President-elect Barack Obama pledged to work closely with the nation’s governors at a meeting of the National Governors Association in Philadelphia this morning.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver later told reporters he was encouraged by the meeting with Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden, which included a discussion of a second round of federal economic stimulus payments that would be focused largely on repairing states’ crumbling roads and bridges. The NGA is seeking $136 billion in additional infrastructure funding for “ready-to-go” projects, along with $40 billion for Medicaid programs.

“I think our message collectively as governors was well-received,” said Culver, who said he had the opportunity to speak personally with both Obama and Biden. Iowa has $150 million in road and bridge projects which, if funded, could provide 6,000 additional jobs in the state, Culver said. Additional Medicaid, unemployment and food assistance would also provide more of a safety net for Iowans who have lost their jobs and health insurance, he said.

According to the NGA, 20 states already have cut $7.6 billion from their fiscal year 2009 budgets, and 30 states have identified additional shortfalls totaling more than $30 billion. Iowa has projected a budget shortfall of $350 million for 2009. Twenty-five states also have identified shortfalls of $60 billion for FY 2010.

Obama pledged to work closely with the governors, and said that he wants the governors to help draft his economic plan instead of just helping to implement it.

“If we’re listening to the governors, then the money that we spend is going to be well-spent, and it means that it’s going to get working faster and the people in your states are going to experience prosperity sooner,” Obama said.

Culver said he was the only governor to emphasize the need for removing regulatory hurdles that prevent the wind-energy industry from building both more production and transmission capacity.

“Certain companies in Iowa will invest in more wind farms, in extending the grid, if they can get approval,” he said. “But because of red tape these projects are being delayed at a time when they are most needed.

“Federal agencies also need to do a better job of getting disaster assistance funds that have already been approved to Iowa and other states, he said.