By Associated Press
Washington, DC – Alabama Congressman Artur Davis, a Democrat from Birmingham, will be one of eight centrist House Democrats to meet Friday with President Bush. A report in Congressional Quarterly says Bush invited leaders of the conservative Blue Dog Democrat coalition and the moderate New Democrat Caucus to meet with him. Alabama Republican members of Congress have often participated in West Wing policy discussions. But this is the first time for Davis, who was elected in 2002. Corey Ealons, a spokesman for Davis, said the congressman's last trip to the White House was in 2003, when an Alabama teacher received a national honor. He is co-chairman of the New Democrat organization of business-friendly Democrats.