PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia lawmaker’s bill that would cap ticket reseller fees is on the way to the Pennsylvania Senate after passing the state House with bipartisan support last week.
Philadelphia-based Democratic state Rep. Mary Isaacson’s bill would cap ticket reseller fees at 5% on the buyer and 5% on the seller. She pointed to a recent example in which Super Bowl tickets sold on separate sites were charging fees of 35% — more than $2,000 on top of tickets listed for more than $7,000.
“I don’t have a problem with people making a profit or a fee on top of a ticket price, but I do have a problem with it becoming excessive,” she said.
The bill has bipartisan sponsors and passed the House 108-95, with all Democrats and six Republicans voting in favor.
Cumberland County-based Republican Thomas Kutz explained his opposition: “While there are instances of excessive fees, I believe a one-size-fits-all approach to cap all fees at 5% may not contemplate certain circumstances where the free market may dictate those fees going higher.”
The bill now heads to the state Senate.