Obama Confers with US Governors on Economy, Health Care and Education

22 February 2010

President Barack Obama, left, speaks to members of the National Governors Association in the State Dining Room of the White House, 22 Feb. 2010

U.S. President Barack Obama is turning to the nation's governors for help in meeting his domestic priorities. State leaders came to the White House for closed-door discussions on the economy, health care and education.

The private meeting began with a few public remarks by the president, in which he focused on issues of vital interest to the governors. He said they are working together to rebuild the economy, after a series of emergency measures to end the recession and help key industries survive.

Mr. Obama said he understands the toll the recession took on state governments that found themselves with less tax revenue and a rising need for services.

"Overall, the economy is in a better place than it was a year ago," he said. "We were contracting by six percent. We are now growing by six percent. But I know that your states are still in a very tough situation and too many Americans still have not felt the recovery in their own lives."

The president spoke about ongoing efforts to create jobs. He also talked about actions to put America on a stronger economic footing in the future, by improving education standards across the country.

He said America's "primacy in the world" is at stake.