Obama Pledges Money for States at Govs' Meeting

States can count on some federal greenbacks soon, Barack Obama promised today in an appearance at the National Governor’s Association conference, reports CNN. Obama said he understood the budget shortfalls 41 states are facing this year or next and that help would be coming. “To my Republican colleagues,” he added, “I offer you the same hand of friendship. We compete vigorously during an election, but with the end of that season comes the time to govern together.”

Obama said he’d welcome the governors’ input on the economic recovery plan, saying he wanted to return to a model of states experimenting with new ideas while the government invested in whatever worked. Speaking before Obama, Joe Biden discussed the need for infrastructure improvements, and said he hoped governors didn’t criticize the administration for raising the deficit in the process of helping them. (More President Obama stories.)