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Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is working on a bill that would make it illegal to sell tickets to President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony.

Feinstein is also writing to eBay and Craigslist asking the Web sites not to sell any scalped inauguration tickets.

Feinstein's bill would charge those caught selling the tickets with a misdemeanor and a fine.  The Senate meets next week for a lame-duck session where the bill could be introduced.

Tickets to the inauguration are available for free but have been appearing on some sites for as much as $40,000. The public can contact their Member of Congress or U.S Senators to request tickets to the January 20 event.

Tickets to the inauguration will not be distributed to congressional offices until the week before the ceremony and will require in-person pick-up.

"Any website or ticket broker claiming that they have inaugural tickets is simply not telling the truth," said Howard Gantman, Staff Director for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

"Tickets for the swearing-in of President-elect are all provided through members of Congress, and the President-elect and Vice President-elect through the Presidential Inaugural Committee. We urge the public to view any offers of tickets for sale with great skepticism."