奥巴马每日发言To the national governors association(2009-02-

Remarks by the President and the Vice 1 President
To the national governors association
State Dining Room

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  Everybody, please have a seat.

First of all, thanks for not breaking anything last night.  (Laughter.)  Thank you also for waiting until I had left before you started the Congo line.  I don't know whether Rendell was responsible for that -- (laughter) -- but I hear it was quite a spectacle.  Michelle and I just had a wonderful time last night and I hope all of you enjoyed it.  It was a great kick-off of what we hope will be an atmosphere here in the White House that is welcoming and that reminds everybody that this is the people's house.  We are just temporary occupants.  This is a place that belongs to the American people and we want to make sure that everybody understands it's open.

Almost three months ago, we came together in Philadelphia to listen to one another, to share ideas, and to try to push some of our ideology 2 rigidity 3 aside to formulate 4 a recovery plan that would bring some relief to your states and to the American people.

And I want to thank so many of you who were active throughout this process to get the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act done.  I don't want to single out too many folks, but Governor Rendell, Governor Douglas, worked tirelessly.  We had people like Governor Patrick and Governor Schweitzer, Schwarzenegger, Crist, who were out there consistently promoting the plan.  And as a consequence we got this passed through Congress in record time.

Because of what we did together, this plan will save or create at least 3.5 million jobs in every state across the country.  It will keep your police officers on the beat, your firefighters on the job, your teachers in the classroom.  It will provide expanded unemployment insurance and protect health care for your residents who have been laid off.  And beginning April 1st, it will put more money back into the pockets of 95 percent of your working families.

So this plan will ensure that you don't need to make cuts to essential services that Americans rely on now more than ever.  And to show you we're serious about putting this recovery plan into action swiftly, I'm announcing today that this Wednesday, our administration will begin distributing more than $15 billion in federal assistance under the Recovery Act to help you cover the costs of your Medicaid programs -- I know something that is going to be of great relief to many of you.

That means that by the time most of you get home; money will be waiting to help 20 million vulnerable Americans in your states keep their health care coverage 5.  (Applause.)  Children with asthma 6 will be able to breathe easier, seniors won't need to fear losing their doctors, and pregnant women with limited means won't have to worry about the health of their babies.  So let me be clear, though:  This is not a blank check.  I know you've heard this repeatedly over the last few days, but I want to reiterate 7 it:  These funds are intended to go directly towards helping 8 struggling Americans keep their health coverage, we want to make sure that's what's happening and we're going to work with you closely to make sure that this money is spent the way it's supposed to.

We will get the rest of this plan moving to put Americans to work doing the work America needs done, making an immediate 9 impact while laying the foundation for our lasting 10 growth and prosperity.

These are the steps we're taking to help you turn this crisis into opportunity and pave the way for future prosperity.  But I know that many of you, rather than wait for Washington, have already made your states.  You are innovators and much of the work that you've done has already made a lasting impact and change in people's lives.  Instead of debating the existence of climate change, governors like the seven of you of you working together in the western climate initiative, and the 10 of you who are working together on the regional greenhouse gas initiative are leading the way in environmental and energy policy.  Instead of waiting around for the jobs of the future, governors like Governor Gregoire and Governor Granholm have sparked the creation of cutting-edge companies and tens of thousands of new green jobs.  And instead of passing the buck 11 on accountability and efficiency, governors like Martin O'Malley and Governor Kaine, have revolutionized performance management systems, showing the American people precisely 12 how their governments are working for them.

The point that I made yesterday, or last night, is something that I want to reiterate, though.  You shouldn't be succeeding despite Washington; you should be succeeding with a hand from Washington, and that's what we intend to give you in this administration.  In return, we'll expect a lot from you as the hard work of making the recovery plan's promise a reality begins.

And that's why I'm announcing today that I'm asking my Vice President, Joe Biden, to oversee 13 our administration's implementation 14 efforts.  Beginning this week, Joe will meet regularly with key members of my Cabinet to make sure our efforts are not just swift, but also efficient and effective.  Joe is also going to work closely with you, our nation's governors, as well as our mayors and everyone else involved in this effort, to keep things on track.  And the fact that I'm asking my Vice President to personally lead this effort shows how important it is for our country and our future to get this right, and I thank him for his willingness to take on this critical task.  (Applause.)