Feb 22, 2009 10:44 pm US/Eastern
All 50 US Governors Meet With Obama Over Stimulus
President Assures State Leaders Of Intentions To Help Them Through Economic Crisis
CBS 2's Joel Brown contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (CBS) ―
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President Barack Obama speaks during a press conference at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, February 19, 2009.
Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
All 50 governors are in Washington, D.C. Sunday night.
They attended a dinner with President Barack Obama Sunday, during which he assured them that he wants to help all of their states through this economy in crisis.
The Oscars wasn't the only black tie event Sunday night.
State governors from across the nation arrived at the White House for an evening of cocktails and dinner.
Their host President Obama greeted the 50 state leaders with a toast.
"I want you to know that, regardless of our occasional differences, I hope we can work together," Obama said. "I am confident we can do that."
It was all smiles at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but earlier in the day, several governors made the Sunday morning circuit to criticize Obama's plan to cut America's budget deficit in half.
"I would only make this point: is there any president who hasn't said they would decrease the deficit in the last 25 years?" Gov. Mark Sanford, of South Carolina, said. "It's been a fairly consistent refrain."
"Well, and the last one who did was a Democrat, and he actually got rid of it," Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said.
"I think it's bold, I think it's timely, I think it's the right thing to do," Gov. Jon Corzine, of New Jersey, says. "And for those of us who want to stimulate the national economy and get our economy stabilized, I think it is absolutely essential."
The White House says it plans to chip away at the deficit, which is at least $1.2 trillion dollars, by cutting Iraq war spending, raising taxes on wealthy Americans, and carefully examining government programs.
Some governors are also creating waves by suggesting they will refuse some of the government's stimulus money.
"We're not taking the $100 million in the unemployment," Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said. "We said we will take the road money."
Michigan's Governor says she is ready to take any money the other states don't want.
"We'll take it. We'll take your money," Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm says. "South Carolina, I'll take your money. Louisiana, we'll take it."
The president will address Congress on Tuesday and present his full budget to the nation later in the week.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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