Governor's Statement on Meeting with President-elect Obama
December 2, 2008
AUGUSTA – Governor John E. Baldacci released the following statement after meeting with President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden in Philadelphia. The Governor participated in the meeting with other governors as part of the National Governors Association.
“President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden gave us an enormous opportunity that hasn’t been offered for some time. They consulted with the nation’s governors – both Democrats and Republicans – at the beginning of their transition. They reached out to all of us in an effort to get this country going again. We’re going to be part of the discussion and the process as they develop their plans.”
“There’s broad agreement across political parties and ideologies that the country is in a perilous situation, which requires a substantial federal investment,” Governor Baldacci said. “President-elect Obama recognizes that we need to get people back to work, and one of the best ways to do that is to invest in our country’s infrastructure, which not only helps the economy today but also builds the foundation for long-term economic development, job growth and entrepreneurship.”
“In the short-term, we have to get things going,” Governor Baldacci said. “But in the long-term, we also have to be disciplined and balance the budget, which governors understand all too well.”
“I look forward to working with the new Obama Administration as we grapple with the significant economic problems facing Maine and the country. Already, the President-elect has demonstrated that he recognizes the important role states play in our country’s recovery.”
