SCBA blogger Larry Schumacher notes that Indiana politicians are getting to cut in line for Super Bowl tickets.

An e-mail from the team late Thursday offered each lawmaker the chance to purchase a pair of tickets at the face value of $600 apiece.

"I can't spend that kind of money," said state Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary. "It's not only (the ticket price). It's what the hotels are going to cost down there and flights. I know making a flight this late is going to be high. I can't do that."

Smith said his nephew, a coach at Westside High in Gary, expressed interest in the tickets, but the e-mail from the Colts said lawmakers must use the tickets themselves.

State Rep. Bob Kuzman, D-Crown Point, said he already had bought his own ticket to the game but might use the team's offer to score a seat for his wife or his father.

Scalping is legal in Indiana, but let's be real: A politician that took the tickets as a gift from the team -- gift insofar as the face price on the ticket is below its equilibrium price -- and converted that gift to cash would be roasted. (Although giving them to someone, having them turn it to cash might be palatable. Whether that sugar comes back to the legislator or not is hard to say.)

So why give the tickets to the pols? Here's why. And bet your bottom dollar that if the Twins make the World Series in the next five years, this dude isn't paying for his ducats.