (the committee to the floor)," Garcia said.

"We (also) want to make sure that the public knows that there is $300 million that is available to lessen the cuts," he said.

On Jan. 28, Sen. Linda Lopez, the minority whip, sharply criticized the Republicans for "rushing" to get a budget out.

"Why are we putting political ideology first, ahead of desperately needed services to children, families and the elderly?" she said. "All of us agree that the budget is a real problem and that real cuts will have to be made. However, why the sudden rush to get a budget out by February 1?"

Lopez asked where the "sense of urgency" was in December when the Legislature had the opportunity to hold a special session to fix the current year's budget.

The Republicans did not let the minority whip's statement pass without a challenge.

Sen. Ron Gould, a Republican from Lake Havasu, said the fiscal 2009 budget was the Democratic caucus' and governor's budget. It was passed, he said, with "some help from a couple of Republicans." 

"They threw a party. We are expected to pay the bill. I don't want to let anybody forget that," said Gould, one of the most conservative members of the Legislature.

Sen. Russell Pearce, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, also blamed Napolitano for "reckless spending."

"We are now fixing her problems," Pearce said.

The Democratic caucus has shrunk to 12 members after last year's election. But it is Napolitano's decision – more than anything – to leave Arizona to become the U.S. Department of Homeland Security secretary that clipped the Democrats' clout in the Legislature.  

Any amendment the Democrats will offer in committee or on the floor is likely to fail. With only four members, Democrats are greatly outnumbered in the Senate Appropriations Committee, where the budget would be heard.

But the minority leadership hopes it can sway the public to pressure the Legislature to consider the alternatives the Democrats are proposing.

Public hearings have been scheduled in Casa Grande, Phoenix, Yuma, Tucson, and Flagstaff.

 "We just want folks to understand what is happening here in the Legislature," said Garcia, adding Democrats are urging people to contact Senate President Bob Burns, House Speaker Kirk Adams and especially Brewer. 

"The reality is that no matter (how) the majority wants to paint it that business in times of difficulties retracts, the reality is that government cannot retract," Garcia said. "Government provides services to people in need."

During the last two years, Democrats negotiated with Republicans over the budget. Political realities led them to the negotiating table.

In 2007, the Democrats had gained a seat in the Senate, splitting the chamber 17-13. The budget, or any bill for that matter, needs 16 votes to pass. The Senate in the past two sessions also had more moderate Republican members. In any case, the GOP would have to eventually negotiate with the Democrats since the occupant on the Ninth floor was one, and Napolitano did not hesitate to exercise her veto power.

The Democrats have not been invited to the table this year.

"I wouldn't expect to be invited," said Garcia.  

Asked about reaching across the political aisle to get 16 votes to pass a budget, Burns said he owes his caucus the opportunity to try to get a budget out first.

"I'm guessing I'm not locked into our caucus only, but I think having been elected by our caucus, I owe them the opportunity to do that," Burns said in a press briefing,

If Senate leadership can't get the votes first within his caucus, then they would shift gears and see where they could go, he said.

What if a Democrat offered his support in exchange for a specific item? Burns said he would have to ask members to see if the item would cost him their votes.

"If I don't lose members because of it, then I don't have a problem with having them (Democrats) on board," the Senate president said.