AP photo / Pablo Martinez Monsivais
President-elect Barack Obama, center front, speaks at the bipartisan meeting of the National Governors Association being held at Congress Hall today in Philadelphia, Pa. Among those watching: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, in red in the back row, unsuccessful GOP candidate for vice president.

PROVIDENCE -- Rhode Island's Governor Carcieri has joined his counterparts from across the country in asking the president-elect for help amid a national recession.

Carcieri shook hands with President-elect Barack Obama at a group meeting today held by the National Governors Association. Obama greeted many of the governors with handshakes.

Its members are hoping for a stimulus package that includes at least $40 billion to help pay for health care for the poor and disabled and $136 billion more in infrastructure projects like road and bridge repairs.

Rhode Island is facing serious economic trouble. It was tied with Michigan last month for the worst unemployment rate of any state, 9.3 percent. It also faces a projected budget deficit of at least $357 million for the fiscal year that will end June 30, and about $486 million for the year that will begin July 1.

-- With staff reports