Bill sends message against resort blacklists
WASHINGTON — A bill that passed the House on Wednesday contains a message that federal agencies shouldn’t discriminate against Las Vegas or other resort cities when they plan conferences or meetings.
The annual bill that sets spending levels for a range of agencies contains a provision directing the White House budget office to “ensure that agencies are implementing policies regarding travel, event, meeting or conference locations based on the most efficient use of taxpayer funds.”
The wording was inserted by Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev. He said it was intended to stop a practice of federal agencies avoiding resort cities even when they might provide the best deal for Uncle Sam.
Lawmakers who represent popular destinations in Florida, Hawaii and Nevada say there has been evidence in some federal agencies of a resort city blacklist, formed by officials nervous about being associated with popular destinations.
Bureaucrat feet were said to have gotten even colder in the aftermath of the $823,000 General Services Administration regional conference at the M Resort in Henderson in October 2010.
The conference that included performances by a clown, a comedian, and a psychic, as well as spending on food and drink that critics deemed lavish and wasteful sparked multiple investigations and the resignation and firing of top GSA officials.
“These prohibitions emphasize optics over real fiscal restraint because they were implemented without concern for whether the banned resorts and casinos present a better value for taxpayers,” Amodei said.
Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760. Find him on Twitter: @STetreaultDC.
