Really?

I'm so glad that all of Massachusetts' problems have been solved so that the legislature can now tackle really important issues.

From today's Boston Globe:
Lawmakers’ nod could sweeten the day for Fluffernutter fans

The Fluffernutter, once defamed by a state legislator, could soon become the official sandwich of Massachusetts.
“Well, it’s very flattering,’’ said Don Durkee, co-owner of the company in Lynn that makes Marshmallow Fluff. “I can’t think of any other sandwich that has the equivalent association with Massachusetts.’’
The sandwich is one of three foods that a legislative committee will consider for official state status tomorrow. The others are Necco Wafers, for official state candy, and Charleston Chew, for candy bar.
“A lot of these bills are filed by school groups,’’ said Lainey Titus, chief of staff for Representative Steven M. Walsh of Lynn, cochairman of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, which is holding the hearing. “In general, a couple of these sometimes go through every year.’’
The committee will also hear requests to designate the elephant as the official state mammal, “Fever Pitch’’ as the official state movie, and 6 as the official state number.
Representative William Brownsberger of Cambridge, who sponsored the “Fever Pitch’’ bill at the request of some Cambridge eighth-graders, said most such efforts do not pass.
Each bill needs to pass in the House and Senate to become official. “Moby-Dick’’ almost became the state’s official novel last session, but the measure died in the Senate.
“The Legislature is sometimes respectful, but it doesn’t want to get too distracted,’’ said Brownsberger, who has not seen the Red Sox-themed movie he is backing.
Massachusetts already has five official state foods, among the most in the country: the baked navy bean, corn muffin, chocolate chip cookie, Boston cream pie, and Boston cream doughnut.
Children pushing the legislation often appear to testify, lawmakers said.
“Lots of students came and testified over the years,’’ said Representative Antonio Cabral of New Bedford, a former cochairman of the oversight committee. “It can be a great educational tool.’’
Representative Mark Falzone of Saugus, who sponsored the Charleston Chew bill, said a group of Wakefield Girl Scouts appeared at a mock hearing in April to support the nougat treat.
“They testified not only on the tastiness of the candy bar, but they also danced the Charleston,’’ he said.
One student will speak at tomorrow’s hearing in support of the elephant. The origin of the choice was unclear yesterday, and the species is not known to flourish in the wilds of the Commonwealth.
The students “felt there should be a state mammal, I guess,’’ said Representative James Miceli of Wilmington, who sponsored the bill. “I know very little. We signed on, and it’s their bill.’’
Another student sent a personal letter to state Senator Stephen Brewer of Barre, advocating for the number 6.
“The number six is involved in much of our state’s history, and is part of many interesting state facts,’’ wrote Tyler Gibbs, 14, of Rutland, whose love of history, not the allure of school credit, drove him to write. “After I started my research, I learned that we have a state polka song, so why not a state number?’’
Massachusetts was the sixth state in the union and is the sixth-smallest state in the region, Gibbs wrote.
The three foods up for official status have Bay State ties.
Marshmallow Fluff was invented in Somerville and has been produced in Lynn for 80 years. Necco Wafers were formerly made in Cambridge and now are created in Revere. And Nat Sloane, the man who made Charleston Chews famous, was born in Belmont. The candy bars were also produced in Everett.
In 2006, a state senator, Jarrett Barrios, attracted national attention when he sought to limit the serving of Fluffernutters in school lunch programs statewide.
This year, Representative Kathi-Anne Reinstein of Revere filed legislation to honor the Fluffernutter, the second attempt by a lawmaker.
“I associate the Fluffernutter with a really good childhood sandwich,’’ she said.
If the peanut-butter-and-fluff concoction gets a positive reaction from the committee today, it may mark one of the sandwich’s best weeks ever. The fourth annual Fluff Festival is scheduled for Saturday in Somerville.