President Barack Obama has met with the National Governors Association (NGA), speaking with the bipartisan group in a bid to work towards bettering the national political climate. Several hot-button issues have characterized President Obama's term, with the meeting's topics of discussion revolving around the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, raising the minimum wage, improving the accessibility and quality of pre-kindergarten education, and stimulating job creation. While the NGA delegates acknowledged that matters had been discussed amicably, signs of pragmatism soon dissolved when the governors were questioned by the press.
President Obama opened proceedings with a lighthearted dig at the visitors with their eyes on the top job. "I enjoyed watching some of you with your eyes on higher office size up the drapes -- and each other," he said.
The President was quick to encourage governors to take action on several pressing issues, despite the possibility of Congress having its hands tide on similar matters. "Even when there is little appetite for Congress to move on some of these priorities at the state level you guys are governed by practical considerations. You want to do right by your people and you see how good policy impacts your citizens and you see how bad policy affects your citizens and that means there's less posturing for politics," he said. "When we've got a Congress that sometimes seems to have a difficult time acting, I want to make sure that I have the opportunity to partner with each of you in any way I can."
The meeting with the president was a closed-door affair, followed by a press conference where the mood remained diplomatic. Nevertheless, it became clear that the opposing parties still had several issues in contention. Governor Bobby Jindal, R-La., urged the President to approve the Keystone Pipeline oil project to boost the economy. "Instead of new regulations, new spending that haven't worked, I would argue he should use his newfound executive power to actually promote jobs," said Jindal. President Obama has indicated that a verdict on the Keystone matter will be reached in the coming months, though as yet remains undecided.
Governor Dannel Malloy, D-Ct., took to the microphone after Jindal. "Wait a second, until a few moments ago we were going down a pretty cooperative road. So let me just say that we don't all agree that moving Canadian oil through the United States is necessarily the best thing for the United States economy," he said. Jindal retaliated, saying: "If that's the most partisan thing he's heard all weekend, I want to make sure he hears a more partisan statement. I think we can grow the economy more if we would delay more of these Obamacare mandates."
Several attendees of today's meeting are thought to be likely contenders for the next presidential election, including New Jersey's beleaguered Governor Chris Christie, who left early to attend his daughter's birthday party.
