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Babauta skips DC trip
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Posted on Mar 01 2005
Gov. Juan N. Babauta decided this time to skip his supposed travel to Washington, D.C., where at least three engagements—a congressional hearing, the national governors’ meeting, and the Interagency Group on Insular Affairs plenary session—were awaiting him.
Instead, Babauta sent attorney general Pamela Brown and his consultant, Adam Turner, to handle the D.C. matter, according to press secretary Peter A. Callaghan.
“We are adequately represented. Pam and Adam are both in D.C. for the governor’s agenda,” said Callaghan.
He said the governor also “feels there are more pressing issues to attend to here at home.”
Babauta has sent a written testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans, supporting the reauthorization of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000.
Callaghan said Turner is assigned to attend the subcommittee meeting, which takes place today.
Brown, meantime, will attend today’s IGIA meeting to be held in the South Penthouse of the Department of the Interior.
As for the National Governor’s Association meeting, he said Babauta has all the needed materials for the meeting.
“We’ve gotten all the materials that NGA has put out. The only thing that’s missing is the physical presence,” said Callaghan. This year’s NGA’s meeting is focused on education in high school.
“We’ve got all the statistics and suggestions that NGA is putting forward to further education in high school,” he said.
He said Babauta actually attends only one of the two annual meetings of the association.
“He goes to NGA once a year. That’s been his pattern,” he said.
The next meeting of the association may take place in the summer of this year.
Babauta last flew to D.C. last month to attend President Bush’s inauguration as well as to meet with some federal officials on local issues.
Over a week ago, he went to Japan for a meeting with airline representatives.
The governor has been criticized for his frequent trips abroad, something that past governors were reportedly not accustomed to.
