Heller bill would bar government ban on travel to ‘fun places’
LAS VEGAS — Nevada’s congressional representatives don’t want the government to blacklist cities because they’re too fun.
Republican Sen. Dean Heller introduced a bill Thursday to prevent lists of vacation destinations in which the government isn’t allowed to stage an event. He says 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.