Schwarzenegger seeks federal funds

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Schwarzenegger seeks federal funds

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Faced with an $8 billion budget shortfall, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will visit the nation's capital Thursday, with a bipartisan group of state legislators in tow, to lobby for a larger piece of the federal pie for the Golden State.

The cross-party effort, which is being billed as "unprecedented," puts the actor's star power to work with fellow Republicans who control the levers of power in Washington.

California leaders have long complained their state gets a smaller share of federal money, based on the amount contributed to federal coffers, than almost any other state. State Democrats plan to wear lapel stickers Thursday reading "79c," designed to draw attention to their estimate that the nation's most populous state gets only 79 cents for every dollar it sends back to Washington, D.C.

Some Democrats in Sacramento have warned the governor and his GOP allies in Washington that the trip will be considered a failure unless they return with new pledges of federal aid.

The governor and his bipartisan entourage are scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. with House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis, R-California.

A source said Schwarzenegger may also meet with five other California GOP House members who chair committees, including Reps. Bill Thomas (Ways and Means), David Dreier (Rules), Chris Cox (Homeland Security), Duncan Hunter (Armed Services) and Richard Pombo (Resources).

Later in the morning, the governor will meet with other Republicans in the state's House delegation, and they later will be joined by the Democrats in the 53-member delegation.

State leaders are also expected to lobby against closing California military facilities during the next round of base closings by the Pentagon.

Asked last week about Schwarzenegger's trip, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, said she hoped the meetings would produce "strong unity" and that lawmakers could "come together" on issues such as children, the economy and the environment.

But asked if she saw any signs that California is drawing a greater share of federal funds under Schwarzenegger's leadership, she said, flatly, "No."

Schwarzenegger is also scheduled to meet with Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California, and aides said a meeting is also likely with the state's senior Democratic senator, Dianne Feinstein.

A source also said the governor is to meet with Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt to discuss Medicare reimbursement.

While in Washington, Schwarzenegger also plans to meet privately with Chellie Pingree, the president of Common Cause, to discuss his proposal to reform the state's redistricting process.

The governor wants political lines, for both state legislative and congressional districts, to be drawn by a panel of retired judges, rather than by the legislature.

Lawmakers from both parties have been cool to the idea, including Dreier, a key backer of Schwarzenegger in his gubernatorial bid.

CNN's John Mercurio, Candy Crowley, Ted Barrett and Mike Roselli contributed to this report.

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