... But is there something in the water in the Capitol Building in Augusta, that when consumed, makes otherwise relatively intelligent people say and do stupid things?

Must be.

Case in point: One of our bad-water drinking legislators has proposed raising the Gov's salary. Not by a little mind you. I'd be all for allowing the Gov an extra measure of smoked salmon and brie at the Blaine House.

No, Rep. Moore, likely an otherwise nice guy and Republican from Standish, has offered up a bill to boost the Gov's pay from the current just-sneaking-by $70,000 to somewhere upwards of 221,000. For reference, that would make it then the highest governors pay in the US.

Now Rep. Moore, aren't you part of the same legislature that in recent times has tried to close the huge state budget deficit (in fairness, the same deficit dumped into the lap of Gov. Baldacci by Angus "Maine is on the Move" King) by such scams and gimmicks as the canoe and kayak tax, as well as God only knows how many other "fee" increases (for us outdoorsy-types we've seen it in our hunting, fishing and snowmobile licenses and registrations, guides licenses too, and we know it doesn't stop there) and "revenue" enhancements and whatever other tricky names you try to hide what is most honestly known as a TAX from the common people (those would be the ones who actually have to PAY the taxes, er, fees et al).

Where do you expect this extra money to come from? A hiker tax? A shoelace tax? A donut tax? A tax on our tax??

Rep. Moore, aren't we already the highest overall taxed state in the entire nation?

Let's see now: Highest taxes, lowest Gov's salary.

Works for me!

How about a merit increase instead?

Bring state spending under control (without raising taxes) and then we can talk about a pay increase for Maine's chief executive. And maybe even you nice folks in the legislature.

In the meantime, get somebody from the Maine DEP over to the State House quick-like to test the water. Lest other legislators imbibe and start proposing other salary increases.

Except, of course, if it's mine...