Republicans cry foul at Democratic legislative leaders' pay raises

By Andrea Estes, Globe Staff

The Massachusetts House of Representatives today approved raises for three leaders of the Joint Committee on Revenue.

Republicans opposed the measure, which will double to $15,000 the $7,500 stipend that co-chairs Rep. John Binienda of Worcester and Sen. Cynthia Creem of Newton currently receive. The measure will also give an extra $7,500 to the House vice chair, William Straus of Mattapoisett, who now gets no additional pay for his committee duties.

Robert Willington, the executive director of the Massachusetts GOP, called the 121-20 vote to boost the pay of the Democratic legislative leaders "business as usual up on Beacon Hill"

"The arrogance of the Democrats on Beacon Hill is astounding. This is the same party that's forcing cities and towns to raise property taxes because they aren't giving them more local aid. Now they say the reason they can't provide more local aid is because they need to give themselves gluttonous pay raises," he said.

The Senate will take up the measure today.

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