Getting tickets to the Super Bowl is no easy feat for regular schleps like you or me. Only one percent of the tickets are available to the general public. They end up at places like Stubhub, where prices for non-premium seats were selling for between $3,500 - 4,000 apiece. But for Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan or State Representative Jenn Mann, scoring tickets is no problem at all. Both were among the 105,000 elite in Dallas on February 6.You see, the NFL and teams makes tickets available, and at face value, to politicians and businesses. That's how Joe Scarnati, the state senate's highest-ranking member, was able to make his way to Texas. Marcellus Shale driller Consol Energy Inc. paid his freight.
How about Callahan and Mann?
Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan refused to return my call, so I'll tell you what I know. His trip to cowboy country was paid for by some high-powered D.C. firm that Callahan met during his Congressional race. He spent a lot of time rubbing elbows with celebrities, and apparently was emailing photos during the game.
He must have forgotten to send one to me.
On February 7, the day after Superbowl, the state House was in business and conducted its usual roll call. Jenn Mann was reported "on leave." She was still on her way back from the Lone Star State. There were 11 other absences that day, although I'm told the actual number is closer to 30.According to her press aide, Mann paid her own way. But how did she get her ticket, and how much did she pay? You can be damn sure she had no need to use stubhub or participate in any steenkin' lottery. The face value of these cheap seats was between $600-800, well below the $3,500-4,000 paid by the unwashed masses.
Shouldn't this difference be reported as a gift?
The same thing happened in Wisconsin, where local mayors and county officials got Super Bowl tickets at face value. Common Cause's Jay Keck condemns this favoritism.
"The real problem in my mind is one of perception. ... Public officials get preferential treatment by being offered these tickets ahead of the rest of the public. ... It creates real cynicism on the part of a lot of citizens about public officials and, frankly, I think public officials, to their detriment, accept things like this and don't think twice about the effect it's going to have on public morale."
Wow, I can only imagine the shenanigans when Callahan runs for County Executive. The high rollers will have the parking deck overcrowded with their Porsche's and Mercedes.
ReplyDeleteFinneus Fussbudget IV
Public service union members are just-add-water Democrats.
ReplyDeleteThe government that robs from Peter to pay Paul will always enjoy the support of Paul.
Barratta has been despised by Peter for years. He's a lefty hack who coddles criminals. He knows how despised he is and is cementing his relationship with Paul.
Is this any different than Ron Angle accepting $3000 from GEO?
ReplyDeleteMonkey Momma,
ReplyDeleteThe difference is that the two faced BO loves Angle and hates Callahan. It's that simple.
Please keep on this.
ReplyDeleteDid Corbett have the honor of flipping the coin at the SB? If a lobbyist walked in a legislatures office and offer $5k for special treatment, PAs former Attorney General would be launching an investigation. However if a candidtae for Governor takes $1/2M and then vows special treatment,they call it campaign finance.
ReplyDeleteDid you know that the conservative states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming have a gas severance tax?
Mann gets tix to big sporting events all the time. She supposedly went to the Stanley Cup and World Series too.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, Callahan was in Texas at the superbowl. Well, I am not surprised. I was rather surprised in his run for congress though. I know he was hand chosen by Washington, but nonetheless those are big shoes to wear, much too big for my tiny little asian feet.
ReplyDeleteI made no judgements about him until I went to see for myself at the ET Galla debate at State Theater. Charlie and Jake did well, but Callahan? A stuttering, mumbling hothead who cant answer a simple question
"Is this any different than Ron Angle accepting $3000 from GEO?"
ReplyDeleteI wrote an article several weeks ago, condemning Ron for his "pay to play" practices. It makes no difference whether it is Ron or Callahan or Pawlowski.
I missed GEO, but had other contributions to Angle from Eckert Seamans and Ramzi Haddad listed here.
ReplyDeletehttp://bethlehem.patch.com/articles/whos-buying-our-politicians
I oppose "pay to play," whether it is Angle or anyone else.
I notice Molovinsky has a new blog in which he suggests for a third time that I post under other names. Even though he's been proven wrong at least once, he continues to make these false accusations.
ReplyDelete"Shouldn't this difference be reported as a gift?"
ReplyDeleteSo what is the value of the gift and who gave it to her? If she paid face value, there is no gift. Just b/c a different competitive market was calling for a different price point doesn't mean that the other market amounts to a gift.
Your point about public officials getting different access is fair. I'd blast the NFL, Cowboys and lobbyists for being so concerned about currying favor amongst elected officials. But hey, the NFL wants new stadiums in LA, SD, Minnesota and SF. They get the same $600 or $800 whether a fan buys them or a state rep from PA buys them. It's the stubhub market that blows the costs up, not the NFL or state reps that pay face value.
I quess with the extra money from the parking authority Callahan could afford the flight and hotel fees???? MMMM just more decieving shannanagans that go on and on
ReplyDeleteBernie, you may have missed it but Jon Geeting covered this topic on his blog. Only Republicans take bribes.
ReplyDeleteJust thought I'd help.
Jenn Mann seems to be able to do anything and get away with it! Will she ever be held accountable?
ReplyDeleteReally? She paid face value? Oh, the horror!
ReplyDeleteSo not buying a scalped ticket is some sort of offence to taxpayers?
Oh, and nice touch showing a picture of her family. Stay classy Bernie.
She paid face value for a ticket that was easily worth 4 times that price, got a break that regular people don't get, but you'll condone it because she is a D. Whether she is a D or an R like Corbett, this is a bad practice that needs to stop. It creates, as Common Cause says, the wrong perception.
ReplyDelete"Bernie, you may have missed it but Jon Geeting covered this topic on his blog."
ReplyDeleteI did not see it until I was donme with this, but I read the same news accounts on which Geeting based his story. This is preferential treatment to pols and paying face value for a ticket well in excess of that price is questionable. It makes no difference to me whether the offender is D or R.
I do not delete people who simply disagree. I actually encourage fdifferent views, but condemn anonymous personal attacks bc they are the work of cowards.
ReplyDeleteAnon 10:47, You make some great points, but I believe there's a little room to blame the pols, too. This may not be illegal, but it does create a public perception problem.
ReplyDeleteAnon 10:47, You make some great points, but I believe there's a little room to blame the pols, too. This may not be illegal, but it does create a public perception problem.
ReplyDeleteThis is approximately 1/100 as bad as taking three large from a prison corporation just before advocating for their project. These guys play small ball. Say what you want about the Slate Belt, they play for serious coin.
ReplyDeleteBernie,
ReplyDeleteWhen are you going to learn that WE are not part of the "better than you" club?
You really do need to write that on a sticky note so you will have a constant reminder of this fact. I'm surprised Rubberstamp Reynolds didn't go with Johny Casino, then again maybe Rubberstamp was watching at home and having his hot girlfriend explain football to him.
These two political hacks are an embarassment. 9% + unemployment in the valley and these clowns are livin' large at an event that 99% of us cannot afford. The people put these bums in office and they think they deserve to be treated like high rollers at the Sands. If Johnny Casino ever makes it to higher office the perks will be piled up at his filthy door step. Super Bowls will be replaced with junkets to Monte Carlo. And Jen Mann will be sipping champagne cocktails next to him in first class. These arrogant pols have no shame.
ReplyDeleteSo it appears that both Mann and Corbett went to the Super Bowl and paid face value for their tickets.
ReplyDeleteAccording PA Politics... Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) is in hot water after a top aide disclosed that he enjoyed a free Super Bowl ticket, plane ride and hotel room compliments of Consol Energy Inc, one of the major companies driling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale.
Really! Free tickets, free room, free airfare gets a pass here? Not even a mention?
Hardly. I linked to an article about just that. It is wrong, no matter what the party. But this is a local blog, these are local pols, and people should know.
ReplyDeletebo is the local court jester
ReplyDeleteIf Jenn were straight most of this abuse would stop!
ReplyDeleteLet's not wander into territory that you would not mention if you had to sign your name.
ReplyDeleteI visited Harrisburg the day Mann was on leave ...
ReplyDelete