Governors Hope to Guide Spending of Stimulus Funds

[Emit]

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Leading Republican governors continued their sparring yesterday by offering divergent views of the recovery act, with Southern conservatives saying they would reject some stimulus funds and coastal moderates embracing Obama's plan. But governors of both political parties said in interviews yesterday that the Obama administration should give states flexibility to make smart investments in education, health care and transportation.

"We know our states well, and we know what works and what doesn't work," said New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (D). "I think needs to trust us and give us the flexibility and the discretion to use the money wisely so that it will create jobs, will avoid layoffs, and at the same time help our most vulnerable citizens who depend on state government."

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) said that the stimulus money is "already in fairly narrow buckets" and that the Obama administration should give states discretion in spending it.

"If they really want to see the money put to work quickly, they would take a radically -- radically for Washington -- flexible attitude for the use of it," Daniels said. "What I'm afraid we're going to get instead is a micromanaged structure."

~snip~

Governors from both political parties said Obama has struck an unusually collaborative tone with them by soliciting and listening to their opinions. They described President George W. Bush's meetings with them as highly structured. Bush would deliver a speech and allow only two questions -- one from a Democrat and one from a Republican.

Governors were asked to submit their questions in advance so Bush could prepare responses.

When Obama called the governors to Philadelphia one month before his inauguration, he said: "Men and women, I want to hear from you. What's on your mind?" And the president-elect took notes.

"We were there for 90 minutes freewheeling," said Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D). "We knew we were in for a different administration from the get go."

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) said Obama "was engaging, listening well and defending his positions well."

It was not lost on governors that Obama was hosting them at the White House for his first black-tie state dinner. Last night, they were treated to a meal featuring Chesapeake crab, Wagyu beef, Nantucket scallops and huckleberry cobbler.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/22/AR2009022202071.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter

[babylonsister]

1. I think our president just schooled the governors on what are

righteous complaints vs. playing politics. Whap! Take that, guvs.