Atlanta, Ga.- Gov. Sonny Perdue pledged to protect the state's public colleges from deep cuts being pushed by state lawmakers that would force steep tuition hikes and would eliminate popular programs, like 4-H.

Perdue said Thursday that his administration would "not dismantle a world-class university system we spent over two decades to build up.''

Speaking at a state Capitol news conference, the Republican governor blasted legislators for engaging in "scare tactics and fear mongering.''

Perdue's budget proposed cutting $265 million for the university system in the next fiscal year. State lawmakers have asked the Board of Regents to plan for $300 million in additional cuts on top of that.

Students rallied at the Capitol Wednesday to protest the potential reductions.

But state lawmakers, led by Rep. Wendell Willard (R-Sandy Springs) said the General Assembly only asked for proposals in a "what-if" scenario. "No decisions have been made," Willard said. "We need to investigate the feasibility of all options and that drove us to ask the Regents for their ideas and recommendations."