(RALEIGH) -- Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue was highly critical of proposed cuts to public schools in the State House budget that faces a final vote in the House on Wednesday. When asked if she would veto the bill if it reached final approval at the General Assembly, she only said she never threatens with a veto.

Perdue was speaking at a rally organized by the North Carolina Association of Educators. Nearly 2,000 people were on hand for the event, which was located outside the Legislative Building. State Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson also addressed the crowd.

“North Carolina expects an educated work force,” Perdue later told reporters. “They expect the people in this building to do their jobs to keep the schools adequately funded to pay teachers and to keep good educators in the classroom.”

"Our being able to serve the needs of all students is dangerously thin, and the proposed cuts to public education put us on thin, thin ice." said Atkinson.

Asked whether the House budget accomplishes that goal, Perdue said it does not from her perspective. “Companies will stop coming here if mess like this goes on,” said Perdue. ”You cannot decimate the next generation’s work force and that’s what these children in our schools are. That’s what these teachers give North Carolina. They are the most important workers in our state – these teachers and our educators.”

After a final vote in the House, the $19.3 billion budget bill will move over to the Senate for consideration.