Jindal, Dardenne at odds over tourism marketing

Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposed budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year beginning July 1 redirects more than half the money earmarked for promoting tourism to instead pay the state’s share of big-ticket events like the Super Bowl and the NCAA Women’s Final Four. Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne says that will eat into his ability to advertise Louisiana to out-of-state tourists. The lieutenant governor outlined his concerns today to the House Appropriations Committee. Dardenne and Jindal, both Republicans, have disagreed about the tourism marketing budget for two years now. One of the lieutenant governor’s main objectives is to oversee the state’s tourism industry. Dardenne says tourism marketing brings money directly back to Louisiana businesses; cutting advertising thus doesn’t make sense. Jindal’s top budget adviser, Paul Rainwater, says amid state budget troubles, the administration is prioritizing spending in an attempt to protect higher education and health care.