Legislative leaders welcomed Gov.-elect Steve Beshear and Lt. Gov.-elect Daniel Mongiardo to this afternoon's meeting of the Legislative Research Commission, where pledges were made to work cooperatively on the challenges facing Kentucky.

Beshear, who will be inaugurated as governor on Dec. 11, told the lawmakers that he intends "to sit down with all of you and work with all of you to find those common grounds on which we can agree to move this state forward. ... We've got to work together as a partnership if we are really going to get anything done."

Beshear's comments were echoed by Mongiardo, a state senator from Hazard. "I think if we work together, we can realize Kentucky's potential," he said.

Senate President David Williams and House Speaker Jody Richards said lawmakers are ready to work with the incoming administration.

"I will pledge to you that whenever we can, we'll work together," Williams said.

"We have a lot of challenges and a lot of opportunities," Richards said. "Working together, I think Kentucky is poised for greatness."