Another Taxpayer Provided Perk for Politicians
December 1st, 2007 by Steve
BRIBE
n.
1. Something, such as money or a favor, offered or given to a person in a position of trust to influence that person’s views or conduct.
2. Something serving to influence or persuade.
The University of Alabama and Auburn University together this fall gave away more than $100,000 worth of free football tickets to elected and appointed state and federal officials.Most were elected officials - mainly members of the Alabama Legislature, while the appointed officials were primarily members of Gov. Bob Riley’s administration.
Riley’s office received 24 tickets to each Alabama and Auburn home game.
If you are wondering why this hit the paper, it’s because one legislator was upset that he did not get his share of the loot.
Rep. Alvin Holmes, D-Montgomery, this week drew attention to the schools’ practice of giving Iron Bowl tickets to lawmakers when he complained he didn’t get his from Auburn this year.
So long as tax dollars help support our state universities, it is reprehensible that money is taken from the wallets of working citizens and transferred into football tickets for politicians. Especially politicians who, in turn, appropriate money back to the very same universities.
I wouldn’t be so upset if the PR department of one of our athletic programs decided to provide tickets to some children’s home or senior center, but to give this many tickets to state politicians is not only an egregious waste of tax dollars, but it also illustrates why so many people dislike and distrust politicians.
To the best of my knowledge, this activity is considered legally ethical within the state of Alabama, but it certainly isn’t ethical. We should immediately follow Tennessee’s lead and prohibit this sort of activity.
5 Responses to “Another Taxpayer Provided Perk for Politicians”
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Flashpoint » Blog Archive » Ditto on the Iron Bowl bribery wrote on 12/2/07 at 1:20 am :
[…] Steve’s post to get a flavor of how I feel about the Tigers and Tide doling out free Iron Bowl (and […]
Anonymous wrote on 12/2/07 at 10:22 pm :
What tax dollars are involved in this?
Steve wrote on 12/3/07 at 2:17 am :
Anon,
Try page two of this report.
Daily Dixie: I am alone wrote on 12/3/07 at 3:21 am :
[…] and Steve strongly disagree, however. Maybe some more Alabama bloggers will weigh in after their weekend. […]
GordonUnleashed » Blog Archive » Alabama Ticketgate Scandal Should Be Investigated wrote on 12/3/07 at 1:59 pm :
[…] It might be different if they were providing tickets to members of the military, as the Auburn-Opelika News suggested, or giving them to the needy children or the elderly, as I’ve suggested. […]