At Governors' Conference, It's the Economy Stupid

BOSTON -- At a press conference on the opening day of the National Governors Association Summer meeting in Boston, governors from different parties had one clear message: their states are being plagued by budget deficits and tough economic times.

"As we come out of the great recession, states have had to make some very difficult budget choices," said the outgoing NGA president, Vermont's Republican Gov. Jim Douglas. "In some cases they've chosen to increase taxes, they depleted reserves, they've borrowed more, they've done what is necessary to get through this difficult time."

In a clear jab at the way Washington has handled the economic downturn Douglas said, "Unlike the federal government, we can't print money, we have to balance our budgets."

The focus of the conference is expected to be on health care, but it is clear the underlying concern is how these governors can work together to grow their local economies.

"We all recognize that we are not going to be able to tax our way to a prosperous future," said Democratic Gov. Jack Markell of Delaware. "We're not going to be able to cut our way to a prosperous future. In the end, that means that we need to grow our way.

Hosting Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, joked at the beginning of the press conference that he was excited the conference was being held in his state.

"We are especially pleased to have so many people here to pump some welcome dollars in our local economy," he said.

Patrick said the city expects to gain as much as $3 million over the course of the conference, adding, "We're challenging our guests to beat that projection."