WASHINGTON--Mayor Rahm Emanuel has booked meetings with a variety of cabinet officials on Wednesday, though none of this was on his official schedule--not even the trip here. My view: If the mayor travels on official business on the taxpayer tab, the trip should be noted on the public schedule--even if the meetings are closed. Emanuel seems to model a lot of his City Hall operation on the White House--he was chief of staff to President Barack Obama. When Obama travels--his trips are announced.

Now, to substance. City Hall finally dislodged some information on what Emanuel is doing here: He had or is having meetings with Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

I was told by City Hall that the May NATO/G-8 meetings in Chicago were on his agenda on this trip.