“She’s got a ticket to ride. . .” ~Beatles
Despite demands for reforms in the wake of the Fiesta Bowl scandal in 2011, little changed for Arizona politicians and the special interests who lobby them. As a result, Arizona legislators have regularly been offered, and have accepted, tickets to the three state universities’ athletic events for free, according to a report by Arizona Daily Independent.
So, today, while most will watch the UA-ASU football game, some legislators will take in the game gratis.
According to a March 2012, press release from the FBI:
The former executive director of the Fiesta Bowl has admitted his role in the making of illegal federal campaign contributions by the bowl. John Junker, 56, of Phoenix, pleaded guilty on March 13, 2012 to one count of conspiracy in federal district court in Phoenix. Junker was executive director from 1990 until 2011.
In 2011, the Arizona Capitol Times reported that the Fiesta Bowl scandal involved “28 lawmakers, four other elected officials, a lobbying firm and a lobbyist.” The Arizona Capitol Times report included Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery’s call for an “overhaul the state’s lobbying laws” which he thought should include an “outright ban” on gifts.
But nothing changed according to legislators. The universities can still give away tickets as long as they offer them to all legislators.
