Amidst the collapse of efforts to save the US auto industry, the United States Senate also covered itself with glory by allowing Dianne Feinstein’s bill to prevent scalping of Inauguration Tickets to fail.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s legislation that would make the resale of inauguration tickets a federal crime died in the Senate last night when an effort to gain unanimous support for the measure failed, officials said.
Feinstein (D-Calif.), chair of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, had hoped to ban the sale of the 240,000 tickets to President-elect Barack Obama’s swearing-in ceremony. Those tickets are being distributed free by congressional offices; Feinstein and others grew concerned by reports of tickets being offered on eBay and StubHub for thousands of dollars.
The legislation was supposed to be "hotlined" through the Senate, meaning it would be approved by unanimous consent. But several senators raised technical objections to the wording of the legislation and time ran out before the issues could be worked out, said Howard Gantman, staff director for the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
The "technical objections" revolve around a lack of, um, clarity that it is still legal for Congressional offices to give Inaugural Tickets to large donors who contribute in some way to the underwriting of official Inaugural events. We wouldn’t want large donors to feel that they were being scalped for their Inaugural Tickets, would we? Feinstein appears determined, however, and will re-introduce her bill in the new Senate when Congress convenes next year.
Updated 9:41 p.m.: Gantman emailed to say: “Senator Feinstein plans to reintroduce the bill in the new Congress and seek expedited passage. The bill has been modified to allow the official Presidential Inaugural Committee to provide tickets to people who donate funds for producing the various inaugural festivities. This has been done by Presidential Inaugural Committees of both parties for years. What has not happened in previous inaugurals is the extent of ticket scalping at astronomical prices that is now occurring, spurred on by the huge demand and proliferation of internet sites. Senator Feinstein believes these sales need to be stopped.”
In the meantime, caveat emptor indeed. Believe in your change: keep it in your pocket when seeking official Inauguration Tickets.
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Working to redeem herself for hoisting Mukasey?
I expect it’s possible Richard Blum’s company didn’t get in on the scalping, and that pissed her off. She has never shied away from profiteering opportunities before, if they profited Blum.
Politely put, if there’s a scalp to be had, Blum is right there.
But, but, but…doesn’t Money buy everything?
Wooden Jesus – Great White
DIGG IT!
Great song RFW..
Dugg!
Hey Newton how are you doing? staying warm.. We lost our power last evening at 10:30 and didn’t get it back until 3:30 am or so… boy did the house get cold without the fans to spread the heat from the Buck stove around!!
Fine here. It’s about 54 and raining now. Didn’t lose power last night, but ECR did in Belmont did for a spell.
Did you two huddle in front of the stove and play solitaire?
Feinstein appears determined, however,
Would have been nice if she were as determined to keep Alito and Robers out of the supremes.
And Mukasey out of the Justice Department.
And her more recent attempt at leadership – Mukasey – maybe a chance at some measure of redemption… No.
Hocked up another fur ball, Di.
We will be stuck with her for too long.
Word, fucking word.
nah we just cuddled in bed… She had to get up early so we just hit the rack… when the power came back everything that was left on came on and woke us up withy all the noise and lights… Our room got down to 50 bbbrrrrrr… We had heavy rain a bit ago but none right now..
Having grown up in NorCal, right around here as a matter of fact, I wasn’t prepared for the arctic climes of… Davis.
My first winter up there – broke as Hell and the pathetic heater a mile away in the house – I woke up and could see my breath in the mornings. In the house.
BRRR. I remember cold. 50 below in Minnesota sometimes. ((Balrog!))
Yeah, I have no real comparisons. Davis never got below 15.
A friend of mine and his wife moved to MN in ‘88, and they both grew up around here, too.
No one told him to shave his mustache when he relocated to St. Paul.
hehehe
Hiya J!
And Leslie Southwick off the court of appeals, and warrantless wiretapping out of our country, and Hayden out of the CIA — well, the list goes on and on.
But really, living in SoCal now, I cannot imagine even 15 degrees. That is freaking bone chilling! Especially with wind.
No freaking fun thats for sure… Glad the power cam back when it did…it was 33 outside this morning.. the upstairs would have been almost as cold if the power hadn’t come back… Rain just started aging coming down pretty good… My Orange tree needs all that rain (:>)
Woo Hoo Loo Hoo..nailed the obvious. Thank Yoo.
Welcome to the season of hydroponic tomatoes.
I used to live in Maine so I know what you mean… One time it was only -35 but the wind was a constant 40-50 mph… with the furnace going full bore (oil burner forced hot air, fuel oil was 19 cents a gallon back then) it was only 48 in the house.. decided to add a box stove in the kitchen … made a difference but dam I was using six cord of Wood every winter..
Hi Jaqrat…may I have a hammer with that nail! S)
es has late late nite up at the mothership
no shit nothing like the ones I grew last season Newt, bet you miss them(:>)
And her weak FISA compromise amendmant… barf bag please.
10-4
Hey, bigbro!