Gov. Schwarzenegger Continues Feud With Delegation

WASHINGTON – California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says California is getting shortchanged when it comes to federal spending and likened the health care legislation moving through Congress to beating up on his state.

The Republican governor is entering his final year of office with the task of bridging a $20 billion deficit. He says the federal government “owed” the state billions of dollars. If the state is unsuccessful in getting more federal funding this year, his budget calls for eliminating scores of social service programs.

Schwarzenegger said in an interview aired Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” the state’s congressional delegation isn’t representing the state well in this case.

Gov. Schwarzenegger is defending President Barack Obama’s response to terrorist threats.

The Republican governor says he thinks Obama “is doing everything that he can.”

Other GOP leaders have criticized the White House’s terrorism-fighting policies.

Schwarzenegger agrees with Obama that the Christmas incident when a would-be bomber tried to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner showed a communications failure within government intelligence agencies.

The governor also notes that Democrats “a lot of times get the rap” for not being strong on security.