There a number of bills that legislators are hopeful pass this session after not even reaching the floor in 2008.

But the real challenge in 2009 will be passing reduced budgets for education and the general fund that everyone can live with.

Legislators start the session with a difficult mission, funding projects at a time when state reserves are nearly depleted.

Senator Jabo Waggoner explains that the money is tight because Alabamians are being more frugal. "Our sales tax and income tax are down, and when that happens it affects our budgets; the education budget and the general fund budget."

That means not only will many worthwhile bills die from a lack of funding, but existing programs and jobs could be cut as well.

Representative Oliver Robinson predicts the situation in Montgomery will become ugly if Washington D.C. doesn't come through with the economic stimulus package. "Entire departments will be abolished in the State of Alabama. So, it'll be layoff's after layoff's. So, it's very important that... we're in hopes that we get something from the federal government."

The number that legislators are hearing is just over three billion dollars.

Lt. Governor Jim Folsom Junior believes that money could help save educations from nine-percent proration. "Hopefully that will give us quite a bit of relieve as far as proration goes, we're still going to have some proration but this could mitigate it tremendously."

Folsom says that budget talks will not gear up until a decision is finalized in Washington D.C.

He adds that if the decision comes at the end of the regular session that Governor Bob Riley will likely call a special session to ensure all of the stimulus money is put to good use.