Mass. gives out 100 grand like candy

http://bostonherald.com ^ | 02/16/2013 | Joe Dwinell

[massmike]

The roster of state workers raking in six-figure pay skyrocketed last year by an astonishing 12 percent to nearly 7,700 employees, according to a Herald review — a budget-busting bombshell that has fiscal watchdogs howling “enough.”

The review comes as Gov. Deval Patrick is pushing for massive $1.9 billion in tax and fee hikes amid a sputtering state economy and a climbing jobless rate.

The highest pay — more than $700,000 — went to those in the University of Massachusetts system. Yet, nurses, state troopers, office workers, prison guards and managers also swelled the ranks of the six-figure club, including:

•     2,557 University of Massachusetts employees who took home $100,000 or more last year — with 196 earning anywhere from $200,000 to more than $700,000;

•     1,583 state troopers who pulled in $100,000 or more — with 29 earning $200,000 or more;

•     200 Department of Transportation workers, who drove home with $100,000 or more; and

•     More than 200 Department of Correction employees who raked in upward of $100,000.

[acapesket]

It’s the “Devalue Way”!

[Diogenesis]

“It’s good to be King.”

[subterfuge]

At least we can be assured all the 100K+ clubbers arent greedy capitalists.

[kearnyirish2]

This is crushng NJ as well; as a result companies (and those employees that can) flee, and the resulting population is made up of multi-generational welfare parasites, illegal aliens, and the government workers that can afford the high taxes they themselves cause. Thankfully the 3rd group faced huge layoffs in the past few years; the money simply ran out.

While NJ has been a toss-up in the past (there are some wealthy people here, parts of western NJ resemble Appalachia, and southern NJ is actually below the Mason-Dixon line), these demographic trends are putting it solidly in the Dem column for national election purposes. Those three remaining groups will always vote for Dems, because when you rob Peter to pay Paul you will always have the support of Paul.

[nascarnation]

The university numbers speak to my theory of the “big education cycle”

Channeling student loan money to large numbers of overpaid profs / admins who contribute to Democrats.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I think you’re on to something...

[nascarnation]

Take those UMass numbers, multiply by the number of colleges/univs in the state, times 50 states....I think it’s a LOT of money.

Once again Republicans have been suckered into agreeing to promote a funding mechanism for Democrats.

Because they’re doing it “for the children”

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Everyone knows it is based upon the philosophy of wealth transfer. From those who once governed and who generated their own wealth to those who have never created a dollar.