Inserts in triggers

Are there server setting that need to be set in order to do inserts from
trigger functions?

I have been trying to load data into a table which would trigger an insert
into another table with one or more of the NEW values.

I keep getting: ERROR: parser: parse error at or near "$1"
and the DEBUG log entry points to the line with the insert on it.
i.e.
INSERT events ( event_id, sport_id ,name ,feed_code, start_time,
active_flag, create_timestamp, update_timestamp ) VALUES ( event_id
,sport_id ,feed_code ,feed_code, create_timestamp, 1, create_timestamp,
create_timestamp );

where the values list is a list of predefined vars.

Does anyone see why this statement wouldn't work.

All required fields are present ant not null, all foreign keys exist.

thanks,
Morgan