McDonnell talks to Obama at the White House

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell missed a National Governors Association dinner at the White House with President Obama Sunday night because the General Assembly adjourned its annual legislative session a day late.

Instead, McDonnell (R) left for Washington immediately after adjournment Sunday night in time to join other governors for a meeting with Obama at the White House Monday morning and then lunch with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).

McDonnell said he expected to spend the day talking about immigration, offshore drilling, health care and budgets.

"I think there are honestly some difference of opinion between Republican and Democratic governors on maybe the health care approach and so forth, but there is universal concern about unfunded federal mandates on state government,'' McDonnell told reporters before he left for Washington. "Unfunded federal mandates that undermine flexibility for governors to make individual choices for their states."

In addition to the National Governors Association events, McDonnell is attended a breakfast and a reception with the Republican Governors Association, of which he is vice-chairman.