DENVER -- Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is waiting to see the result of an economic stimulus showdown between some southern governors and President Barack Obama.

"It feels to me that they're making a political point," said Ritter.

This week, South Carolina’s governor suggested he is going to turn down stimulus money being sent to states to help deal with the recession. He joins other governors from Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi who have publicly criticized the stimulus package.

Some in Washington D.C. are now suggesting that the money states refuse to use for stimulus purposes is shared with others. A proposal was drafted several weeks ago, but a final decision has not been made.

Ritter is doubtful it will all get to that stage.

"At the end of the day, the states are going to find a way to take some, or a significant part, of the money," Ritter said.

Ritter said the stimulus package is already having an impact on Colorado. He said bids are already out on several shovel-ready construction projects across the state. It is a move he says will save jobs. The governor also said Medicaid money from the federal government is helping ease an increase in demand; a burden hitting states hard.

Kathy White with the Colorado Center on Law and Policy thinks this is not the time for politics and says if other states want to turn down the stimulus money, Colorado could definitely use the extra money.

"We have a lot of people needing food assistance, healthcare assistance, double the normal amount of people needing food stamps assistance,” White said.

Ritter said for now, he's in a watch-and-wait mode.

"My sense is we just have to wait and let the dust settle on this and see what happens," he said.