Blagojevich To Attend National Governors' Meeting

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich says he'll travel to Philadelphia this week to join his peers at a meeting of the National Governors Association.

President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden are expected to speak to the group Tuesday at Independence Hall.

Blagojevich says he wants to use the meeting with Obama to discuss how the federal government can help address state budget shortfalls.

Illinois has an estimated $2 billion deficit. The governor has already made budget cuts that closed several state parks and historic sites.

Blagojevich has asked legislators and Obama's transition team for federal stimulus aid of $1 billion annually over the next three years.