ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The first bills through the gate in the 2011 Minnesota Legislature will be aimed at speeding up regulatory permitting and breaking down what newly empowered Republicans say are burdens to business expansion and job growth.

That's according to the top House and Senate Republicans, who offered a broad-strokes preview Wednesday of their plans for a five-month session that begins next week. They conveyed their goals but shied away from specific proposals for achieving them. The leaders restated their opposition to tax increases as part of a fix to Minnesota's battered budget.

Republicans hold both chambers for the first time in four decades, but they'll have to deal with a Democratic governor.

It's a complete flip from the current alignment where Democrats run the Legislature and a Republican is Minnesota's governor.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

More From AM 1240 WJON