[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2123-S2124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            LAS VEGAS TRAVEL

  Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, it seems as though reason and common sense 
are once again being tossed aside. I am referring to the recent remarks 
by President Obama when he singled out one of the most premiere cities 
in the world, Las Vegas.
  When it comes to convenience and affordability, very few, if any, 
places in the world can compare to Las Vegas. It is home to more than 
140,000 hotel rooms, millions of feet of meeting space, and a central 
geographic location that makes it easy for employees from around the 
country to come to meet.
  It is no wonder so many businesses decide to have their conventions 
in Las Vegas. It is more than convenience, though. Las Vegas offers a 
value that is unique. For instance, the average hotel room today in Las 
Vegas is $119 a night. That is why I find it disturbing that Las Vegas 
is being singled out.
  It is more than that. Take Goldman Sachs as one example. First, it 
goes without saying that all companies that are receiving TARP funds 
must be responsible and not waste precious taxpayer dollars. Because of 
recent criticism, Goldman Sachs announced that it was moving a 3-day 
conference from Las Vegas to San Francisco. To do this though, they had 
to pay a $600,000 cancellation fee, re-route flights, and re-book the 
same trip in another city, which is even more expensive than Las Vegas.
  I ask, is that common sense? Let me repeat this. They had to pay more 
than a half million dollars in cancellation fees, re-route flights, and 
re-book the same trip in another, more expensive city. For what? So 
that Goldman can promote a false sense that it was spending the 
taxpayers' money more wisely. This is ridiculous. This is what the 
American people are sick of.
  Is San Francisco a more affordable city than Las Vegas? Actually, it 
is much more expensive. I will shoot this straight. What Goldman Sachs 
did was purely a phony public relations gimmick, but it is not fooling 
anyone. The conference they booked in Las Vegas is still taking place. 
Now it is just much more expensive. This makes no sense at all. So 
let's cut to the chase.
  Wherever these meetings take place, business takes place. Let me give 
you an example. The Consumer Electronics Show, known as CES: This is an 
annual business meeting in Las Vegas. CES attendees come to Las Vegas 
from over 140 countries around the world. They can conduct a year's 
worth of business

[[Page S2124]]

in one location, minimizing travel and saving energy in the process.
  During the Consumer Electrons Show, approximately 1.7 million 
meetings are conducted. Transactions are ordered, commerce is buzzing, 
and the entrepreneurial spirit of business flourishes. This is economic 
activity that extends beyond whichever city serves as the host.
  It benefits all of us when an opportunity for business growth and 
productivity takes place. So let's not lose sight of this fact, 
especially now. Business meetings are an important tool. Let's make 
sure we do not leave common sense off the agenda.

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