SPRINGFIELD | House Speaker Michael Madigan accused the governor of making "savage" cuts to the state budget and Thursday announced a series of hearings meant to build support for reversing them.

Madigan, D-Chicago, plans 19 hearings from Marion to Chicago, which begin Wednesday and running through Sept. 27, to give groups harmed by the cuts a chance to explain the impact.

"The governor's savage cuts will have seriously adverse consequences for millions of Illinois residents," Madigan said in a statement. He said the governor made the cuts as "political vengeance" against his legislative opponents.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich vetoed $463 million in spending before signing the state budget into law.

He denies politics had anything to do with the cuts, maintaining he simply trimmed spending that isn't necessary in a tight budget.

The cuts included health care for the poor, raises for providers of home care for the developmentally disabled and a variety of projects requested by individual lawmakers.

The Democratic governor cut most projects supported by House Democrats and Senate Republicans, two groups that opposed many of his proposals. He spared projects for Senate Democrats and House Republicans, whose support he needs to keep the budget vetoes from being reversed.

Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, has said he won't allow any votes to override the vetoes.