CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) -- Gov. Jim Gibbons says he's outraged at a report that some federal agencies have put Nevada and other tourist hotspots in the states on a "blacklist" when deciding where to hold conferences or meetings.

A Wall Street Journal article published Wednesday cited e-mails from the FBI and Department of Agriculture encouraging conference locations that aren't resort destinations and don't appear to be "lavish."

Republican Gibbons said Thursday that the Obama administration "seemed to be completely unaware of the damage they are causing" by such policies. Sen. Harry Reid countered that Obama was reversing such policies that began during the Bush administration.

Reid asked White House about the issue last month, claiming at least three federal agencies had canceled recent Las Vegas meetings. He then received a letter from a top Obama aide saying there's no "informal federal policy" against government meetings and conferences in Las Vegas.

Gibbons urged the state's congressional delegation to press Obama for a change in such policies.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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