Op-ed: Justification For 40% Legislative Leadership Raises Is Political Voodoo
When doing the people’s will is secondary to legislators’ self-interest, how strong is our democracy? The state Legislature is on the verge of overriding the Governor’s veto of legislation that includes sizable pay raises for state and legislative leaders. Their actions on this front will answer the democracy question.
Since legislators can’t raise their base pay, the hikes are limited to leadership positions in the form of increased legislative stipends. Base pay increases are formulaic and tied to the state’s median household income.
The Boston Globe reported on several questionable aspects of the bill. It contains an “emergency preamble,” which means the raises would take effect immediately. The legislation also includes pay hikes for the judiciary, which, due to a clause in the state Constitution, makes it challenging at best to reverse via initiative petition. And because committee chairs and other leadership positions have not yet been officially selected, legislators don’t need to worry about violating conflict of interest laws for voting on their own financial interests.
In short, this was done swiftly and slickly, without public input and leaving members of the public with little recourse. Read more on WGBH News…
Get Connected!
Pioneer in the News:
The Boston Globe: 16 Mass. state workers made $100,000 or more in overtime pay last year
The Boston Globe: Mass. reduced state payroll for the first time in years
Boston Herald: Anthony and Haller: State insurer using market clout to curb health costs
Related Blog Posts:
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/bill-oxford-udXD2NrbXS8-unsplash.jpg
5304
7952
Paige Anderson
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Paige Anderson2019-07-15 09:37:312019-07-16 08:18:50Did Justice Prevail? Questions Surrounding Correctional Officers and Budgetary Allocation within the Suffolk County Sheriff Department and Others
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/sean-pollock-PhYq704ffdA-unsplash-scaled.jpg
1707
2560
Ana Rijal
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Ana Rijal2019-07-11 11:05:172021-10-29 15:19:21MassOpenBooks: A Look at the Highest Paid Private Vendors in 2018
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/town-sign-1865304_1920-1.jpg
1440
1920
Cole Kroninger
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Cole Kroninger2019-07-08 14:18:162021-10-29 15:41:26A Follow-up on Pension Systems with the Highest Growth Rates in Unfunded Liability
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/money-2180338_1920.jpg
1280
1920
Cole Kroninger
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Cole Kroninger2019-07-02 13:28:102021-10-29 15:38:48MassPensions: Three Highest Growth Rates in Unfunded Pension Liability
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/financial-crisis-544944_1920.jpg
1357
1920
Cole Kroninger
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Cole Kroninger2019-07-01 16:04:492021-10-29 15:40:19MassPensions: Highest Reductions in Unfunded Liabilities
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/pixaby-image.jpg
1357
1920
Ana Rijal
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Ana Rijal2019-06-25 10:12:252021-10-29 15:18:52MassOpenBooks: The Top Overtime Earners in 2018
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/wallet-2292428_1920.jpg
1280
1920
Ana Rijal
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Ana Rijal2019-06-19 15:51:162019-07-09 16:32:26MassOpenBooks: A Look at Departments with the Highest Average Pay
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Worcester-Union-station_Phelan.jpg
2112
2816
Eamon McCarthy Earls
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Eamon McCarthy Earls2019-06-18 17:53:372021-10-29 15:37:22MassAnalysis: Drawing data-based comparisons between cities and towns
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/retirement-3585585_1920-1.jpg
1377
1829
Cole Kroninger
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Cole Kroninger2019-06-18 16:52:072021-10-29 15:39:17MassPensions: The Leaders and Laggards among Massachusetts Public Pension Systems
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/TaxPic.jpg
201
650
Eamon McCarthy Earls
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Eamon McCarthy Earls2019-06-13 00:10:552021-11-23 11:14:39MassAnalysis: Understanding local debts
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2019-04-29-at-12.16.20-PM.png
864
1450
Alex Muresianu
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Alex Muresianu2019-05-01 10:00:502021-10-29 14:45:17The Connection Between Property Taxes and Pension Funding
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/police-line-on-the-beach-e1532978707564.jpg
2590
2568
Eamon McCarthy Earls
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Eamon McCarthy Earls2019-04-30 14:28:512020-12-11 12:32:03MassAnalysis: The scoop on Massachusetts municipal crime data
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/financial_disclosure.jpg
307
375
Eamon McCarthy Earls
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Eamon McCarthy Earls2019-04-30 14:23:322021-10-29 15:19:52MassAnalysis: In search of a strong financial footing
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/New-England-town.jpg
1743
2715
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2019-04-04 10:12:152021-10-29 15:28:42Prepare for Town Budget Season with MassWatch
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/1200px-Massport.svg_.png
583
1200
Eamon McCarthy Earls
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Eamon McCarthy Earls2019-04-02 13:27:052021-01-28 15:12:46MassOpenBooks: A look inside MassPort
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/SFIs.jpg
606
1024
Alex Muresianu
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Alex Muresianu2019-03-22 14:27:112019-03-22 14:27:11A Primer on Secondary Revenue Sources for Local Governments
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2019-03-15-at-11.55.23-AM.png
342
600
Alex Muresianu
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Alex Muresianu2019-03-15 11:59:132019-03-15 11:59:13Coastal Towns Charge the Most Permit Fees Per Capita in Massachusetts
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/StateHouse.png
368
652
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2019-03-14 12:11:352019-03-15 03:14:13Pioneer Institute Celebrates Sunshine Week 2019
