David Y. Ige

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige is in Phoenix, Arizona to attend the Western Governors’ Association’s (WGA) winter meeting. The governor, who serves as WGA vice chair, will engage in discussions on a variety of issues that range from workforce development to preparing infrastructure for natural disasters.

Gov. Ige will also participate in discussions with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao. The meetings will give the governor an opportunity to make the secretaries aware of the impact that various proposed legislation would have on Hawai‘i and other states.

In addition, the governor and members of his administration will travel to New York and San Francisco for meetings with Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, in their continued effort to improve Hawai‘i’s financial ratings, lowering interest rates and saving taxpayer dollars.

The governor will be accompanied by First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige for the WGA portion of the trip. The cost of the governor’s trip is about $2,600. The first lady’s travel expenses will be covered with personal funds.

Gov. Ige is scheduled to return to Honolulu on Tuesday, Dec. 5. Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui will serve as acting governor.

###

Media Contacts:
Jodi Leong
Deputy Communications Director/Press Secretary
Office of the Governor
Office: 808-586-0043
Mobile: 808-798-3929
[email protected]

Cindy McMillan
Communications Director
Office of the Governor
Office: 808-586-0012
Mobile: 808-265-7974
[email protected]