Local legislators not using Iron Bowl tickets
by Patrick McCreless
November 17, 2010
The host of the Iron Bowl sends free tickets to state legislators each year – tickets several local legislators do not plan to use.
This year, Jim Metrock, president of Obligation Inc., a Birmingham-based advocacy group for children, is fighting to end the practice. He contacted the University of Alabama and asked officials there to donate the tickets to children’s charities instead of sending them to legislators. He launched a campaign asking that legislators and candidates running for the Legislature forgo the tickets.
The University of Alabama and Auburn University have given Iron Bowl tickets to legislators as a way to get them to visit the schools and see the positive impacts the institutions have made to the state.
Rep. Steve Hurst of Talladega, who recently began his fourth term, said he always gives his tickets away to children.
“I never use mine,” Hurst said.
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From Jim Metrock: This is a comment I left on the Anniston Star’s website.
None of the legislators in this article ever replied to my letters and emails, and I see why.
Steve Hurst gives HIS tickets to “children.” First Mr. Hurst you are not entitled to these tickets. You and the others did not earn them. They are not part of you compensation. You get these expensive gifts each year because you are using your public office for personal gain. Why should you receive tickets to give away when the people who voted you into office don’t have that privilege? Mr. Hurst, you DO use your tickets. Being able to give away expensive tickets (and a parking pass) is a real benefit to you. Here’s an idea: Why don’t you go to a ticket agency and BUY tickets with YOUR MONEY and then give them to “children”?
Randy Wood doesn’t get it either. It’s not what you do with the tickets, it’s that you feel ENTITLED to accept the tickets in the first place. Wood is playing it both ways: He’ll get a lot of goodwill giving HIS tickets away to charity and he “hopes” to buy them back to give to his daughter. I guess that means if the bids aren’t too high he’ll step in and grab them up for his family. Wonder how prominently publicized this auction process will be?
What a generous man K.L Brown is. He’s giving the tickets (worth at least $500) to his grandson. Bet his neighbors would like to be able to do that too. And they could if they were selfless “public servants” like Mr. Brown.
Mr. Fielding should have said he will not accept the tickets. (It turns out newly-elected legislators will not receive tickets. Too bad Mr. Fielding.)
Mr. Marsh accepted them last year and he shouldn’t have.
Don’t look for any of these men to be leading the charge for ethics reform.
