Lawmakers Kill Tourism Bill

HARTFORD (AP) — Gov John G. Rowland’s proposal to consolidate the state’s 11 tourism districts was killed in the Legislature Tuesday.

The measure, which Gov Rowland has proposed several times before, is intended to give the state more bang for its buck by consolidating tourism spending in a centralized office, which would then allocate money into five regional districts.

The head of the state tourism office, Ed Dombroskas, said the plan would save money and prevent regional tourism districts from competing with each other.

But local officials said consolidation of tourism districts – joining the Housatonic Valley to the Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills districts, for instance – would blur regional identities and cut attendance at locally organized events and attractions.

“There is a tremendous dissimilarity from our district and the ones we would be consolidated with,” said Catherine Brashich, executive director of the Housatonic Valley Tourism Commission.

The Legislature’s Commerce Committee let pass a 5 pm deadline Tuesday to act on the bill.

Sen Gary LeBeau, D-East Hartford, the committee’s co-chairman, said Dombroskas and other administration officials “really didn’t make their case.”

“They want more money and control, but they haven’t said what they’d do with it,” he said.

Mr Dombroskas said the proposal could resurface later as an amendment to a related bill.