On Wednesday the US Senate passed the Travel Promotion Act, which as a piece of legislation seems at least well-named. "Travel" is good. "Promotion" is usually at least interesting. So you'd think that this would be something positive. Yeah right:

Once signed into law, the Travel Promotion Act will create a public-private partnership with a budget of up to $200 million annually—funded by a $10 fee on foreign travelers from countries that do not pay for a visa to enter the United States—for the purpose of attracting international travelers to the United States.

Only our Congress could possibly pretend that the best way to promote tourism is by fining incoming tourists. More over, the bill doesn't so much promote US tourism as a certain kind of US tourism. The bill's original sponsors were the two Senators from Hawaii. The "bipartisan" label got slapped on after they were joined by Harry Reid, the Democratic Senator from Nevada, and John Ensign, the Repubublican Senator from Nevada. You begin to see where this is going.]]> Omri 2009-09-11T16:22:17-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/24/14484/5754

There appears to be something of a scandal brewing in DC and several federal agencies might be blacklisting entire segments of the country, banning their employees from holding events in popular cities. Suffice it to say that the duly elected representatives of those areas are less than pleased:

Three Central Florida congressional representatives joined four colleagues in signing a letter to the U.S. General Accounting Office urging an investigation of allegations that some federal departments have Orlando, Las Vegas and other possible destinations on a no-meetings list ... the use of do-not-travel list that allegedly would rule out meetings in some cities, including Orlando, that are known as tourist destinations. The allegations started last winter when financial companies that received federal bailout money were criticized for holding corporate meetings in resort destinations.

It's not hard to imagine how these blacklists might be formed. After a bunch of bailed out banks got busted for throwing parties, the last thing the Department of Whatever needs is TMZ running a post headlined "DC Politicos Party During Two Day Vegas Bash." Plus the public really does have a legitimate interest in preventing lawmakers from partying on their dime.]]> Omri 2009-07-24T16:21:07-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/6/71222/16660

Whether your heart is still aching over her loss in last year’s election or the fact that she's still around, you better hustle up to Juneau, since time is running out for Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Over the long weekend, she decided to light off some of her own fireworks by announcing she wouldn’t be seeking a second term, nor would she even be finishing out her term in office; she’ll be wrapping up her duties and stepping down by the end of July.

Go to Alaska and bring home a souvenir eBay can be proud of: go to Alaska’s Capitol Building and try to get her to sign your ticket stub. The facilities are open all summer, obviously to take advantage of all those cruisers looking for glaciers, moose, and 2012 presidential candidates. The tours last for about thirty minutes, are totally free, and run daily. The state legislature, governor, and lieutenant governor all call this building their home away from home. ]]> kjb 2009-07-06T11:12:32-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/3/11/73124/9542

Ever since Senator Obama became President Obama, travelers in the US have been wondering when the doors to Cuba would open. A couple weeks ago there was some talk about the country easing rules on travel to Cuba, and yesterday, we got one step closer. Congress signed a spending bill that the President is expected to sign today, that among other things, will allow easier family travel to Cuba. ]]> kjb 2009-03-11T13:46:19-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/2/25/12456/2759

President Obama's semi-State of the Union speech this week left the world with all kinds of questions—When's he gonna end the war? Will his housing plan work? Just how is he planning to cure cancer anyway? But in the travel community, we're still most anxious about just one thing—Is he gonna let us go to Cuba or what?

We’re not buying our tickets to Jose Marti Airport just year, but Washington is inching towards allowing Cuba travel. Congress is expected to pass a budget bill this week, which Obama has said he will sign, that includes language loosening restrictions on Cuba travel imposed by the Bush Administration: ]]> BS 2009-02-25T15:01:10-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/18/62228/8237

With the beer kegs ready to pour at Munich's Oktoberfest on Saturday, the big news in Bavaria is that the premier, Guenther Beckstein, says you can drink two liters of beer (well over 4 pints) and still drive back to your hotel or home.

With a local election looming mid-Oktoberfest, the media grabbed Beckstein's comment that you could drink two one-liter glasses of beer in two hours without a problem--but police, doctors and other politicians are politely disagreeing.

The premier has since gone back on his statement--saying it was a "rather unsuccessful contribution"--but it wouldn't have mattered much to budget travelers: Beer has become so much more expensive this year that two liters might be financially out of the question, even if it apparently won't make us too drunk to drive.

Related Stories:
· Two Litres of Beer OK for Drivers [news.com.au]
· Breaking Economic News: Oktoberfest Devastation in Munich [Jaunted]

[Photo: Landfeldt]
]]> amandak 2008-09-18T09:00:32-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/29/173919/200

He may be the country's longest-serving Republican senator, but Ted Stevens was indicted today on seven felony counts of making false statements in a corruption case. Prosecutors say the 84-year-old took gifts of more than $250,000 in exchange for political favors.

Stevens says he's innocent of all charges, and he's the first senator to face a federal indictment since 1993.

Despite his statements, the senior senator is dogged by corruption allegations. So in honor of these latest charges, we've mapped some of the more, uh, controversial places that he's been involved with. Unfortunately we couldn't find an address for his notorious "series of tubes."

Our Ted Stevens' Alaska Faves Map

Related Stories:
· Ted Stevens Indicted, GOP Senator [AP, via Google]
· AK Senator Ted Stevens Indicted [LAT]
· Ted Stevens Anchorage International Has Free WiFi [Jaunted]

[Original photo: Steinbring]]]> pbb 2008-07-29T18:09:49-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/