Letter: Early legislative getaway was 'unconscionable'

Opinion

Discussion

The Salem News has a real-name policy for commenting. Users may sign in using the Facebook Connect tool above the comments field. Once your first comment is posted by a moderator, all future comments will post automatically. If you prefer not to use Facebook, send an e-mail with your comments user name (which must be the same as your real name), city or town, street address and daytime phone number to comments@salemnews.com. A staff member will contact you directly to confirm your identity. It may take a day or two before you can post comments. Only your user name will be public. All users are required to follow our rules for commenting, which can be found here.

comments powered by Disqus

November 24, 2009

Anonymous The Salem News Tue Nov 24, 2009, 12:10 AM EST

To the editor:

I certainly hope that the voters in the state of Massachusetts have good memories when it comes time to elect your state representatives.

In these difficult times, it is unconscionable to me that our full-time legislators have the audacity to take the rest of 2009 off!

Who do they think they are?

If everything is running so smoothly, perhaps we should consider making it a part-time job. That surely would be a great way to save the state money. I just wanted to bring this to everyone's attention.

Susan Ortins

Danvers

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Opinion

Our view: Bans on drug discounts, doctors' meals should be repealed

Could Massachusetts be shedding its nanny-state image?
Currently, it's the only one of the 50 states that bans the use of coupons for the purchase of prescription medications. Legislators apparently felt their constituents might be too easily swayed by these offers and might go on drug-buying binges aided by their doctors who must write the prescriptions.

The Salem News Thu, May 31
May 31, 2012 5:00 am
Our view: Trailblazing local preservationist wins statewide honor

We suspect few are more anxious to see the Friendship back at her berth at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site than Annie Harris.
As director of The Salem Partnership, she was instrumental in getting the replica of a 1797 East Indiaman built to enhance the visitor experience at the National Park Service-administered site and serve as a symbol of the ties that bind the communities of Essex County. Those efforts eventually led to her appointment as the first director of the Essex National Heritage Commission in 1997, a post she holds to this day.

The Salem News Thu, May 31
May 31, 2012 5:00 am
My View: College: Is it worth it?

A recent AP story reported that one in two new college graduates is jobless. Having just graduated myself, it's an understatement to say this is concerning.
Did I just spend four years of my life and an exorbitant amount of money for nothing? The article seems to indicate that, yes, I did.

Katie Thompson The Salem News Copyright 2012 SalemNews.com, Salem, MA. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Thu, May 31
May 31, 2012 4:45 am
Barbara Anderson: Home's value determined by what tax assessors say it's worth

As we approach another anniversary of the property tax-limiting Proposition 21/2, I'm happy to again celebrate its creation by Massachusetts voters in 1980. But I've recently learned that since the beginning of its July 1981 implementation I've misunderstood one thing about it over the years.

Barbara Anderson The Salem News Copyright 2012 SalemNews.com, Salem, MA. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Thu, May 31
May 31, 2012 4:45 am
Letter: Beloved bookstore's closing a loss for the community

To the editor:
For the last 25 years, the town of Wenham has had the honor of having in its center a unique treasure, the Banbury Cross Children's Book Shop. It was a small oasis of quiet, peace and pure joy to book lovers and busy moms, and a special gift to generations of Hamilton and Wenham children. Banbury Cross Children's Book Shop was dedicated to providing the best in children's literature to all.

Beloved bookstore's closing a loss for the community The Salem News Copyright 2012 SalemNews.com, Salem, MA. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Thu, May 31
May 31, 2012 4:30 am
Letter: Salem cemetery open to some, not others May 31, 2012 4:30 am
Our View: Big test for upstart Senate candidate May 30, 2012 5:00 am
Our View: Time to get rid of Salem council's silly gag rule May 30, 2012 5:00 am
Reg Henry: Dear Friends: Facebook is, like, so lame May 30, 2012 4:45 am
What Others Say: Nanny state alive and well in the Merrimack Valley May 30, 2012 4:45 am
Letter: Great day for Farms community May 30, 2012 4:30 am
Letter: Proposed development threatens another Beverly neighborhood May 30, 2012 4:30 am
Letter: Excessive parking rules threaten Salem's small businesses May 30, 2012 4:30 am
Letter: Goal should be reasonable ambulance rates for all May 30, 2012 4:30 am
Our View: Sports stardom no guarantee of future success May 29, 2012 5:05 am 1 Photo
Our View: For better or worse, this trio helped define our culture May 29, 2012 5:00 am
Letter: Project should provide ownership option for working class May 29, 2012 4:30 am
Letter: St. Mary's: Lifebridge should mend things by finding new home for grotto icons May 29, 2012 4:30 am
Letter: St. Joseph's Church: a legacy for future generations in Salem? May 29, 2012 4:30 am
Our View: A day to honor our military heroes May 28, 2012 5:01 am 1 Photo
Our View: Tourney time a spring treat May 28, 2012 4:59 am
Thanks: Chief made a good impression on her class May 28, 2012 4:55 am 1 Photo
Thanks: Auction raised money for Ipswich Rotary's good works May 28, 2012 4:55 am
Ann McFeatters: It's all about the economy May 28, 2012 4:55 am
Thanks: Many helped honor Marblehead physician May 28, 2012 4:55 am
Thanks: Change in Salem Hall of Fame something to celebrate May 28, 2012 4:47 am
Our View: Transient staff evidence of NOAA's dysfunction May 26, 2012 4:41 am
David M. Shribman: Respect for vets, confidence in military something we all agree on May 26, 2012 4:39 am
Quips & Quotes May 26, 2012 4:38 am
Our View: Time to move forward with Law of the Sea treaty May 25, 2012 4:46 am

Click here for more Opinion stories

Nelson Benton Twitter Updates

Follow me on Twitter

Salem News Opinion Poll

AP Video

Syrian Boy Speaks Out, Survives Family Massacre

Judge Tells John Edwards Jury: Keep Deliberating

House Rejects Sex-selection Abortion Ban

Bush, Obama on Stage Together Share Laughs

Comments Tracker

Roll Call

Brown bucks GOP, votes to appoint Cordray as Consumer Protection chief: Roll Call for week of Dec. 5
WASHINGTON - Here’s how members of the Massachusetts delegation in Congress voted on major issues the week of Dec. 5:

December 12, 2011
Kerry, Brown split on payroll tax cut: Roll Call for week of Nov. 28, 2011
WASHINGTON -- Here’s how members of the Massachusetts delegation in Congress voted on major issues the week of Nov. 28:

December 5, 2011
Congressional roll call for weeks of Sept. 19 and 26, 2011
WASHINGTON - Here’s how members of the Massachusetts delegation in Congress voted on major issues the weeks of Sept. 19 and 26:

September 29, 2011
Congressional roll call for week of Sept. 16, 2011
WASHINGTON - Here’s how members of the Massachusetts delegation in Congress voted on major issues the week of Sept. 12.

September 21, 2011
Here's how N. Shore House members voted on casino bill
BOSTON -- The Massachusetts House of Representatives voted 123-32 Wednesday for final passage of a bill authorizing three casinos and one slots parlor in the state. Here's how members of the North Shore delegation were recorded.

September 15, 2011

Helium debate