Governors push to keep U.S. competitive - 02/27/2007 - MiamiHerald.com

By ROBERT TANNER
AP National Writer
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, left, and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, listen during President Bush's speech at the 2007 Republican Governors Association gala at the National Building Museum in Washington, Monday, Feb. 26, 2007.
Lawrence Jackson
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, left, and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, listen during President Bush's speech at the 2007 Republican Governors Association gala at the National Building Museum in Washington, Monday, Feb. 26, 2007.

* National Governors Association

Globalization has come to every hometown, every school and every workplace, but students and workers are not given the tools to keep up, governors reluctantly agreed Tuesday.

It's past time for a sweeping transformation of education, worker training and economic development, governors said, ending a four-day National Governors Association's meeting with a call for a national commitment to change.

Everyone talks about globalization and international competition, but it's time for concerted action, said Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano. The changes are 'under our feet. On the ground under us, right now,' she said."