August 2, 2008

Ohio Politicians Use Campaign War Chests to Buy Buckeye Tickets

Public officials in Ohio use campaign funds to buy hundreds of season tickets each year to Ohio State University football games, according to the Associated Press. Since 1996, elected officials have spent more than $400,000 to see the Buckeyes.

An analysis of state records found that while state, county, and local officials buy the tickets, the bulk have gone to state lawmakers. Ohio State tickets go for $62 a game, or $434 for all seven home games. Elected officials are allowed to buy four season tickets, and staff or cabinet members may buy two.

J. Curtis Mayhew, Ohio’s campaign-finance administrator, says the purchases are legal. “There’s no doubt that the statute is pretty lenient with regard to how they can spend their money,” he says. “Really, the big prohibition is on converting it to personal use.”

Catherine Turcer, of the government watchdog group Ohio Citizen Action, questions the ethics of the arrangement.

“They have access to something that other people do not have access to,” she says. “Very few alumni have access to this number of tickets. And then that they could buy these with their campaign funds? It may be legal, but that doesn’t mean it actually passes the smell test.” —Don Troop

Comments

1. When history is written about our time, this will serve as yet another example of elected officials using their positions for personal gain and undermining the public interest at every turn. Although such corruption can readily be found throughout history, the nature and extent of today’s activity is unprecedented. May history judge politicians from both major parties guilty of soaking themselves in comfort while the people struggled for lack of leadership.

   — Buckeye    Aug 2, 07:44 PM    #

2. “…the big prohibition is on converting it to personal use.” And how are tickets to a game NOT construed as “personal use?”

   — L Wood    Aug 4, 10:24 AM    #

3. Gosh guys, I think we’re being a little judgmental here. These people have tough jobs — what with having to think up a new bunch of unneeded laws to pass every year (and then, on occassion, having to actually read some of them and know what they say). Come to think of it, we may actually be better off with them at a game than at work — it seems they can commit less stupidity seated in the stands.

   — babylawyer    Aug 4, 10:40 AM    #

4. That money was given for their re-election, not football games. Next time give the money to the “other guy” and give them the status of unemployed.

   — Joe the Screwed    Aug 4, 10:59 AM    #

5. well, if they are using them to win votes, then it is certainly a great way to spend a saturday with your best buddies from law school who already give you hundreds to win elections with! How about taking the average family guy to a game, or his kid? These are the people who are priced out of college games due to this type of behind the scenes spending!

   — Browntown    Aug 4, 11:33 AM    #

6. Political contributions are just another way for the politicians to pad their own pockets. It’s embarrassing. During the last administration, the lieutenant governor had to visit Texas to recruit (unsuccessfully) new business to come to Ohio. The weekend he selected — osu v. Texas. Of course, he had tickets!

   — Jimmy    Aug 5, 03:59 PM    #

7. Anybody willing to waste their money by giving it to a politican has no right to complain about how the money is used. They can use it to buy hookers for all I care. I give money to real charities.

   — Sunil    Aug 6, 03:35 AM    #

8. Good point

   — Kyle David    Aug 6, 03:52 PM    #

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