Merrimack Valley

Local lawmakers split on accepting pay raise

By Crystal Bozek
cbozek@eagletribune.com
Published: January 11, 2009

BOSTON — Rep. Linda Dean Campbell will refuse her pay raise, asking the state treasurer to set it aside for unemployment assistance.

Rep. Barry Finegold will hand his raise over to local food pantries, while Rep. Barbara L'Italien said she will keep her raise.

Only one week into the new legislative session, area lawmakers are facing their first tough call — whether to accept a 5.5 percent pay hike at a time of billion-dollar deficits and rising unemployment numbers in the Commonwealth.

"We need to do our part," said Campbell, D-Methuen. "At a time like this, it's certainly appropriate for the executive to freeze pay raises. ... We don't make a lot of money either. But people shouldn't worry about how much money they make right now, but about just having a job."

The increase hikes 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 — even as they prepare to make deep cuts to state services.

The base pay is considerably less than what members actually make, because they also receive allowances for office expenses and commuting. And many — including most senators — receive additional pay of up to $15,000 for committee and leadership assignments.

If every legislator gave up the pay bump, the state would save $640,000. The state budget is more than $28 billion.

The decision on whether to accept or reject the increase can be politically risky.

Lawmakers' pay raises receive criticism even during good years. But this year is even more awkward given that the country is in a recession and state lawmakers are talking of a shortfall in expected revenues of more than $2 billion in the current fiscal year.

Many have decided to reject the increase outright, like Rep. Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill.

He declined a similar pay raise of 6.5 percent in 2003 when the state was suffering through similarly difficult times.

"I felt that it was important to decline this pay raise in light of the difficult financial situation that many Massachusetts citizens find themselves in," Dempsey said. "In a time when we are cutting critical services from the state budget, I felt that it was not appropriate to accept the raise."

If a lawmaker declines the raise, it will not be calculated into his or her pension upon retirement.

L'Italien said she is keeping her raise because she is "not independently wealthy."

The Andover Democrat said she regularly donates to charity. She also noted that legislative pay is based on median income, so lawmaker salaries could plummet if the economy continues to decline.

"I work very hard," L'Italien said.

Rep. William Lantigua, D-Lawrence, said he plans to keep his pay raise and any representative who doesn't want their raise can give it to him.

"I can put it to good use for the people of Lawrence," he said. "I do give to charity as much as I can, and I now find myself having to work harder to help the people I represent.

"Long before I got to the Statehouse, the people took away the power to give ourselves pay raises," Lantigua added. "The people set up the system we have today, and if the voters want to change it, I'll support their will."

Sen. Steven Baddour, D-Methuen, said he'll donate his raise to charity, but did not specify where. Rep. Harriett Stanley, D-West Newbury, said she will use her $3,203 for a slew of good causes.

"I'm doing exactly what I've always done," she said. "And that's donating the amount of the raise to community and charitable causes in my district."

Gov. Deval Patrick notified Treasurer Tim Cahill on Wednesday night of his recommended 5.5 percent pay hike. In his letter, Patrick, who is required to announce the adjustment, said he used the federal Census American Community Survey and reports of average weekly wages to determine the amount of the raise.

A decade ago, voters adopted a constitutional amendment giving lawmakers a raise every two years equal to the increase in the median household income for Massachusetts residents.

Patrick and Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, who receive the same increase as legislators, said late Thursday that they will refuse their 5.5 percent. House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi said he would accept his increase, however.

Campbell said she simply did not feel right taking the money when she keeps running into constituents who have lost their jobs this year. She will send a letter to Cahill asking if she can designate the money for unemployment.

The latest figures show unemployment rates at 7.2 percent nationwide.

"It's been on my mind for a while," Campbell said. "I believe it may increase to 9 percent in the next year."

Finegold, D-Andover, said he thought it was better to take the money and give it to charity instead of straight out refusing it.

"If I reject it, it's just going back into the general fund," he said. "With the donation to the food pantry, I know it goes directly to helping people get food — a basic service. And it will go to local needs."

Sen. Susan Tucker, D-Andover, said she wasn't sure if she would keep the money at this point.

"I'm still looking at it," she said. "I'm weighing it."

Rep. David Torrisi, D-North Andover, did not return calls seeking comment on the legislative pay raise.

Staff writers Paul Tennant and Mike LaBella contributed to this report. Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.

What area lawmakers will do with their $3,203 pay raises

Rep. Barry Finegold, D-AndoverDonate to food pantries

Rep. Linda Dean Campbell, D-MethuenRefuse

Rep. Barbara L'Italien, D-AndoverKeep

Sen. Susan Tucker, D-AndoverUndecided

Sen. Steven Baddour, D-MethuenDonate to charity

Rep. David Torrisi, D-North AndoverCould not be reached

Rep. William Lantigua, D-LawrenceKeep

Rep. Brian Dempsey, D-HaverhillRefuse

Rep. Harriet Stanley, D-West NewburyDonate to charity