Mass. Version of KFP for FSP

[Kat Kanning]

There's still time if you want to submit something.

[Russell Kanning]

Any day now and it will go to the printer.

[Kat Kanning]

Last call for articles/ads!   

BTW, I got another generous donation for the paper.  It'll go for another thousand or so copies.

[JonM]

Is the FSP ad a First 1000 ad?

[Kat Kanning]

No, but if there is one, I'll try and include it.   Throwing in extras beyond what the FSP paid for

[Kat Kanning]

Anyone want a letter to the editor included in this paper?

[Kat Kanning]

Anyone know how much legislators in MA make now?  Looks like it was $46,410 in 2002.

[Dreepa]

that sounds about right.

http://mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/3-9.htm

[JonM]

Back in 1998 the legislature put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to give themselves a pay raise every 2 years if the median income went up in Massachusetts.  In 2003 during the middle of a nasty fiscal crisis in the commonwealth they were due a 6.5% raise, and took it.  Of course, that was after the 1994 vote to raise their pay 55% . . . in exchange for a capital gains tax cut which they later repealed.

In 2005 they got a 4.1% raise.  Their base rate is $55,500, but if you're in a leadership position, and there are LOTS of those, you could make $7.5-$15k more a year.  Funny how those go to people who toe the line.  There are around 100 members of the 200 member legislature who qualify for extra leadership pay.

http://cltg.org/cltg/clt2005/05-02-10.htm

Much fodder can be found at cltg.org.  Maybe you could invite Barbara Anderson to submit a column . . .

[Russell Kanning]

Will she like the point of the paper? ..... "move to NH"

[JonM]

You're quick.  I emailed her a while back about the FSP, but when she hangs it up she plans to move to Nevada.  Family out there.

I dunno, if you put in the cltg.org url she may consider the possibility that some people will donate to them as incentive enough to put in a column.  I used to give them money but haven't of late.  Nobody is more qualified to write about legislative excesses in MA than CLTG I'd guess.

[Dreepa]

Another reason that MA sucks:
http://search.csmonitor.com/search_content/0515/p01s02-wmgn.html

Now it can truly be a Nanny state.

[JonM]

Hey maybe a plug for the MA-RI FSP local group . . .

[Kat Kanning]

Good idea

[Russell Kanning]

Hey maybe a plug for the MA-RI FSP local group . . .

Do you guys meet?