All 50 governors are in Washington, D.C. Sunday night.

They attended a dinner with President Barack Obama Sunday, during which he assured them that he wants to help all of their states through this economy in crisis.

Their host President Obama greeted the 50 state leaders with a toast.

“I want you to know that, regardless of our occasional differences, I hope we can work together,” Obama said. “I am confident we can do that.”

It was all smiles at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but earlier in the day, several governors made the Sunday morning circuit to criticize Obama’s plan to cut America’s budget deficit in half.

“I would only make this point: is there any president who hasn’t said they would decrease the deficit in the last 25 years?” Gov. Mark Sanford, of South Carolina, said. “It’s been a fairly consistent refrain.”

“Well, and the last one who did was a Democrat, and he actually got rid of it,” Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said.

“I think it’s bold, I think it’s timely, I think it’s the right thing to do,” Gov. Jon Corzine, of New Jersey, says. “And for those of us who want to stimulate the national economy and get our economy stabilized, I think it is absolutely essential.”

The White House says it plans to chip away at the deficit, which is at least $1.2 trillion dollars, by cutting Iraq war spending, raising taxes on wealthy Americans, and carefully examining government programs.

Some governors are also creating waves by suggesting they will refuse some of the government’s stimulus money.

The president will address Congress on Tuesday and present his full budget to the nation later in the week.

(Source: CBS2 HD)