Pawlenty in DC for governors meeting

by Tim Nelson, Minnesota Public Radio

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is in Washington, along with the nation's other governors, to meet with President Barack Obama ahead of the president's address to Congress tomorrow.

Pawlenty is in the nation's Capitol for a meeting of the National Governor's Association, an organization he once chaired.

Pawlenty and other governors heard from the president this morning about the stimulus plan he signed into law last week.

Although often critical of the federal government's deficit spending, Pawlenty has said he's willing to accept borrowed money from Washington for now.

The state is facing a budget deficit of at least $4.8 billion, and Pawlenty says the stimulus will help address Minnesota's negative balance of payments to Washington.

Pawlenty has been mentioned as a contender for Obama's job in 2012, after nearly being picked as John McCain's running mate last fall. He declined to outline his political plans during a television interview on Sunday.