Isn’t it illegal to scalp tickets in the District? I’m not sure what about the inauguration qualifies it for an exemption under pre-existing law, such that Sen. Dianne Feinstein needed to propose specific legislation to ban the markup and re-sale of inauguration tickets. I suppose that D.C. law doesn’t obtain because the event and purchase is happening in the Federal district.

In any case, that legislation failed. Sen. Feinstein couldn’t muster a unanimous Senate vote to ban inaugural price-gouging, as several senators had qualms over the language used in the legislation. (A unanimous vote? That’s the “hotline” process, which is like a fast-track power for Congress.)

According to an update from Senate Committee on Rules and Administration staff director Howard Gantman, the bill as written might have prevented the Presidential Inaugural Committee from giving out tickets to folks who donated funds for the inaugural production. Sensibly, that language has been changed, and the legislation will get another shot. But so long as Sen. Feinstein already has eBay and StubHub giving her verbal commitments that they won’t permit folks to sell inauguration tickets via those sites, is the legislation even needed? (Are you going to pay $1,000+ to someone from Craigslist living in another state?)

Final question, and a pressing one: Do you call it “the inauguration” or “the inaugural”? I say the latter is an abomination that Barack Obama should presidentially statement-sign out of existence on his first day of office.

Photo by jayinvienna