Updated February 22, 2009

Schwarzenegger to Stimulus Opponents: Economy More Important Than Principles

AP

California's governor, who just signed a bill to raise taxes by $12 billion to help close a $42 billion budget gap, said politicians need to go beyond their principles and think about what's best for the country.

The country's in the middle of a crisis and President Obama needs team players.

That's the view of a Republican governor, California's Arnold Schwarzenegger, when talking about the bipartisan support he says Obama needs now.

Schwarzenegger and fellow governors are in Washington this weekend for meetings. They see Obama at the White House on Monday.

Schwarzenegger said he feels strongly that Obama needs team players right now. He said governors, Congress, the White House -- everyone has to play together during these tough times, rather than playing politics and making attacks.

"When people need to have roads built, when we talk about infrastructure in America, we need $1.7 trillion to $2 trillion of infrastructure in America. Who cares if you're a Republican or Democrat? Everyone is using the roads. Everyone would use high-speed rail. Everyone uses the infrastructure and all of those things, the schools, the kids. It doesn't matter," he said.

"The horrible thing about politics is that, the more they attack each other, the more that they try to derail each other, the worse it is for the people. That's why ... you know, you've got to go beyond just the principles. You've got to go and say, 'What is right for the country right now?'" Schwarzenegger said.

Schwarzenegger also called the recently signed stimulus bill a tremendous package that will help his financially ailing state.

The governor spoke on ABC's "This Week."

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