President-elect Barack Obama met with Governor David Paterson and more than 40 other governors at the National Governors Association conference in Philadelphia Tuesday.

At the conference, the nation's governors pressed the president-elect for financial help for their states and crafted a $100 billion plan for infrastructure-improvement programs.

“We're not here asking for money for governors. If we’re asking for money at all, it’s for the citizens of our state,” said Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell. “Not for us, not for our budgets, but for our state.”

Obama told the governors the plan will take effect when he takes office and that it will include tax cuts and increased federal spending.

"Forty-one states are likely to face budget shortfalls this
year or next, forcing you to choose between reining in spending and
raising taxes," Obama said. "Programs for the needy are at risk.
Libraries, parka, and historic sites are being closed."

He sounded a bipartisan tone, pledging to work with both Democrats and Republicans as they struggle with budgets deficits. He told the governors he is not only looking for their cooperation, but original ideas as well.

"If you can show me something you are doing that's working, or if you tell me that this program or this regulation is hampering us from doing smart things that will the advance the interests of our state, then you're going to have a ready ear," said Obama.

“No one who was about to become the commander-in-chief and the chief executive of this country ever spent this amount of time this publicly and this openly with governors before,” said Governor David Paterson.

The meeting came a day after Obama announced his national security team, which includes New York Senator Hillary Clinton as secretary of state.

Obama called Clinton a woman with extraordinary intelligence and toughness. Clinton said that it will be hard to leave the Senate, but she is ready to tackle global problems.

"We must pursue vigorous diplomacy using all the tools we can muster to build a future with more partners and fewer adversaries, more opportunities and fewer dangers," she said.

Clinton's office says she will not resign her seat until she's confirmed as secretary of state – meaning it could be at least January before Paterson names Clinton's successor.

Paterson revealed Tuesday seven names of people that are helping him with the selection process.

Senator Charles Schumer is advising him, along with congressmen Charles Rangel and Gregory Meeks and Congresswoman Nita Lowey.

Two of Paterson's top aides, Bill Cunningham and Charlotte Hitchcock, are also advising him, as well as the state's First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson.

However, the governor would not comment on who he is considering.

"The thing that any business leader, government official, or bride or groom ever learned is that it never hurts to take a little more time in the selection process," said Paterson.

Also on Tuesday, a spokeswoman for environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that Kennedy telephoned the governor to tell him he has no interest in being appointed to the Senate seat once held by his father.