Western, central and northern Minnesota under windy, dry weather conditions 

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

WASHINGTON - Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak was at the White House on Tuesday with representatives of Minnesota companies as part of an initiative by the Obama Administration to bring together business and regional political leaders to discuss the economy and job creation.

"Mostly it was a listening session for the White House to hear from the voices of Minnesota business and the Minnesotans weren't shy," Rybak said.

According to Rybak, government relations executives from Cargill, General Mills, Thomson Reuters and Surly Brewing attended the meeting, although neither Rybak nor the White House would get more specific about other participants.

Rybak declined to discuss specific topics that were brought up at the event but said the discussion touched on, "what sorts of regulations should be cut, what kind of infrastructure to invest in, how to get more capital out to people trying to make investments."

Tuesday's event was not unusual. The White House says it's hosted more than 500 such meetings in the past year with similar groups from all 50 states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico.

The Minneapolis mayor has been increasing his national profile over the past year. He also serves as a vice-chairman of the Democratic National Committee and has become a media surrogate for President Obama's re-election campaign.

Rybak wasn't the only Minnesota mayor in Washington. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman was also in the capital for a meeting of the National League of Cities and had meetings at the White House.

Politics and Government News

Capitol View®

Brett Neely

Author

Regulations, infrastructure and jobs were on the agenda.

Rybak talks business in DC

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox