asked lawmakers Wednesday to show unity by sitting together during the annual speech following a shooting in Tucson, Arizona that left six dead and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) in the hospital.

Both senators from Alaska also have agreed to mingle with the other party during Obama's speech.

"Congressional reaction to the President's State of the Union address has increasingly come to symbolize the sharp partisan divide in Congress," Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) observed. "So we think a good first step towards greater civility would be for senators and congressmen, Republicans and Democrats, to sit together in the House chamber on Jan. 25 when President Obama addresses a joint session."

Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) suggested that he could join with Rep. Don Young (R-AK) and Murkowski to sit together as a delegation.

"Democrats and Republicans sitting together at the State of the Union is an excellent way to show we share a common goal of working to make this country a better place for every American," he said. "It may only be a symbolic gesture on one evening, but I believe it's a positive step toward showing unity and ending some of the partisan practices that have become common."

Partisan division may have a reached a high point during last year's State of the Union address when Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) shouted "You lie!" reacting to the president's pledge that his health reform laws would not extend taxpayer dollars to cover illegal immigrants.