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Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 42
BY SENATOR PETERSON
A RESOLUTION
To reject the Governor's Executive Budget for sweeping one hundred million dollars from
the Morial Convention Center and to urge and request the Governor to restore these
funds and support responsible budgeting through the use of stable, recurring funds.
WHEREAS, the New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority - Morial Convention Center
receives considerable proceeds from a local tax on the sale of hotel and motel rooms in the
City of New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, the volume of hotel sales is concurrent with the overall health of the
tourism and convention industry; and
WHEREAS, the tourism and convention industry as a whole is a dynamic engine of
economic growth, empowerment, and innovation for the entire New Orleans region,
providing jobs and opportunities for thousands of Louisianians; and
WHEREAS, New Orleans' tourism industry welcomed 9.01 million visitors in 2012,
record numbers not seen by the city in nearly ten years; and
WHEREAS, the growth of tourism, and the hotel/motel tax revenue it creates, is the
result of the dedicated, cooperative efforts of tourism professionals, local public officials,
entrepreneurs, businesses and citizens in and around New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, the Governor's executive budget takes one hundred million dollars of
reserve funds accumulated through revenues culled from the success of New Orleans'
tourism market and reallocates those dollars for regular state government functions in
regions outside of the New Orleans region.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby reject the Governor's executive budget. SR NO. 42 ENROLLED
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
hereby urge and request the Governor to cancel his request to take any monies from the New
Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority and instead promote more responsible methods of funding
state government through stable, recurring funding sources.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Governor of the State of Louisiana, the Honorable Bobby Jindal.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE