Gov. Rendell, Chair of the National Governors Association addresses reporters after meeting with President-elect Barack Obama (Robert Hennelly/WNYC)

NEW YORK, NY December 02, 2008 —Today, 40 of the nation's governors, including governors Corzine and Paterson, will be in Philadelphia to make their case to President-elect Obama for quick federal aid. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has this preview.

REPORTER: Collectively, the states are sinking in a sea of rising red ink as tax revenues drop dramatically but demand on social safety net services spike. And unlike the Federal government, states can't just print more money. So top on the governors list is a multi-faceted and robust federal stimulus package worth $126 billion. Most pressing is supplemental federal aid to support the rising cost of Medicaid that provides health care for the swelling ranks of uninsured. Also, the governors will want Washington to commit billions to long languishing infrastructure upgrades. For WNYC I'm Bob Hennelly.