Patrick asking for dairy bailout

Governor Deval Patrick yesterday filed legislation for a $3.6 million bailout of the state's 179 dairy farmers, who are trying to recover from the effects of last year's low prices and high production costs.

Patrick's legislation, part of a spending bill expected to be acted on quickly in the Legislature, would send them no-strings-attached checks estimated to be worth $16,000 to $20,000 apiece.

Next in line? Fishermen, lobstermen, real estate agents, and horse-drawn carriage makers and blacksmiths, we can only assume.

If you had a bad year last year, send your invoices for payment to:

Governor Deval Patrick
Massachusetts State House
Room 360
Boston, MA 02133

Or, just fax your requests to him at 617-727-9725.