GOP Governors Break Ranks to Support Obama Stimulus Plan

Congressional Republicans turned thumbs down on President Barack Obama's stimulus plan last week, but GOP governors have a different view. They favor the proposal.

Here's a summary of the Republican governors' response from the AP:

NEW YORK — Most Republican governors have broken with their GOP colleagues in Congress and are pushing for passage of President Barack Obama's economic aid plan that would send billions to states for education, public works and health care.

Their state treasuries drained by the financial crisis, governors would welcome the money from Capitol Hill, where GOP lawmakers are more skeptical of Obama's spending priorities.

The 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, planned to meet in Washington this weekend with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other senators to press for her state's share of the package.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist worked the phones last week with members of his state's congressional delegation, including House Republicans. Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, the Republican vice chairman of the National Governors Association, planned to be in Washington on Monday to urge the Senate to approve the plan.

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Not a single Republican voted with the majority last week when the House approved Obama's $819 billion combination of tax cuts and new spending.