Rep. Chris DeLaForest, R-Andover, saw his ticket scalping bill sail through the House Wednesday (May 2) on a 124-8 vote. The bill decriminalizes the reselling of event tickets, though allows cities to regulate sales. DeLaForest described the bill as evolutionary in nature, something needed in the age of the Internet.

by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

A local lawmaker has provided one less reason to look over your shoulder outside the ballpark.

Rep. Chris DeLaForest, R-Andover, saw his legislation decriminalizing ticket scalping easily pass the House on a 124-8 vote.

"I expect his (Gov. Tim Pawlenty) signature," said DeLaForest of the bill passing gubernatorial muster.

Conservative DeLaForest - who picked up the scalping bill from a liberal lawmaker, Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis - argued time for passage of the bill had simply come. "There has been very little resistance to this bill from the start," said DeLaForest, speaking after passage. "It was a true evolution," he said.

The Internet has blown the top off the secondary market for tickets, DeLaForest explained.

"It was time to make it legitimate like any other business so consumers can benefit - stop operating in the shadows," he said.

Let the ticket scalpers become legitimate, registered businesses paying taxes. "Everybody wins," he said.

There has been at least 20 years of discussion on decriminalizing ticket scalping, said DeLaForest.

As for joining forces with Kahn on the bill, DeLaForest suggested it wasn't that startling. "I don't think it's all that unusual that we get together. Sometimes conservatives and liberals can share suspicions of government," he said.

DeLaForest explained carrying the bill had been enjoyable. "It's really fun because it passed," he said, laughing.

As a member of the House minority, DeLaForest's legislative opportunities are not boundless.

(Photo by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

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