Gov. Rell meets with Pres-elect Obama

Philadelphia (WTNH/AP) - President-elect Barack Obama is pledging quick work on an economic recovery plan to include tax cuts and increased federal spending and telling the nation's governors he wants their help in designing it.

As he sat down with governors struggling with budget deficits at home, Obama said he wants to "put tax cuts into the pockets of hard-pressed middle class families." He also said Tuesday that he intends to "make a down payment on the investments we need to build a strong economy for years to come."

Vice President Joe Biden told the same group he hopes they will not criticize the incoming administration for raising the deficit as it tries to help them.

Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell is among those meeting with Obama and Biden.

"We're hurting, and while I make no bones about it I am not going with my hat in my hand or my hand out," the governor said in a live interview on Good Morning Connecticut.

Rell says Connecticut is looking at a possible $2.7 billion budget shortfall next year.

The state has collected less personal income tax, less sales tax and less gas tax revenue.

Gov. Rell has asked her advisors to get a list of projects together so if President-elect Barack Obama releases money to states Connecticut can get cracking on so-called shovel ready projects.

"These are things that have received all their permits. They're ready to go. There is no waiting. We're just waiting on the funds for them obviously," Gov. Rell said. "So if that's to come through it will help all of our states, get people employed, get them working, and that will be a great help.

Gov. Rell said those shovel-ready projects she would like to focus on first include roads and bridges and infrastructure projects.

Gov. Rell drove to Philadelphia for this meeting on her own dime. She has banned out-of-state travel.