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Gov. Steve Beshear joined governors from across the nation in Philadelphia today for a meeting with President-Elect Barack Obama to discuss the country’s current economic crisis.
"Kentucky’s economy, like many states, is in recession," Beshear said in a letter he delivered today to the president-elect.
"Kentucky and all states need immediate help to assure that the federal efforts to stimulate the economy are not jeopardized by lagging state economies."
In a letter to President-Elect Obama, Beshear emphasized the need for aid to continue funding for programs that provide increased assistance and support to vulnerable populations, especially during tough economic times.
Beshear specifically requested:
- Increased match rates for Medicaid to help states meet the needs of the increasing numbers of vulnerable citizens eligible for healthcare services;
- Direct aid for state unemployment insurance programs in grant form, similar to the 2002 Reed Act;
- Funding for infrastructure projects that could be quickly started to generate work in the construction and road building industries; and
- Direct federal fiscal relief for state governments, similar to aid provided in the 2002 and 2003 recessions, which alleviated cuts to education and some social programs.
In his letter to President-Elect Obama, Beshear also reiterated the great need for assistance for the domestic automobile industry, which employs nearly 82,000 Kentuckians and is a cornerstone of the state’s economy, adding $5.6 billion to the commonwealth’s gross domestic product in 2006.
"We must do everything in our power to assure that the auto industry maintains a strong economic foundation," said Beshear.
