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Article: In Massachusetts, State Tourism Ad Campaign Appears to be Illegally Funded.(Originated from The Boston Globe)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
- Article date:
- May 20, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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May 20--The advertising agency responsible for the state's glitzy tourism campaigns received more than $5 million in advance payments that amounted to interest-free loans in apparent violation of state procurement rules, according to the Massachusetts inspector general.
State Inspector General Robert Cerasoli said the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism improperly advanced Houston Herstek Favat $2.8 million in fiscal 1996 and $2.7 million in fiscal 1995 to buy space for state tourism ads in newspapers, magazines and television and radio stations months before the ads ran.
By doing so, the state agency in effect "gave Houston the use of ...