Bill would bar government ‘fun places’ blacklist
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, following the Democratic policy luncheon Tuesday, May 21, 2013. Despite years of hand-wringing in both parties, little progress has been made toward changing congressional rules on filibusters, senatorial ?holds? on presidential nominees and other stalling ploys. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
LAS VEGAS >> Nevada’s congressional representatives don’t want the government to blacklist cities because they’re too fun.
Senators Dean Heller and Harry Reid introduced a bill Thursday to prevent lists of vacation destinations in which the government isn’t allowed to stage an event. They say such policies could hurt tourism-driven cities such as Las Vegas and Reno.
The move comes as federal agencies face backlash for holding lavish conferences on the taxpayer’s dime. A 2010 IRS employee conference in Anaheim, Calif., home to Disneyland, cost $4.1 million and involved some employees staying in posh suites.
Last year, the General Services Administration came under fire for hosting an $823,000 conference at the M Resort in Henderson. That event featured expensive dinners and a mind reader.
Nevada’s House delegation introduced a similar bill last month.
