President Barack Obama is calling on governors of both parties to work with him.

The president, during a White House dinner Sunday, told dozens of state leaders, "We've got more work to do." They were in Washington for the annual meeting of the National Governors Association.

Obama did not directly mention deep federal budget cuts set to take effect March 1. He's expected to discuss the budget stalemate with governors during a Monday meeting at the White House.

The president says he's looking for "good partners" among Republican and Democrat governors from across the nation.

Congress has until Friday to prevent a series of automatic cuts expected to clog air travel, reduce education funding, and furlough hundreds of thousands of government workers and contractors.