Senate approves $10 million expenditure to promote tourism

A bill to spend $10 million in the upcoming budget year on promoting tourism in Utah was approved Friday by the Senate, despite concerns raised by one lawmaker.

"As important as tourism is, as important as economic development is, my approach is that less government is better," Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Lehi, said before casting the only vote against the measure. He said the promotion should be left to the private sector.

But the sponsor of SB7, Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, said there's "nobody better to brand the state" than its own tourism officials. "That's why I came down on the side of that."

The bill now goes to the House.