With some of the nation's governors split over what to do with the billions of dollars coming their way in the stimulus bill, President Barack Obama hosted 85 of the nation's mayors at the White House on Friday.

Telling them that they are "on the front lines in our communities," the president congratulated the mayors for running their cities despite "impossible choices" between budget cuts and services and said that, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, help was on the way from the White House.

"Instead of waiting for Washington, many of you have already made our cities laboratories of change, coming up with innovative new ways to solve the problems of our time," Obama said.

"You shouldn't have to succeed, though, despite Washington; you should be succeeding with a hand from Washington, and that's what you're going to get now."

The president promised that his economic recovery plan would not only create jobs, but would build pay to bring a crumbling infrastructure into the future by investing in roads, schools, and energy.

"This plan does more to lay a new foundation for our cities' growth and opportunity than anything Washington has done in generations--and it will bring real and lasting change for generations to come," he said.

All of that funding from Washington did come with a warning from the president about acting responsibility.

"So I want to be clear about this:  We cannot tolerate business as usual--not in Washington, not in our state capitols, not in America's cities and towns," Obama said. "And I want everybody here to be on notice that if a local government does the same, I will call them out on it and use the full power of my office and our administration to stop it."

UPDATE: Outside the White House some of the mayors talked to the press.

"It's refreshing to be able to ... for cities to be able to partner with the White House," Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, a Democrat, said. "We have worked on these issues for many, many years, but there's nothing like having a true partner in the White House that we have today with the president and the vice president."

Patrick McCory, the Republican mayor of Charlotte, said, "I did not agree with all the parts of the stimulus package, out of respect, however now that the bill is passed, I want it to work the best way it can. I was very pleased with President Obama's comment regarding accountability; that he'll be watching the governors, which is very important to all these mayors, and that he'll be watching the mayors to make sure the money is not seen as pork or not spent wisely."