WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- Interest in President-elect Barack Obama 's inauguration is running so high that one ticket broker is asking $ 20,095 for a single ticket . The government has printed 250,000 tickets so far for Barack Obama 's presidential inauguration on January 20 . Entry to the biggest event in Washington is free if your congressman or senator grants your request , but with demand outpacing supply a traditional giveaway has turned into a thriving online marketplace . Legitimate ticket brokers -- the same companies that peddle tickets to rock concerts and NASCAR races -- are selling tickets to the swearing-in of Barack Obama for thousands of dollars , even for standing-room areas on the National Mall . Organizers of the inauguration say it violates the spirit of the event and could spell disappointment for people who buy tickets for the January 20 ceremony . `` We think it 's absolutely insane to be selling those tickets . We understand some people want to make a buck , but for those people thinking of buying tickets , it 's buyer beware , '' warned Howard Gantman , staff director of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies . Watch why the tickets are going for top dollar » . The government has printed 250,000 tickets so far , holding them in a secure location . For information on how to get one , check out http : //inaugural.senate.gov/ . Ticket brokers act as middlemen , selling inaugural tickets they say they purchase from Capitol Hill employees and people who get them from members of Congress . Since the government releases tickets at the last minute -- less than a week before the inauguration -- ticket brokers can not ensure they will receive enough tickets to cover their orders . Web sites promise a full refund if tickets are not secured to buyers , but that offer may be little consolation to people who invest in a trip to Washington to see the inauguration . Since tickets do not have attendees ' names on them , Gantman said it 's inevitable some will be sold . `` Some will be distributed this way . It happens with baseball games and concerts . But we are going to take every step we can to make sure these tickets get into the hands of those who themselves intend to attend this event . '' Sen. Dianne Feinstein , the chairwoman of the inauguration committee , said Monday she she was prepared to ask Congress to make it a crime to scalp inauguration tickets . `` We have heard reports that there are people trying to scalp Inaugural tickets for more than $ 40,000 each . This is unconscionable and must not be allowed , '' Feinstein said in a statement . `` This inauguration will be the major civic event of our time , and these tickets are supposed to be free for the people . Nobody should have to pay for their tickets , '' she added . The inaugural committee is alerting lawmakers that it is a violation of Congress ' code of ethics for members or staff to sell their tickets .
NEW : Sen. Feinstein threatens to make selling of inauguration tickets a crime . The Washington Post reports that the California Democrat is threatening to criminalize reselling tickets. Ticket sellers ca n't guarantee that buyers will get tickets . Government has printed 250,000 tickets for January 20 event .