Bay State Bombast – 11
Politics / Humor - House Speaker Sal DiMasi and Speaker Pro Tempore Thomas Petrolati collected $42,000 in two days from eye doctors and their lobbyists just before a law that would’ve hurt their business was put on hold. The two have also been nominated for “Progressive with a Heart of Sleaze” awards.
State Senator Dianne Wilkerson has agreed to pay a $10,000 fine as part of a settlement with the attorney general's office for charges that included failing to report $26,935 in donations and paying herself $18,000 from her campaign funds. She said her biggest mistake was reading the book “Political Ethics, DiMasi Style.”
Despite massive state deficits looming, state legislators approved a pension increase for state workers that could cost more than $3 billion over the next 20 years. However, to offset the expenditure, they voted to raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes to $10,000.
The Legislature also voted to tax Manny Ramirez’s salary no matter where he's playing.
Increased gasoline and other costs have driven the number of MBTA riders to record high numbers, which basically means if you ride the T today, there is a better than 75 percent chance your nose will be wedged into another passenger’s armpit.
