(Host) Governor Jim Douglas’s profile with President Obama continues to grow.
The president has invited Douglas to be a special guest for tonight’s speech to a joint session of Congress.
Earlier this month, Obama invited Douglas to an Oval Office meeting discuss the economic stimulus package.
Douglas is vice chairman of the National Governors Association. And he’s one of the leading Republican governors to support the stimulus package.
Douglas says the invitation to sit in the President’s box for tonight’s speech is another indication that Obama is seeking bipartisan support to improve the economy.
(Douglas) “This is not a partisan matter. Republicans and Democrats across the United States are losing their jobs. They’re losing their investment portfolios. They’re earning less money. Some of them are losing their homes. And we have to find ways to come together on a bipartisan basis to improve the opportunities for the people of the United States."
(Host) Douglas says developing a personal relationship with the president will make it easier to bring concerns involving Vermont to the attention of the White House.
(Douglas) “I’m sure we’ll have opportunities to reach out on behalf of the state of Vermont when issues come up over the coming few years. And it’s good to get acquainted with the President, with his staff, with some members of his cabinet. I think that’ll be helpful to Vermonters."
(Host) Douglas is part of a small bipartisan group of governors who have been invited by the President to attend tonight’s address.