By Deanna Wrenn
The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS - Democratic Gov. Joe Kernan wants his plan to expand full-day kindergarten to get through the Republican-controlled Senate without any major compromises.

Kernan said Friday in his first news conference since the legislative session started that he's receptive to new ways to pay for expanded full-day kindergarten. But he does not believe Republicans, who have criticized the program's funding as irresponsible, will be able to come up with a better plan.

"If someone has a better idea, I'm wide open," Kernan said. "When we put the package together, we looked at alternatives. This is the most responsible."

Republicans support the idea of expanding full-day kindergarten, but say the program should not be enacted now because the state faces a $1 billion budget deficit.

Kernan said he will not compromise on the main parts of his proposal: full-day kindergarten for 20,000 more children this year and all children by 2007, as well a pre-kindergarten program.

Kernan said he has worked with Republicans on other programs, and said he has hope for the bill because Democrats and Republicans support the concept of full-day kindergarten.

"I'm very hopeful that we will have bipartisan support for full-day kindergarten," Kernan said.

Kernan also discussed his views on a proposal that would permit 1,000 electronic slot-like gambling machines at each of the state's two pari-mutuel horse racing tracks. Kernan said he would not veto the bill without looking at it. But he also repeated his stance against any expansion of gambling in Indiana.