Governor Jim Doyle says there's a strong desire to work with President-elect Barack Obama on ways the federal government can help states facing major budget shortfalls.
Doyle was among several governors who met Tuesday with Obama in Philadelphia. He says it was a good opportunity to talk about the financial problems facing states. Doyle described it as an "exchange of ideas" on what can be done to stimulate the economy, get people working, and grow the economy in the coming year.
Doyle says he'd like to see federal assistance focused on infrastructure and making sure programs are available for those suffering from the financial downturn. The governor says medical assistance is often one of the first areas to suffer from budget problems in a down economy, because more people rely on them for help.
Wisconsin is facing a projected $5.4 billion shortfall. Doyle says there's no commitment on how much aid states could receive. However, even if Wisconsin receives federal help, Doyle says cuts will still be needed.
