Gov. Sarah Palin met with President-elect Barack Obama in Philadelphia on Tuesday. (NBC News) |
That's the message coming out of Tuesday's meeting in Philadelphia between President-elect Barack Obama and state governors, including Alaska's Sarah Palin.
Palin said the barbs traded on the campaign trail are in the past. She and Obama agree that moving forward is not just about Republicans and Democrats working together, but also having states and the federal government do the same.
When it comes to cleaning up the economic mess the nation is in, Obama told the governors there is no room for messy partisanship in the White House.
"There is a time for campaigning and there is a time for governing," he said.
He promised to listen to Democratic and Republican governors alike with a ready ear.
"We recognize that change is not going to come from Washington alone," Obama said. "It's going to come from all of you."
And Obama asked them all to make sure the work he's doing is the right work for families nationwide.
"Keeping us on track," he said, "not allowing Joe and myself to get infected with Washington-itus.'"
As a self-described Washington outsider, Palin says that's good news.
"He, having reached out to us, is greatly appreciated," Palin said.
Palin agrees that governor know-how is valuable -- and if not her, at least her ideas will have a seat in the nation's capital.
"Remember, on the campaign trail I tried to convince the majority of voters that governors knew best. Obviously that didn't work," Palin said. "I'm here and VP-elect Biden is there."
The governors want $136 billion to repair roads and other infrastructure needs, and $40 billion to help pay for health care for the poor. It's unclear how much of the money would flow to Alaska.
As for an overall stimulus package, Palin said she and other governors aren't thrilled about the idea of loading more debt onto an already struggling nation.
"This is going to be a matter of re-prioritizing federal dollars though, and putting them to use in the wisest fashion for taxpayers, for constituents," she said.
They do have differences. But from the state house to the White House -- faced with tough times and tough decisions -- come pledges to do the people's work and leave the politics behind.
In a written statement after the meeting, Palin said she used her time with Obama to talk up the need for a natural gas pipeline.
Palin is on her way back to Alaska. Of course politics were a part of her agenda this week. She took a side trip to campaign on behalf of Georgia's Republican incumbent senator, Saxby Chambliss who defeated Jim Martin in a runoff election on Tuesday.
And in her campaign speeches at his rallies she told voters it was important to keep Chambliss in office to block Democrats from gaining too much power. His win means Democrats will not gain a filibuster-proof majority of 60 seats in the 111th Congress.
Contact Jill Burke at jburke@ktuu.com
