(JUNEAU)- Gov. Frank Murkowski gave his first State of the State address Thursday night, in which he set out his agenda for changing the way government does business. Senate majority members believe the speech was specific where it needed to be, but was broad enough to illustrate the governor's desire to work together to find solutions to the issues facing Alaska.

In his speech Gov. Murkowski laid out an agenda, which seems to be consistent with the priorities of the Senate majority: smaller, more efficient government - renewed efforts in developing Alaska's resources - and focusing more attention on accountability and delivery of services.

"After eight years of a different governing approach, it will take more than eight weeks to get the wheels turning in a new direction," said Senate President Gene Therriault, (R-North Pole). "Tonight Gov. Murkowski laid out an agenda, which I am confident we can use as a starting point, to put Alaska back on the right track."

On issues of operating budget appropriations, Senate Finance Committee co-chair, Sen. Lyda Green, (R-Mat Su) says she is encouraged by the governor's call for smaller, more efficient government and she welcomes the administration's pledge that a prioritized budget will be delivered to the Legislature.

"I will work to assure that new programs will be funded - as much as possible - with funds from areas that don't carry as high a priority, just as recommended by the governor during his campaign and in the first two months of his term in office" said Green. "The only way we can fund the programs most needed in this state is by reducing unneeded, duplicitous and inefficient government bureaucracy."

Green says that she too, will be working with the commissioners of each agency and will be offering her assistance in identifying areas where government can be more efficient.

No place is the need for government efficiency more evident than in the area of permit streamlining. According to Therriault, the governor's call for permit streamlining will not only reduce costly government inefficiencies, it will also encourage responsible resource development, which is imperative in raising needed new revenues for the state treasury and putting Alaskans back to work.

"I, like many others in the majority, have worked for many years to try and improve the permitting process," said Therriault. "Effective permitting assures resource development is conducted in a safe, responsible manner - unfortunately what we currently have is an endless abyss of governmental red tape."

The Senate majority is committed to working with the governor on continuing to improve the educational system in Alaska.

"Improving Alaska's statewide educational system is not a Republican priority or a Democrats priority - it is an Alaskan priority," said Therriault. "It is apparent the governor is cognizant of the demands created by the 'No Child Left Behind' requirements and I believe the Senate majority will be ready to assist the governor in meeting those demands."

The people of Alaska sent the Murkowski-Leman team to Juneau with a clear mandate - tonight the governor showed Alaska that he has heard their message. Sen. Gary Wilken (R-Fairbanks) perhaps summed it up best when he said that addressing the issues facing Alaska is going to be a marathon not a sprint. Tonight the starting gun for that marathon was heard reporting through the halls of the Capitol. Some changes may take a year, some two years and some even longer, but we are on our way.

# # #