Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne is objecting to spending recommendations from the governor’s office for the tourism agency. Dardenne says Gov. Bobby Jindal proposes to raid tourism marketing and park maintenance funds to pay for other expenses that don’t match the intention of those pots of money. Dardenne has suggested his budget is being “micromanaged” by the administration. The issue surfaced today at a meeting of the House Appropriations Committee, which is combing through the 2011-12 budget. Jindal’s budget uses nearly $8 million from a state park maintenance fund to pay for ongoing park expenses, and nearly $6 million earmarked for tourism advertising efforts instead to pay for bowl games, a basketball championship, festivals and other events. Jindal’s budget adviser, Paul Rainwater, says a reworking would force cuts to health services and public colleges.
Jindal, Dardenne at odds over tourism budget
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