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Congress should add $18 billion to the $150 billion stimulus package it’s now considering to help states better weather the economic downturn, Gov. Chet Culver said this morning.

At a press conference at the Capitol, Culver said he’s hopeful that the U.S. Senate will approve up to $12 billion in Federal Medicaid Assistance Program funding for the states, in addition to up to $6 billion in discretionary funds for states. If approved, those latter dollars could be used in Iowa to pay for approximately $150 million for 40 high-priority highway projects that could begin within the next 90 days, he said. Congress approved similar funding to the states for both programs in 2003.

Under the current proposal, Iowans would receive approximately $1.5 billion of the proposed federal rebates, or about 1 percent of the total package. “That would certainly be a good shot in the arm” for Iowa residents, Culver said. Overall, Iowa’s economy is in good shape, the governor said. “But if Congress does this package, we want to make sure it benefits Iowa and does the best for the people of this state.”

Culver said he will meet with leaders of the Iowa House and Senate at noon today to get their input on how the state should use any additional stimulus money provided to the states, as well as to discuss whether a state-level stimulus plan is needed. Culver said he believes the federal stimulus to individuals should be exempt from state income tax, and that he is not counting on additional tax revenues to balance the state’s budget.

“We don’t want to take money out of people’s pockets and limit what they can spend,” Culver said, noting that imposing state income tax would be counterproductive to the purpose of stimulating the economy.

Culver, who represents the 28 Democratic governors of the National Governors Association, will meet Wednesday with congressional leaders at a Democratic caucus in Williamsburg, Va. The Senate Finance Committee, whose ranking Republican member is Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, will determine whether additional state funding is added to the bill.