Jul 21, 2008 3:58 pm US/Eastern
Lautenberg Drops 'Boss' Tix Request For Fundraiser
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) ―
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Singer Bruce Springsteen and the E -Street Band perform their last show for the 2002-03 World Tour at Shea Stadium October 4, 2003 in Flushing, New York. (Photo by Anthony Correia/Getty Images)
Anthony Correia/Getty Images
Sen. Frank Lautenberg's re-election campaign has dropped its request to get the operator of Giants Stadium to give it discounted Bruce Springsteen tickets for a fundrasier event this weekend.
The turnaround comes after a newspaper reported that the senator's campaign planned to purchase premium tickets for Sunday's Springsteen concert for $108 a piece, then give them to supporters who donate $1,500 or more to his campaign fund.
New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority spokesman John Samerjan said the tickets -- normally sold at face value to VIPs -- were in the first-tier ring.
Ticket Web sites reviewed by The Associated Press show seats in that section available for about $400.
Campaign spokeswoman Julie Roginsky said the authority had agreed to sell a block of tickets but that the campaign decided to rescind its request after the authority expressed concern the practice.
The Record of Bergen County cited sources who said sports authority officials became concerned that permitting a candidate to raise ticket prices for fundraising would be unprecedented.
"The campaign is also asking the sports authority to re-examine its practice of reserving tickets, in order to ensure that its tickets are available to all New Jersey residents, not just to VIPs," Roginsky said in a statement.
Samerjan said the request had been approved but was "under review." He said the authority would review its policy.
Samerjan said he did not know how many tickets the authority typically reserves for its own use, but said that as promoter of the Springsteen appearance, the agency had more tickets than usual.
Sunday's show is the first of three dates at the Meadowlands for The Boss during his "Magic" tour with the E Street Band. None have sold out, Samerjan said.
Election law officials had no immediate comment.
New Jersey's anti-scalping law does not apply to charities and political organizations, said Jeffrey Lamm, a spokesman for the state Division of Consumer Affairs. The law bars ticket brokers or season ticket holders from charging more than 50 percent above the face value.
State Republican Committee Chairman Tom Wilson said the Lautenberg request "smacks of politics as usual."
"Senator Lautenberg has the responsibility to help obtain federal funding for the rail connection to and road improvements around the Meadowlands," Wilson said. "His request for a special favor from the NJSEA to help his campaign looks like an old fashioned quid pro quo."
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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