Obama Reaches Out to Governors for Infrastructure Funding Support

"Obama vowed in his opening remarks to take 'action quickly' on passing an economic recovery plan that will create 2.5 million jobs, 'put tax cuts into the pockets of hard-pressed middle-class families,' and make a 'down payment' on infrastructure investments such as for highways that are needed to create economic strength in the future.

The Obama transition team is working with congressional leaders to craft a $500 billion stimulus package for the economy. The governors have signaled they'd like an estimated $176 billion of that to go to infrastructure improvements and state Medicaid programs. During the meeting, however, they did not talk about specific dollar amounts, said [Gov. Edward] Rendell, who is president of the governors' association.

'We didn't come here begging for help,' he said. 'We came here to enter into a discussion of what's the best way for us as states, working with the federal government in a partnership, to help this country turn around this economic dilemma.'

He added, 'There are certain things that we have more experience with – [like] infrastructure – that nobody else does.'"