LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe urged lawmakers to find ways to work across party lines and keep their focus on the state's budget as the Legislature convened for its fiscal session on Monday.

The Democratic governor, however, faced a potential challenge from Republicans who said they're preparing an alternative to the $4.7 billion budget he's proposed for the coming year.

Speaking to a joint session of the House and Senate shortly after the Legislature convened, Beebe told lawmakers in the majority-Democrat Legislature they could provide a contrast to the gridlock seen in Washington and elsewhere by working together.

"When you distinguish yourself from those other places around the country and from those other places in Washington who just fight for the sake of fighting, then that goes down in the eyes of our people as a very positive step," Beebe said. "It goes not go unnoticed."

The session is the second held under an amendment Arkansas voters approved in 2008 requiring the Legislature to meet and budget annually, rather than every other year. The biggest task facing legislators is considering the $4.7 billion budget that Beebe has proposed for the fiscal year beginning July 1.