Governors Seek Help From Federal Officials on NCLB Law, Funds

Washington

The nation’s governors last week identified spiraling Medicaid and other health-care spending as their top budget concern, and asked President Bush and Congress for help in keeping such costs from bleeding other state budget priorities, such as K-12 education.

Members of the National Governors Association also approved at their winter meeting here a set of recommendations on federal policy that are designed to give governors more authority over federal aid for workforce training, early-childhood education, and the transition from high school to college.

The governors’ action at the NGA meeting, Feb. 28 to March 1, followed the two-day national summit on high schools, where governors debated ways to improve...