INDIANAPOLIS -- The first round of Indiana budget negotiations between Democratic and Republican state lawmakers started on a slow note Wednesday.

House Democrats and Senate Republicans on a conference committee touched on a few differences in their budget plans during a public meeting that began Wednesday morning.

But House Democrats devoted much of the meeting to taking testimony from university presidents and public school officials.

"We have an obligation not only to speak, but to act," said Democratic Rep. William Crawford of Indianapolis. "The further, I think, more pressing obligation is … to listen."

Republican Senate Appropriations Chairman Luke Kenley said he was puzzled that lawmakers were listening to more public testimony when there's already been ample time spent on that.

"I don't know if this is just going to be an exercise in trying to beat somebody up and say, 'You're supposed to give us more.' I'm a little disappointed this morning," Kenley said.

Lawmakers have until midnight Tuesday to enact a new budget before the current one expires.

The committee chairman said he hopes the group will come up with a compromise budget agreement on Monday.