WASHINGTON — Scott Walker, the Republican governor of Wisconsin, probably won't come. He's at home battling absentee Democratic lawmakers, unions and protesters over proposed changes to collective bargaining.
Pool photo by Ron Sachs
On the Democratic side, California Gov. Jerry Brown and New York's Andrew Cuomo also won't be here. They're busy patching multibillion-dollar holes in their states' budgets.
Most of the rest of the nation's governors are leaving their state capitals for the annual winter meeting here of the National Governors Association. It's the largest class of new governors in history; 29 were elected last year.
Part commiserating, part lobbying and part strategizing, the gathering this weekend is an opportunity for governors of both parties to present a united front to the president and Congress.
Officially, job creation and staying competitive in a global economy top the agenda.
Unofficially, "the fiscal situation continues to be so bad it's going to move through everything," said Ray Scheppach, the organization's executive director.
The 103-year-old group has a reputation for bipartisanship.
"If you were to sit in on one of those governors-only sessions, if you didn't already know, you wouldn't be able to tell who the Democrats and who the Republicans are," Scheppach said.
On agreements and differences
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, chairman, Democratic Governors Association:
• Where both parties can agree: "One area where we historically all agree is that we can't build and rebuild all our infrastructure unless Congress passes a long-term authorization bill. We can't do it based on continuing resolutions."
• How they differ: "Democratic governors are focused on solving problems and creating jobs. Republican governors, for all their bombast and bluster, are driving people apart and settling old political scores."
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, vice chairman, Republican Governors Association:
• Where both parties can agree: "We have broad agreement that more unfunded mandates are a bad idea. The federal government can print money and doesn't have to balance a budget. I support much of what President Obama is doing in the education area."
• How they differ: "There is a difference in governmental philosophy about what to do about the fiscal plight most states find themselves in. We see a lot of Democratic governors not making the tough choices on spending, raising taxes dramatically."
Governors from both parties often agree on issues where they think the federal government is encroaching on states, said John Dinan, a political science professor at Wake Forest University.
For example: A provision in last year's health care law bars states from reducing Medicaid eligibility until 2014 — giving governors little flexibility to deal with their budget woes.
"Even on this issue, where partisan lines run pretty deep, there are issues that all governors should be able to recognize," Dinan said. "You're not seeing them taking on the essence of the Affordable Care Act."
Walker, the Wisconsin governor, was supposed to lead a discussion Sunday on the sustainability of Medicaid. He won't come "unless the Senate Democrats come back and do their jobs between now and then," spokesman Chris Schrimpf said.
President Obama has invited Democratic governors to strategize today about job creation. That's in addition to two bipartisan events at the White House: a black-tie dinner Sunday night and a business meeting Monday.
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