Perdue asks for economic birthday gift

Gov. Beverly Perdue met with the state's Congressional delegation in Washington this morning to discuss an economic stimulus package.

After meeting with members of President-elect Barack Obama's transition staff, Perdue talked individually with Rep. G.K. Butterfield, Rep. Mel Watt and Rep. Heath Shuler, Rep. Mike McIntyre, Rep. Sue Myrick and Sen. Richard Burr and Sen. Kay Hagan, Ryan Teague Beckwith reports.

Perdue also met with U.S. Rep. David Price, who also organized the full delegation meeting.

Wednesday was Perdue's 62nd birthday.

"This is the gift they can give me on behalf of North Carolina," Perdue said.

Perdue also held a closed-door roundtable with several members of Congress. Perdue said she is asking for federal money to start "shovel ready" projects as well as short-term support for ongoing needs in the state budget.

"I can find a billion dollars. I found it yesterday," Perdue said. "I can tell you pretty quickly where I'm going to go first to find a billion dollars of our shortfall. I can't find another billion dollars."

Perdue is not saying yet where she plans to cut from the state's $21.5 billion budget. Economists predict the shortfall caused by a national recession may be as large as $3 billion.

After her meetings are done, Perdue plans to fly back to Raleigh to have a birthday dinner with her husband, Bob Eaves.

Correction: Post inadvertently left out Price. Sorry about that.