Stickland joins mayors, governors in prodding Congress for financial help

Governor Strickland is joining his counterparts from other states and the nation's mayors in pressing Congress for economic relief.

The officials say the best way to revive the economy is to increase spending at the local level. They're prodding Congress to increase food stamp payments, extend unemployment insurance and boost funding for Medicaid.

Strickland and the other governors are promoting a federal spending plan that would mean an additional $126 billion for Medicaid, highway construction and job training.

In a separate announcement today, the National League of Cities recommends extending unemployment insurance benefits by seven weeks, or an additional 13 weeks in states with high jobless rates.