WASHINGTON | After more than three years away from the White House, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels returned to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. this weekend in a much different capacity.

Daniels, the former director of the Office of Management and Budget under President George W. Bush, came back to take part in the National Governors Association annual winter meeting.

Daniels attended a black-tie dinner event with the president Sunday night and was one of a few governors to sleep at the White House afterward.

"It's always a highlight being at the White House," Daniels said. "I don't mean for the spectacle and all. The assembled knowledge and wisdom in that room of governors is really impressive."

Daniels spent the weekend attending various NGA sessions and meeting with other politicians and business people. The governors association held meetings Saturday and Sunday on subjects such as health care, education and transportation.

On Sunday, Daniels participated in a conference highlighting the importance of science, technology, engineering and math education when competing in the global economy, a topic that was one of the central elements at the annual meeting. The governor also took part in a session on regional economic growth.

Capping off Daniels' trip was a Monday morning governors-only session with President Bush in the White House. Bush used the opportunity to encourage governors to support his proposed change in the tax code to help more people buy health insurance.