In his state of the state speech, Gov. Bob Riley proposed the Legislature, which is controlled by Democrats, and his Republican administration work together.

In the Democrat&8217;s official response to Riley&8217;s speech, House Majority Leader Ken Guin also offered a hand of conciliation.

But neither side will mistake a willingness to work together as a weakness or even a point of negotiation. This session will be hard.

While Alabama will fare better financially than other states, big issues loom.

Riley has, for example, urged cutting higher education

and K-12 schools to what they received last year, and offer $20 million to fund the pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds and increase the Alabama Reading Initiative.

Cuts, especially in aspects of education, sometimes become areas of tension.

We hope both sides remember this time at the beginning and the willingness to work together when the session is long and the nights become short.