WASHINGTON -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sunday defended his record public works borrowing proposal as essential for California's future, characterizing it as an investment rather than a spending plan.

Schwarzenegger's appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" came three days after he declared a state of emergency for California's aging levee system. The move is intended to trigger quick spending to shore up the dangerously fragile barriers and avoid a New Orleans-style catastrophe in the state's quickly developing Central Valley.

Repairing the levees is just part of a 10-year, $222 billion spending plan Schwarzenegger proposed in January. He said California has too long neglected upgrades and expansion of its highways, schools, public transit systems, prisons and government buildings.

When host Tim Russert characterized the proposal as "spend, spend, spend," Schwarzenegger interrupted.

"No, it's invest, invest, invest, Tim. You're wrong," Schwarzenegger said.

"Those people that are criticizing my infrastructure deal and my strategic growth plan are people that are a little bit confused about the difference between spending and investing," he said on the nationally televised show.

Schwarzenegger will be in Washington through Tuesday, where he is attending the annual meeting of the National Governors Association.

Later Sunday, he met with fellow governors to promote health and fitness and was scheduled to attend a White House dinner with his wife, Maria Shriver.

The plan to rebuild California's public works infrastructure to accommodate an ever-expanding population is the centerpiece of Schwarzenegger's policy agenda for his reelection year.

While polls show it has struck a chord with the public, the plan has faced criticism because of its sheer size -- even from within the governor's own party.

Schwarzenegger wants voters to approve $68 billion in new borrowing over the next five election cycles, but some Democrats and conservative Republicans are concerned that could be more than the state can handle.

The spending plan has caused dissent in the California Republican Party, which wrapped up its winter convention Sunday.

Schwarzenegger alluded to the split when Russert asked him if he'd run for re-election this year as a Bush Republican.

"I will run as an Arnold Republican, which is that I am there to govern and to serve the people of California, meaning Democrats and Republicans...," Schwarzenegger said.

In his "Meet the Press" interview, Schwarzenegger reiterated the need for help strengthening the levees throughout California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Neighborhoods in Sacramento are at particular risk, with water managers warning that some areas could quickly be under 15 to 20 feet of water if levees fail.

Schwarzenegger plans to raise the issue Monday in a meeting with Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and in a group meeting with other governors and Bush.

On Tuesday, the governor visits Capitol Hill to press lawmakers for more money for the levees.

"We can have a worse disaster than New Orleans, so I'm concerned about that, that we are not really doing enough to protect the people," Schwarzenegger said.

On Schwarzenegger's sixth Washington visit since his election in 2003, he said he also would ask Bush for increased federal spending for California needs, including border security and jailing illegal immigrants who commit crimes.

On "Meet the Press," Schwarzenegger renewed criticism that California gets back only about 79 cents in services for every dollar it pays in federal taxes -- an imbalance that persists even though Schwarzenegger pledged to fix it when he ran for governor as "the Collectinator."

Russert also asked Schwarzenegger to weigh in on the controversy over proposed management of operations at U.S. ports by a company based in the United Arab Emirates. No California port is involved.

Schwarzenegger said he thought a delay in the plan was a good idea but that he had no basic opposition if security concerns were resolved.

Later Sunday, while speaking at the governors meeting, he aligned himself with the Democrat perhaps most scorned by Republicans.

"I believe very strongly in what Hillary Clinton said, that it takes a village to raise a child," Schwarzenegger said.

The comment came in a speech in which Schwarzenegger said children should be taught early on to exercise and eat well. The issue is a new focus of the governors group under the leadership of Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who's lost 110 pounds on an exercise plan.