Governor, legislative leaders in Washington

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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state legislative leaders are in Washington today for a round of meetings as they lobby the federal government for more assistance.

They start with Sen. Barbara Boxer at 10 a.m. and continue with Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, then Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Schwarzenegger will attend a Republican congressional caucus lunch, most likely with Republican legislative leaders Sam Blakeslee of the Assembly and Dennis Hollingsworth of the state Senate.

The Democrats, including Senate leader Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, are expected to attend a Democratic caucus lunch.

President Obama’s aides told Schwarzenegger that the president was too busy to meet with the governor this week, but that he would make time for Schwarzenegger in February when the National Governors Assn. meeting takes place.

-- Michael Rothfeld in Washington