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Federal Agencies Accused Of Blacklisting US Tourist Destinations

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.

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