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Governor Jodi Rell was among the governors who met with President-Elect Barack Obama in Philadelphia on Tuesday to discuss how states will fit into his economic recovery plan.

Increased federal money for infrastructure projects and Medicaid costs topped Rell's list of priorities. She says she came away with the impression that governors will play a key role in crafting federal aid for infrastructure projects. But she says the Medicaid issue did not get much traction.

"To be perfectly candid I think I got the impression that he was more interested in the stimulus package of infrastructure than specifically dealing with Medicaid." 

Governor Rell has called on state agencies to be "shovel-ready" should an infusion of federal dollars become available for new infrastructure projects. She says Obama told the governors he wants Congress to have a bill ready for him to sign on Inauguration Day. Still, Rell does not expect federal dollars to play a major role in closing Connecticut's budget deficit, which is expected to top 2.4 billion dollars next year. 

"I don't think that it will have a huge impact immediately on deficit reduction, but I think anytime you can reduce your unemployment rate, obviously that will be beneficial, because those people will be working and they will be paying taxes, and that is what we need right now when our tax revenue is so much in the decline mode, if you will." 

Overall, Governor Rell says she was most impressed with the meeting's spirit of communication. She says the National Governors Association believes it is the first time an incoming president has met with governors before being sworn in.