'Junk fees' on tickets, bookings targeted by Biden, congressional Democrats

So-called "junk fees" added to event tickets and hotel bookings, along with other surplus charges assessed to consumers, are targeted by new legislation backed by congressional Democrats.

The Junk Fee Protection Act, sponsored by Reps. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Jeff Jackson, D-N.C., would require all costs to be shown to consumers in the beginning of the transaction, as opposed to tacked on at checkout.

“When a concert ticket is listed at $50 and the price nearly doubles at checkout, that’s a bait and switch,” said Gallego, who is running for the U.S. Senate. “This price gouging impacts millions of Americans each year — it’s unfair and corporate abuse."

The Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission would have increased authority to set regulations and ensure companies comply. The bill would eliminate fees for things such as ending mobile phone contracts early and charging parents to sit next to their children during airplane flights. The enforcement of the latter would be overseen by the Department of Transportation.

President Joe Biden in his State of the Union speech called on Congress to enact legislation to end the additional charges assessed to purchasers. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Sheldon Whitehouse D-R.I. introduced the same legislation in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

While Republicans hold a majority in the House and passing the legislation will be an uphill climb, Gallego, who is running for the U.S. Senate, is optimistic that the bill will pass. The legislation enjoys widespread support in the general public across political party lines but some House Republicans have come out against it.

"Helping Arizonans save money isn’t a partisan issue. Rep. Gallego is proud to lead this fight in the House and looks forward to building a bipartisan coalition to end this price gouging that impacts countless hardworking Arizonans," Gallego spokesperson Jacques Petit told The Arizona Republic in a written statement.

Tara Kavaler is a politics reporter at The Arizona Republic. She can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @kavalertara.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'Junk fees' on tickets, bookings targeted by Biden, congressional Democrats