Republican State Senate Carnival Game

From today's Boston Globe. A story on the 4 Republicans left standing in the State Senate and the fact that all will get large pay increases because they all will be in minority leadership roles.

For the record, I don't have an issue paying leadership legislators more for taking additional responsibilities. But our friends on the right, in the Republican Party and Tea Party wingnuts all have issues with "taxpayer funded" jobs and public sector paychecks.

Can you imagine the Howie Carr Column and the talk radio haters if a Democratic elected official said this:

But even the losers of this not-so-titanic battle will come off well. While the next minority leader will get a $22,500 bump in pay and a bigger office with additional staff members, his three underlings will inevitably serve in the august ranks of leadership. They will divvy up the roles of assistant minority leader, minority whip, and assistant minority whip, each of which carries a $15,000 pay increase.

"I refer to it as 'everybody's a winner,' '' Senator Michael R. Knapik, a Westfield Republican, told the Salem News. "It's kind of like when you go to the carnival and spin the wheel and everybody wins every time.

"I refer to it as 'everybody's a winner,' '' Senator Michael R. Knapik, a Westfield Republican, told the Salem News. "It's kind of like when you go to the carnival and spin the wheel and everybody wins every time.

What? Spin the wheel and everybody (read Republican State Senators) wins every time! Really Senator Knapik? That is how you view taxpayer dollars, as a carnival game?

Well now facing a $2 billion deficit the Republican carnival game can save taxpayers $67,500 by refusing leadership pay increases (at least until they actually have someone to lead).

Again, imagine the Howie Carr and talk show goons if Speaker Deleo and Senate President
Murray said what Knapik told the Globe.

Can you spell "double standard" Howie or will you write the column and blast all four Republicans for taking the taxpayers on a carnival leadership ride?