California lawmakers RECEIVE ticket giveaways as they work to 'regulate' ticket industry: report

Hypocrisy strikes again in California as 66 state lawmakers and senators received more than $30,000 in tickets as they worked to “regulate” the ticket industry.

These politicians apparently accepted thousands of dollars in Taylor Swift concert tickets while ironically crafting legislation to control Ticketmaster and other outlets.

“Ticketmaster's troubled handling of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour led California lawmakers to spend months cracking down on the ticket industry, while enjoying thousands of dollars worth of free tickets from lobbyists” . Politician reported

“One assemblyman even reportedly accepted concert tickets for that same Swift tour, sparking the effort to dismantle ticketing monopolies after backlash against the launch of troubled Ticketmaster sales. He later participated in legislative efforts to regulate the industry that eventually stalled,” the outlet noted.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Ticketmaster's troubled handling of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour led California lawmakers to spend months cracking down on the ticket industry, while enjoying thousands of dollars worth of free tickets from interest groups, a POLITICIAN…

— ARaising Hell (@ARaisinghell4) August 5, 2024

Those involved allegedly obtained input from various interest groups. It appears to be part of a pattern that shows lawmakers getting benefits from the ticket industry they claim they're trying to hold accountable.

“The findings are part of a larger POLITICO analysis of the financial disclosures of 120 state lawmakers last year that found 66 state representatives and senators received more than $30,000 in tickets. The gifts included admission to Disneyland with mouse ears included, a music festival pass to see country music stars like Eric Church and San Francisco 49ers seats One of the top ticket recipients for college sporting events also chairs the committee of higher education,” Politico added.

“The analysis sheds light on a common and legal way for deep-pocketed groups to lobby lawmakers in the state of California, home to Hollywood, music powerhouses, big-name theme parks and big-grossing sports teams. While many legislators accept invitations to these types of events as a way to build relationships with important constituents or highlight key players in their districts, the gifts also raise ethical questions about the privileges enjoyed by public officials,” the outlet wrote.

Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan accepted tickets gifted to her by the San Francisco 49ers the day Swift's Eras Tour performed at Levi's Stadium. He reported that the value of the tickets was $590. He didn't say if they were for the Taylor Swift concert.

A new POLITICO analysis of the financial disclosures of 120 lawmakers, released this morning, found that members of the Legislature accepted thousands of dollars worth of free tickets from lobbyists last year, receiving free access to concerts, sporting events, NASCAR…

— Mike Netter (@nettermike) August 5, 2024

While it is legal for lawmakers to accept a certain amount of gifts in California (which it shouldn't be), the act smacks of corruption. The maximum gift is a $5,500 campaign donation from an individual or company.

“The gifts came in the same year that some lawmakers made bids to loosen the grip of ticketing giant Ticketmaster and other elected officials sought to limit third-party resellers like StubHub. Some of the gifts lawmakers accepted on 2023 came from interest groups that had a stake in this legislation, and some lawmakers who received input led new regulatory efforts this year,” Politico continued.

“That includes Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, who introduced a bill last April that would ban exclusive contracts between vendors and venues, hoping to deflate the power of Ticketmaster and the its parent company, Live Nation. That bill, which was supported by consumer groups and third-party distributors like StubHub, ultimately passed in Wicks' own committee after she agreed to major amendments,” the outlet explained.

It's not just California where this kind of thing takes place. It occurs throughout the country and at all levels of government. These lobbyist “gifts” are something that should be stopped because they can unethically influence lawmakers.

Terresa Monroe-Hamilton is a constitutional conservative who researches and writes extensively on politics and current affairs.

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