More, more, more

I don't begrudge anyone a pension, but the recent rush in Massachusetts to add thousands more to the post-retirement salaries of state employees seems a little greedy to me. William Bulger -- who once gave "inconsistent" testimony to a Congressional committee that was looking into the sordid connections between the former state senate president, his gangster brother and a dishonored FBI agent, and then had to resign his post as president of UMass as a result -- had the nerve to ask that his pension be boosted from $179,000 to $208,000 a year because he felt some of the perks that the state was generous enough to provide should have been used in tallying the amount. The state retirement board agreed with him, and recently three former state legislators followed with their hands out, crying, "Me too."

Bulger received a severence package of nearly $1 million from UMass after what should have been a resignation in disgrace, but that -- and the $179,000 a year -- wasn't enough for the slimy, self-serving South Boston Democrat. His arrogance is only topped by his greed. As for the other legislators, who are likely the first of many, their totals aren't as high, but their attempts at sucking a few more bucks from the state are really disgusting to the average voter who is struggling to pay rent or meet healthcare expenses.