Newton Mayor Says $18M Pay Package Could 'Shake Confidence in Beacon Hill'

NEWTON, MA – After lawmakers overrode Gov. Charlie Baker's veto of a $12-18 million pay package for lawmakers, judges and constitutional officers, Newton Mayor Setti Warren had some choice words for Beacon Hill.

Warren, who many have pegged as the Democratic favorite to challenge Baker in 2018, has been outspoken against the pay raise and urged the governor to veto it last week. Though Baker did veto the bill, calling it a "fiscally irresponsible" bill that "would eliminate voter-approved term limits for constitutional officers, and was enacted after limited debate and without a reasonable opportunity for public comment," it was pushed through by lawmakers on Thursday.

In a five-part statement on Twitter following the override, Warren wrote:

"Faith in government is already strained. Forcing through this pay raise could further shake #mapoli’s confidence in Beacon Hill. Our economy is good - unemployment at 2.8% - and somehow Beacon Hill is having trouble making a budget without using 1-time revenue. That's what Beacon Hill should be focused on right now, not their own pay raises. Beacon Hill deserves to be paid a decent wage. There may even be good argument that they deserve a raise, but Beacon Hill should have made that argument to in an open and transparent way that allows for public feedback."

The Boston Globe's editorial board has been among the pay package's critics, labeling it the "Great Pay Heist of 2017" in an op-ed last week.

The bill boosts the pay on Beacon Hill and beyond for the governor himself, as well as top lawmakers, constitutional officers, judges and judicial clerks. It would "hike the salaries of the House and Senate leaders by as much as 40 percent and give big raises to other legislative leaders, judges, and court clerks," the Globe reported at the time.

In total, the package would amount to between $12 and $18 million per year.
"The annual salary for House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Stan Rosenberg, both Democrats, would climb about $45,000 to more than $142,000 a year. The bill would boost Republican Gov. Charlie Baker’s annual salary from $151,800 to $185,000, and for the first time would provide the governor a $65,000 housing allowance," the Associated Press has reported.

Attorney General Maura Healey and Treasurer Deborah Goldberg said shortly after the override that they both would be turning down the money for at least the next two years.

"The Attorney General's salary is set by the Legislature and the AG respects their authority. However, she was opposed to this increase when it was first proposed two years ago, and will not accept the increase for the remainder of her term," Healey spokeswoman Jillian Fennimore said in a statement.

According to the State House News Service, Healey's salary would go from $136,053 to $175,000 and Goldberg's from $165,087 to $190,087.

Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito also plan to turn down the raises, the State House News says.

Supporters say it's been under discussion for years, would keep Massachusetts in line with similar states and helps the state compete for talent with the private sector. It also afford lawmakers the funding to do what proponents argue should be their sole full-time job.

The bill first passed the House 114-44 last week, with the Senate initially backing it 31-9.

On Thursday, the House margins were even stronger in favor, 116-43. The Senate reaffirmed it by the same margin, 31-9, with no prior debate.

Here's the list of lawmakers who voted for the pay raise in the initial round, last week.

Alison Bauter (Patch Staff) contributed to this report.

Photo by Alison Bauter