StarBulletin.com

Hannemann heads for White House visit


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POSTED: Thursday, February 19, 2009

Mayor Mufi Hannemann, along with other U.S. mayors, will meet with President Barack Obama in the White House tomorrow.

Hannemann is among the 50 invited U.S. mayors who will meet with Obama in the East Room regarding the economic stimulus package.

“;It's an honor to be selected to represent my fellow mayors and to have a hands-on meeting with the president,”; Hannemann said yesterday.

Hannemann is a part of a team with the U.S. Conference of Mayors that contributed to Obama's stimulus plan by providing so-called “;shovel-ready”; projects.

The day begins at 8 a.m. with a breakfast in the White House, followed by a meeting with Obama's Cabinet members and other mayors in the East Room.

Cabinet members expected to attend include Attorney General Eric Holder, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

The meeting with Obama and Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. in Washington. Hannemann will attend another meeting with Obama and other mayors later in the day.

The impact of Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus package for Honolulu remains unclear at this point, though U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said some will go toward the city's rail transit system.

Gov. Linda Lingle is also scheduled to meet with Obama in Washington, D.C., this weekend at the annual National Governors Association meetings.