Reply #1: This is local news hereabouts

[KamaAina]

http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20090403_Obama_urged_to_support_business_travel_to_isles.html

Citing an economic loss of $97.6 million to Hawaii this year since business travel came under federal scrutiny, Gov. Linda Lingle (R-Still Ticked The Other Female Offshore Repuke Governor Got Picked Instead -Ed.) has asked President Barack Obama to oppose any measure that unfairly restricts companies' ability to use conventions, meetings and incentive (CMI) travel as a legitimate business tool....

Lingle's letter, sent Tuesday and signed by other key politicians and members of Hawaii's visitor industry, provides the first account of the staggering losses sustained by the state since business groups began canceling Hawaii trips....

So far, Hawaii has lost $58.8 million in direct revenue; however, Lingle said the state's total impact is much higher and includes the elimination of some 694 full- and part-time jobs....

Business travel to Hawaii began falling last year as the recession hit and has stalled further since Obama and Congress asked companies that received emergency government lending to develop business travel guidelines. Now, Hawaii's government officials and visitor industry members fear that the state could be hurt further if Congress restricts travel for companies that are part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

Maybe people will start coming to see Obama's boyhood home, which may become a national monument. Is it too early to start planning for a Presidential library (one with more than two books in it, that people would actually go to)?