HARRISBURG -- Until now, much of the budget-related pressure on state lawmakers has come from business and conservative groups, which are opposed to any state tax increases, especially the 16 percent increase in the personal income tax that Gov. Ed Rendell is seeking.

But today, some of the groups that would be affected by both Republican and Democratic calls for slashing state spending began a counterattack, led by the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.

"The proposed budget cuts could result in potential job losses for thousands of individuals who are either directly employed by hospitals or through jobs in communities that are related to hospitals,'' said association President Carolyn Scanlon.

She and officials from a dozen other hospitals and health care groups delivered 13,000 signatures from on-line petitions asking that state and federal Medical Assistance payments not to be reduced to hospitals.

To do so would hurt "trauma care, burn care, obstetrics and neonatal care, rural health care, health and medical education and care for low-income patients," the groups said. "These are not services people can go without."

In Mr. Rendell's $28.8 billion budget plan for fiscal 2009-10, $105 million would be trimmed from hospital funding. Under a $27.3 billion plan by House Republicans, $165 million would be cut; under a separate $27.3 billion plan passed by Senate Republicans, $280 million would be trimmed.

The size of a hospital funding cut in the $29.1 billion budget proposed by House Democrats yesterday hasn't been determined yet.

But all the cuts, of whatever size, are bad for Pennsylvanians, hospital officials said.

Also protesting today are arts groups from Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and other towns, who will be arriving at the Capitol in buses. Leaders and members of unions that represent state workers also plan a protest this afternoon.

Additional protests against spending cuts are planned for tomorrow and Thursday.

It isn't known when Democrats, Republicans and Mr. Rendell will agree on a spending plan for the current fiscal year, which began July 1. State employees have received reduced pay checks and will receive no pay if no budget is approved by the end of the month.

Also protesting today was the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, composed of about 20 House and Senate members from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. They were especially upset about the Senate Republican budget plan, Senate Bill 850.

It would cut $418 million in additional funds for basic education that Mr. Rendell has proposed, the group said, as well as cutting funds for the State System of Higher Education, medical assistance, mental retardation, mental health, job training programs and programs for people with physical disabilities.

"I understand that sometimes we have to tighten up belts, but Senate Bill 850 squeezes the belt so tight you can't breathe," said Rep. Joe Preston, D-East Liberty.

He complained that bill also would make unacceptable cuts in funds for the Carnegie Science Center, the Pittsburgh Children's Institute and the Super Computing Center, as well as to similar institutions around the state.

Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, and others stoked busloads of people who came to protest cuts in arts funding.

"We must send a clear message about the need for arts in Pennsylvania," Mr. Costa said to deafening cheers from the crowd and the pounding on a drum by a young man in Native American dress.

"The arts are an economic engine for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County," Mr. Costa added.

Protestors held a variety of signs, including some reading, "Pittsburgh Arts Equal Pittsburgh Jobs" and "Don't Stop the Music." Many adults and children wore red t-shirts reading "Arts Equal Smart Students."