Reid Fights for Nevada Tourism with Anti-Blacklist Bill

(MoneyWatch) 
Despite Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada, disavowing any secret governmental travel blacklist, he's now protesting it. At this point, I think Reid had to make some grandstanding or be thought weak in front of his constituents. And for the former boxer, that was not going to happen.

So now comes the Protecting Resort Cities from Discrimination Act of 2009, sponsored by Reid and two Florida senators, which will forever prevent any governmental blacklisting by any agency of tourism areas. According to United Press International:

"If it makes the most sense economically and logistically to hold a meeting in Las Vegas or Reno, then that's where it should be held," Reid said. "Paying more money to hold a meeting in another city for appearances sake is unfair to all U.S. taxpayers and a waste of their money."

While some pundits are calling this all a gross overraction to a few offhand remarks, others tout as defending Las Vegas' livelihood, or as snarky Jaunted tells Reid, "Your suitcase full of cash is in the Presidential Suite at the MGM Grand."
Casino mogul Steve Wynn, who says he's angry about Las Vegas' treatment in the Obama administration, doesn't have a lot of faith in policy change.

"The president has his own office and his own group of people who agree with him and look at the world just as he does and they don't listen to anyone from what I've heard from my business friends. They invite people down to Washington and tell them. They don't think or listen to anyone," Wynn told the Las Vegas Sun.

Tempest in a teapot? Sure, but catering to constituents are what politicians are all about. And if Reid hadn't gone to bat for Nevada tourism, what's the point of his being there? At least that's what the casino operators and hoteliers want to know -- and on another level, with about 30 percent of its residents employed by the hospitality industry, the average voter will want to know, too.