JEFFERSON CITY - Lawmakers from both parties have selected new leaders to take the helm in the Missouri General Assembly, and Gov.-elect Jay Nixon has assembled a team to guide his administration.

Nixon, a Democrat and the state’s attorney general, announced this morning that his current chief of staff, John Watson, will continue to hold that title when Nixon becomes governor in January. Nixon also announced that Charles Burson will serve as his transition director.

Burson is the former attorney general of Tennessee who later served as chief of staff for former Vice President Al Gore. Three others - former state Supreme Court Justice Ronnie White, Springfield investment advisor Nadia Cavner and former state Sen. Philip Snowden - will co-chair the transition effort.

"The people of Missouri are ready to see the changes they voted for on Election Day," Nixon said. "And here today, we are hitting the ground running with our sleeves rolled up and getting to work."

The formation of the transition team comes a day after Nixon held what he called a "productive" meeting with newly elected legislative leaders.

House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, a Democrat from Independence, held onto his position. Rep. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, was selected as House speaker, Senate Majority Leader Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, will take over as Senate President Pro Tem, and Sen. Victor Callahan, D-Independence, will be the new Senate minority leader.

Despite Nixon’s victory in the race to succeed Gov. Matt Blunt, Republicans managed to win three seats in the Missouri Senate and lost only three seats in the Missouri House. That could hamper Nixon’s ability to deliver on promises to rescind the Medicaid cuts of 2005 or expand a program that allows high school students to go to some colleges for free.

But just as Nixon will have to compromise to get his agenda passed, Republicans will have a difficult time passing bills unpopular with House or Senate Democrats. A bloc of Democrats could simply tell Nixon to veto legislation.

Arguably the biggest test of a bipartisan spirit will be how Nixon and the legislature handle the state budget. Blunt’s office announced yesterday that general revenues declined compared to last year because of the worsening economy, an ominous sign for next year. At a news conference, Richard said the legislature did a "pretty good job" of preparing for tougher budgetary times by tempering spending in previous budgets.

"We’re" one "of 11 or 12 states who have a positive balance, and we’re going to use that through the tough times," he said.

Chris Kelly, a former House budget chairman elected Tuesday over state Rep. Ed Robb, R-Columbia, said getting through the budgetary year could require unpopular decisions.

"If the legislature works in a bipartisan way and the cuts come from a bipartisan core, then people will be less frightened of supporting cuts," Kelly said. "But if both parties are ready to pounce on anybody in the other party who absolutely votes to save money, then we will destroy the budget."

Nixon announces his transition team:

Nixon meets with legislative leaders:

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