"Indian giver," now regarded by many as an offensive term because of its negative reference to Native Americans, refers to a person who gives something and then asks for it back.

For generations, children in this country have used the term to express scorn when they were asked to give back something that had been given to them.

But as uncomfortable as use of the term might now be, at least for adults, it probably has crept into the minds of officials of many of the state's tourism agencies in response to what might be construed as a stunning request from the state government.

The commonwealth, in response to a $450 million state budget shortfall, is seeking the return by Feb. 5 of all of the money given to state tourism agencies under the 2009-10 budget, which will guide state spending through June 30.

For the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, that state directive involves $48,136. For VisitPittsburgh, the impact reportedly will be $610,000.

While it's laudable that the state is trying to decrease the huge shortfall, it's clear that the money in question won't come close to resolving it. The announced cutback involves $161 million, which amounts to just about 1 percent of the commonwealth's budgeted spending for this fiscal year.

Meanwhile, there's a relevant question: How much will the state be negatively impacted by scaled-back tourism promotion stemming from the return of the money?

Jack Cohen, executive director of this county's tourism agency, said every dollar spent promoting tourism produces $12 for the state's economy.

"It's like the state is cutting off its nose in spite of its face," Cohen said.

Unfortunately, it wouldn't be the first time, but it comes at a time when the economy is suffering and the state should be trying to bring money here rather than encouraging it to go elsewhere.

In effect, that's what will be happening when much of the commonwealth's tourism message is withheld from the rest of the country.

Tourism is the state's second-largest industry.

Mark Shade, a spokesman for the state Department of Community and Economic Development, said the returned tourism money will be put into a "budgetary reserve."

Susan Hooper, a spokeswoman for the state Office of the Budget, said the money would be kept in the reserve account until June 30, when the budget situation would be re-examined.

Recipients of state budget allocations who have no need for all of that money should be required to return any unused funds. That's a no-brainer.

But the tourism allocations involve money that is greatly needed and spent to ultimately benefit the state.

So, while the tourism agencies will be forced to tighten their belts or curtail promotion activities, questionable millions in the hands of state officials — like the General Assembly's multimillion-dollar surplus account — will be kept tucked away and out of the reach of more worthy efforts.

At least for now, it seems unlikely that anyone is willing to undo this tourism-related dictate. But it's right for Keystone State residents to consider what is happening at the state level if the state can't help support its second-biggest industry.

That unwelcome knowledge is no basis for confidence by those entities of lesser impact.