Pawlenty trip to meet with Mexican president delayed

By RACHEL E. STASSEN-BERGER, Star Tribune

Last update: November 7, 2009 - 11:50 PM

Adios, Mexico.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who was to meet with President Felipe Calderon in Mexico on Monday, won't be going on the business development trip.

"We're postponing the business development trip to Mexico due to a scheduling conflict President Calderon has," Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung said. The trip hasn't been rescheduled.

In an e-mail Friday, Ana Luisa Fajer, consul at the Mexican Consulate in St. Paul, told Tony LaRusso, Minnesota Trade Office executive director, of the president's changed schedule.

"There is a very complicated session in Congress on Monday in regard to budget decisions in which [the president] has to be very involved," Fajer said in the e-mail.

Pawlenty's quick trip had been announced last week.