Governor to meet with Senators to talk about the state budget

Democrat Governor Vilsack and republican U-S Senator Chuck Grassley will meet in Washington D-C today to talk about Iowa’s budget woes. Grassley says the federal government -may- be able to help the state government in areas like Medicaid reform. Grassley says more money would have come to the state for Medicaid under an economic stimulus package a few months ago.Grassley couldn’t say whether that Medicare plan would be revived again. He says another area where the federal government may be able to offer states more money is in welfare reform. Grassley says Uncle Sam wants to see states take more action in two areas first.Making sure welfare recipients and a larger portion of them are in the workforce and that states do more to promote the institution of marriage. Vilsack is in Washington to attend meetings of the National Governors Association. He also plans to meet with Iowa’s Democrat Senator, Tom Harkin.