According to Cape Cod Online, Massachusetts lawmakers will receive “a 5.5 percent hike in their base pay this year — to more than $61,000 — even as they prepare to make deep cuts to state services. The increase lifts the base salary for the 200 members of the House and Senate from $58,237 to $61,440 — a raise of $3,203 a year.”
The timing of the pay raise awkward, as the state grapples with the tumbling economy and tax revenues, increasing unemployment and prospects for more deep spending cuts.
Some lawmakers called the pay hike inappropriate in the current economy.
“I am not going to take a pay increase at the same time I’m having to cut jobs,” said Rep. Jeffrey D. Perry, who said he’ll donate his raise “to worthy causes in my district.”
Perry, who is the eastern-most Republican elected in the state, is a former Wareham police sergeant and the RLC’s best ally in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Perry recently celebrated his 45th birthday party with a campaign fundraiser in his hometown of Sandwich, Massachusetts.
An opposing view was offered by Rep. Demetrius Atsalis (D-Hyannis), who said state lawmakers are paid less than Boston city councilors, and the raise is “constitutionally required.” According to Atsalis, “The way I look at it is I earn every penny.”
Jeff Perry, once again, sticks to principle.
On December 16th, 2009 at 9:10 am
The Republicans in our national Congress have turned into a bunch of do nothing, evil rotting vegetables. While the Republican Party stonewalls every good piece of legislation, 40,000+ people die each year because they do not have health insurance.
You think that you can sit back and let the Democrats fail and the public will welcome you in open arms in the next election. You are wrong. If not one single Republican votes for health care reform, I will never vote for one single Republican again as long as I live. And, I will do every single thing I can do to see that the public does the same thing. We are fed up with your behavior.
If you wish to have a nationwide party after health reform fails, please pass on the feelings of your constituents.