(RALEIGH) -- Democratic state lawmakers say proposed cuts in education spending will seriously harm public schools, colleges and universities.  GOP leaders have set monetary targets that would spend $1.4 billion less that Governor Bev Perdue recommended in six key areas of government.

The largest difference between Perdue and the Republican spending targets is in public education, about $760 million. Democratic Rep. Rick Glazier said those cuts will eviscerate the state’s ability to provide a constitutionally mandated education. "When we fail to fix a pothole in the street inconvenience follows but new routes are found but when we fail to educate a child irreparable damage ripples through the economy and the country from generation to generation," said Glazier.

But Republican Senator Pete Brunstetter said the targeted cuts will actually force education programs to improve. "Right now we're the 43rd ranked state in the country in terms of quality of our public schools.  If we need to do something like this in order to start from the bottom and look at how we do things properly I think it's an appropriate move," said Brunstetter.