By AMY HARDER
Legislation that would make it a misdemeanor to scalp inauguration tickets was not taken up in the Senate on Thursday night. With time tight leading up to Jan. 20, sponsor Dianne Feinstein's office hopes the Senate will consider the California Democrat's bill again when it reconvenes in December.
NationalJournal.com has obtained a copy of the bill's text [PDF], which spells out fines up to $100,000 and one year in jail. Gil Duran, communications director for Feinstein, said there has been interest on both sides of the aisle to pass this legislation. "People in general want to preserve the dignity of the inaugural ceremony," Duran said. "We want to avoid people being ripped off, which is what these scalpers do."
Internet sites like eBay, StubHub and craigslist have had postings selling Inauguration Day tickets, which are free, for thousands of dollars. The sites have stopped all such sales since meeting with Feinstein. The 240,000 tickets are not even available to members of Congress (who are the only ones who can distribute them) until a few days prior to the event. When asked about what may happen in the few days between the tickets' distribution and Jan. 20, Duran said that this law would make it harder for people to scalp them, even if they did have an actual ticket in hand, by making it a crime.
In her remarks to the Senate on Thursday, Feinstein said she finds it "unconscionable" that Inauguration Day tickets are being sold, especially online. "The chance to witness these solemn event should not be bought and sold similar to tickets to a football game," Feinstein said. "This is not a football game. This is a dignified and critical moment of transition in government, a moment of which Americans have always been proud."
Duran said that if Congress passes the bill, it would provide "ample time" to ensure the law is implemented in time for Inauguration Day.
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