Premier Dr. Ewart Brown pressed the flesh over the weekend at the US Congressional Black Caucus' 37th annual legislative conference in Washington DC, meeting presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Dr. Brown was joined by Finance Minister Paula Cox and Public Safety and Housing Minister Sen. David Burch meeting key congressmen and women, including the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Charlie Rangel and House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi. Dr. Brown said last night: "It was another productive trip to Washington. There is no substitute for direct contact with people in high places who have the capacity to make decisions that directly affect us."