U.S. President Barack Obama sought on Monday to bolster political support for the $787 billion economic package, telling the nation's governors that the money would go out quickly and be spent wisely.

The package of public works funds, tax cuts and aid to states that Obama signed into law last week highlighted partisan division in Washington after it passed the U.S. Congress with only three Republican votes.

Many congressional Republicans derided the stimulus as wasteful. But while some Republican governors said they would refuse some of the money others welcomed it as needed help for their fiscal woes.

Meeting with the governors of both parties at the White House, Obama told them that a $15 billion portion of the stimulus slated to help states pay for the Medicaid health program for the poor would be going out on Wednesday.

"I know something that is going to be of great relief to many of you," Obama said.

"This is not a blank check," he added. "We're going to work with you closely to make sure that this money is spent the way it's supposed to." read more