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Governors get star treatment in inauguration
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Posted on Jan 20 2005
Together with 54 other U.S. governors, Gov. Juan N. Babauta gets to get a prominent seat in today’s inauguration ceremonies for President Bush in Washington D.C.
“All governors will be assembled and transported right next to the stage where the president will be sworn-in. All the 55 governors will be prominently seated pretty close to the president. We’re very happy and proud about that because we don’t usually attend inaugurations because we’re so far away. To be present here representing the CNMI is a great honor,” said Babauta in a brief phone call from D.C. yesterday.
He said the governors will be gathered first at the National Governor’s Association headquarters in D.C. before they are brought to the inaugural site.
After the 55th U.S. president is sworn in, he said the governors will join the presidential entourage at a review stand to view the parade.
“It’s not too far from the White House. There, we will be seated next to the president with all the Cabinet members [and] members of Congress,” he said.
Babauta said there are many inaugural balls that would take place later in the day but he may only attend one—most likely the Texas barbeque-style inaugural party.
“We’ll be attending that one but probably at the end of the day, I’ll be frozen here,” he laughed, noting that offices had to be shut down yesterday morning due to heavy snow.
He said the weather condition had affected some of his meetings with federal officials, including some members of Congress.
While in D.C., Babauta is set to meet with Indiana Rep. Dan Burton to discuss regional health issues and funding for dialysis units for the Commonwealth Health Center and Alaska Rep. Don Young for funding for the $12-million Talafofo road project on Saipan.
After the presidential inauguration, Babauta said that he and Guam Gov. Felix Camacho will meet with the Marianas reservists in Fort Hope, Louisiana.
The troops are expected to be deployed to Iraq by February.
