To many residents of Spencer, they may have noticed a flyer in their door regarding state Senator, Anne Gobi, (D-Spencer). The flier focuses on Sen. Gobi’s support of a bill she co-sponsored with Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) to make Massachusetts a sanctuary state. It’s a gift to the farthest of the far left. Shortly after Gobi and Eldridge were successful in drafting their legislation, the Massachusetts Democratic Party put into their party platform support for making Massachusetts a sanctuary state. Gobi and Eldridge’s bill actually prohibits local and state law enforcement from applying Federal immigration laws in the state. As you know, some cities and towns in Massachusetts have already implemented sanctuary city statutes, but many have rejected them. Just last week, Greenfield said "NO!" and rejected efforts to become a sanctuary city. But choice isn't something Gobi supports. She's proposing the state overrule local decision making in towns like Greenfield.  According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform, illegal immigration costs Massachusetts taxpayers $1.8 billion each year. If Gobi's bill passes and ties the hands of law enforcement, that number will soar. Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance is informing the residents of Sen. Gobi's district to let them know that she's leading the charge to make Massachusetts a Sanctuary State. If controlling illegal immigration matters to you, contact Senator Gobi and urge her to drop her support for the sanctuary state legislation. Her office phone number is (617) 722-1540.

Through a Freedom of Information Act request, MassFiscal obtained the payroll records for lawmakers before and after the legislative pay raise vote. We're publishing it on our website for two reasons. First, we believe transparency in how the government spends our tax dollars is crucial. Only the professional politicians win when information like this is kept secret. Second, the slippery stories legislators are telling about this vote are outrageous. We think people deserve the truth. A few highlights: The biggest boosts came in the Senate, with some members earning more than 70 percent this year over last. Senate President Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst), the highest earner in either chamber and one of the architects of the pay grab, saw a 59 percent bump. Senator Cynthia Creem (D-Newton), who heads the ethics committee, will receive an additional $60,315 this year over what she earned last year. Creem's 73 percent increase is a smidge less than Senator Harriet Chandler (D-Worcester)'s 76 percent increase, or an additional $67,815, post "emergency" pay raise legislation. The big winner in the House is Rep. Claire Cronin (D-Brockton), who was granted the largest percentage increase (60 percent) in the lower chamber, boosting her salary to $107,548 from last year's $62,548. The legislation's author in the House, Speaker Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop), increased his pay by $55,315, or about ten percent more than the average salary of a firefighter in his home town.  The list is interesting reading. See for yourself, by clicking through on the links below.