Rell Meets With President-Elect

 HARTFORD (AP) — Connecticut Govenor M. Jodi Rell was among the governors in Philadelphia on Tuesday asking President-elect Barack Obama to help their states through tough economic times.

Obama promised quick work on an economic recovery plan and told the governors he wanted their advice in designing a package to help them. Vice President-elect Joe Biden also attended the meeting.

“The president-elect and vice president-elect seem very much interested in hearing what the governors have to say,” Rell said in a phone interview while driving back to Connecticut Tuesday afternoon.

“I think we all understand that putting a stimulus package out there is not going to be cheap, but if it’s going to happen we’d like to be a part of it,” Rell said.

Nearly all the governors who met with Obama and Biden are struggling with budget deficits at home because of the recession. Connecticut is facing estimated shortfalls of $338 million this year and $6 billion over the next two fiscal years.

The governors have asked for at least $40 billion to help pay for health care for the poor and disabled and perhaps $136 billion more in infrastructure projects like road and bridge repairs in the legislation, which Democrats on Capitol Hill hope to have ready for Obama’s signature as soon as he takes office on January 20.

Obama has said he will make an economic stimulus his top priority, and his aides and congressional leaders have been discussing the outlines of a measure that could exceed $500 billion over two years. The president-elect has said his goal is to secure 2.5 million jobs.

Connecticut Comptroller Nancy Wyman released the new $338 million deficit estimate on Monday, and she said Rell is now required by state law to submit a second plan to balance the state’s books because the projected deficit exceeds one percent of the $18 billion budget.

Rell said she intends to give lawmakers that plan soon, but did not say what would be in that proposal.

Legislators last week approved a $300 million plan to reduce the red ink, based largely on an earlier proposal by Rell.

“These are the most difficult times I’ve ever seen in state government,” Rell said.

Rell said she shook Obama’s hand after the meeting and wished him good luck. He wished her good luck with Connecticut’s budget, she said.

“I’m very pleased,” Rell said. “I think to have this dialogue, to have this conversation going back and forth, it’s very helpful and opens that line of communication for the future.”