When President-elect Barack Obama arrives at Philadelphia's Independence Hall Tuesday to meet with the nation's governors, the main question will be not whether he will deliver fast fiscal relief to the states, but how much?

Obama and congressional Democrats have promised that soon after Inauguration Day he will sign an economic stimulus bill that could exceed $500 billion. The governors intend to request about $176 billion of that - $136 billion for infrastructure projects and $40 billion to bolster Medicaid health programs that serve the poor and disabled.

"The slowing economy is resulting in growing unemployment, increased demand for state services and significant declines in state revenues," said Gov. Jim Douglas (R-Vermont), who is vice chairman of the National Governors Association. "It's critical this happen as soon as possible."

As the economic downturn has swept from the housing market to financial institutions to the automobile industry, Obama has begun sketching out plans to address a recession that most experts project will be deep and long lasting. At the heart of his approach is a massive infusion of federal tax dollars.