PHOENIX -- Gov. Jan Brewer said she and legislators face "a new beginning" during a special session next week to approve a budget that's more to her liking.

The Republican governor drew criticism from Democratic and Republican legislative leaders alike on Thursday in the wake of her vetoes of numerous budget provisions, including funding for K-12 schools.

Brewer said she wants more spending for education and other services, with placement of a sales tax increase on a special election ballot to pay for it.

Republican leaders call her actions irresponsible and Democrats say Brewer squandered an opportunity to work things out much earlier on a bipartisan basis.

Brewer said she and lawmakers must work together.

"I've always wanted to work with the Democrats," Brewer said. "I've always said this isn't a Republican problem or a Democrat problem, this is a State of Arizona problem, so let's take off our political hats and get the job done."

A Republican legislative leader is criticizing Brewer's decision to reject public school funding and other parts of the state budget that lawmakers negotiated with the governor.

Senate Majority Whip Pam Gorman of Anthem said Brewer knew that Republican leaders wouldn't be able to deliver votes for a proposed sales tax increase and that Brewer failed to "get her own votes" from legislators."

In Gorman's words, "we did our part."

Brewer spokesman Paul Senseman notes that the negotiated budget package included the sales tax proposal that the Legislature ultimately did not place on a special election ballot as the governor wanted.

Burns: Brewer 'Having Problems'

Republican legislative leaders strongly criticized Brewer for her handling of the state's budget crisis, with Senate President Bob Burns saying the former secretary of state seems to be in over her head as governor.

"It appears the governor is having problems managing the level of responsibility to which she has been elevated," Burns, R-Peoria, said Thursday of his fellow Republican. "I hope she takes the opportunity during the weekend ... to reassess her priorities and get back in touch with the qualities that embodied the reliable and reasonable person I used to know."

Burns' comments capped a statement criticizing Brewer's vetoes Wednesday of key elements of a budget proposal that she negotiated with Burns and House Speaker Kirk Adams, R-Mesa.

"To completely unravel a long and sometimes extremely difficult compromise makes absolutely no sense," Burns said. He also panned Brewer for calling a short-notice special session.

Brewer responded by calling Burns' comments "regrettable and terribly unproductive."

"I choose not to take President Burns' comments personally, because I recognize he is very angry right now," Brewer said.

Burns released his statement late Thursday, more than 24 hours after an aide said Burns would not comment immediately on the vetoes.

Also Thursday, Adams said Brewer's vetoes put school children in jeopardy by erasing funding for the public school system.

"I am alarmed this governor would harm education and the state's most vulnerable in pursuit of a tax increase," Adams said. "It's irresponsible and unbelievable that she would veto the budget she agreed to."