YOUR HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House and Senate for the week of March 13-17.
This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call analyzes the wages and other advantages gotten by regional state senators.
$73,655 BASE PAY FOR ALL 40 SENATORS — The brand-new base pay for the 2023-2024 session for senators is $73,655 — up $3,119 (4.4%) from the $70,536 base pay in the 2021-2022 session.
Senators’ wages are up for modification in January every 2 years, either up or down, under a 1998 constitutional change authorized by a much better than two-to-one margin by citizens. It needs that every 2 years the wages of the guv, the other 5 constitutional statewide officers and all agents and senators be increased or reduced based upon information from the Bureau of Economic Analysis that determines the quarterly modification in wages and salaries.
Senators’ base pay were increased by $2,515 for the 2021-2022 legal session; $3,709 for the 2019-2020 session; and $2,515 for the 2017-2018 legal session. Those walkings began the heels of a wage freeze for the 2015-2016 legal session, a $1,100 pay cut for the 2013-2014 session and a $306 pay cut for the 2011-2012 session. Prior to 2011, lawmakers’ wages had actually been raised every 2 years because the $46,410 base pay was very first raised under the constitutional change in 2001.
The brand-new $73,655 base pay implies senators’ base pay have actually been raised $27,245, or 58%, because 2011 when the mandated wage modification entered into the state constitution and senators were making $46,410.
ADDITIONAL SPEND FOR ALL 40 SENATORS — All 40 senators get an extra stipend, above the $73,655 base pay, for their positions in the Democratic and Republican management, as committee chairs, vice chairs and the ranking Republican on some committees. The stipend is increased or reduced every 2 years based upon information from the BEA that determines the quarterly modification in wages and salaries.
Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland), the leading Democrat, makes the greatest stipend of any senator: $109,163. Senate Minority Leader Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), the leading Republican, makes an $81,872 stipend. The other 38 senators’ stipends vary from $27,564 to $102,430.
Supporters state lawmakers in these crucial positions must be properly made up for their numerous included duties and effort.
Critics state the base pay suffices and is qualified to be increased every 2 years.
$20,468 OR $27,291 FOR GENERAL COSTS — Each senator likewise gets a yearly basic expense pay allowance of $20,468 for members who live within a 50-mile radius of the Statehouse and $27,291 for those who lie beyond that radius.
This different, flat rate expense allowance is taxable as earnings. It is created to spend for a few of the expenses of senators’ district workplaces and other expenditures consisting of contributions to regional civic groups and the printing and mailing of newsletters. Senators are not needed to send an accounting of how they spend the money. But they are permitted to subtract any expenditures, allowed under federal law, from their gross earnings on their federal and state tax return.
SOME SENATORS WHO LIVE 50 MILES FROM THE STATEHOUSE ARE QUALIFIED TO PAY A DECREASED OR NO FEDERAL EARNINGS TAX ON THEIR LEGISLATIVE WAGE — Senators who live more than 50 miles from the Statehouse are qualified for an unique federal tax break. A 1981 federal law enables them to cross out an everyday expense allowance when submitting their federal tax return. The complex system figures out an everyday quantity, seemingly for meals, accommodations and other expenditures sustained in the course of their jobs, which can be subtracted for every single “legislative day.”
Under the Massachusetts Legislature’s system and schedule, every day of the year certifies as a legal day. The Legislature does not officially “prorogue” (end a yearly session) up until the next yearly session starts. This enables lawmakers to take the reduction for all 365 days no matter whether the Legislature is really satisfying or not. Legislators do not need to take a trip to the Statehouse to get approved for the day-to-day reduction.
The quantity of the reduction is based upon the federal daily for Massachusetts. It differs from year to year. The day-to-day daily for lawmakers for financial 2023 differs in various parts of the state and is seasonal. It varies from $98 daily to $459 daily or in between $35,770 and $167,535 yearly.
Beacon Hill Roll Call’s research study shows that 11 of the state’s 40 lawmakers live more than 50 miles from the Statehouse, get approved for this reduction and are qualified to pay a minimized or no federal earnings tax on their legal wages.
PARKING SPACE — Senators are entitled to a parking space inside the Statehouse garage or at the neighboring McCormack State Office Building. The initially $300 in regular monthly worth of the space is a tax-free advantage under federal and state standards that use to all public and personal staff members, not simply state senators. Any worth of the space above this quantity is dealt with as gross income.
The worth of the parking areas in 2023 was identified by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to be $449 monthly. Based on that figure, lawmakers would be taxed on the excess $149 regular monthly by the Internal Revenue Service and the state.
MEDICAL INSURANCE — Senators are qualified to pick from 9 medical insurance prepares provided by the state’s Group Insurance Commission, which handles the prepare for over 137,000 people — existing and retired state employees, along with specific community employees, and their dependents.
Senators chosen on or prior to July 1, 2003, pay 20% of the overall premium and the state pays 80%. Those chosen to their very first term on or after July 1, 2003 pay 25% while the state gets just 75%. State and federal personal privacy guidelines secure this details and it is not possible to obtain records about which prepares specific lawmakers have actually acquired. The out-of-pocket regular monthly premiums paid by senators for family strategies vary from $311.02 to $788.43. For specific strategies, they pay from $125.66 to $354.68 every month.
LIFE INSURANCE COVERAGE — Legislators who buy a medical insurance policy from the state are likewise needed to purchase the state’s basic $5,000 life insurance coverage policy. This expenses staff members $1.27 to $1.59 monthly, depending upon the date of hire. The exact same 20/80, 25/75 formula utilized for medical insurance likewise uses to this life insurance coverage. Senators likewise have the alternative to purchase extra life insurance coverage with a worth of as much as 8 times their wage. The whole premium for the optional insurance coverage is paid by the senator.
LONG-LASTING IMPAIRMENT AND HEALTHCARE SPENDING ACCOUNT — Legislators likewise have the alternative to open a Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) and Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), and to purchase long-lasting impairment insurance coverage. The HCSA enables lawmakers to reserve funds to spend for out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures with before-tax dollars while the DCAP enables them to reserve funds to spend for specific reliant care expenditures with before-tax dollars. This involvement minimizes their federal and state earnings taxes. The whole premium for long-lasting impairment is paid by lawmakers.
DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE COVERAGE — Senators are qualified to pick one of 2 dental/vision insurance coverage strategies. Current regular monthly staff member premium expenses paid by senators for family strategies vary from $14.32 to $19.36, while specific strategies vary from $4.64 to $6.26. All senators pay 15% of the premium and the state pays 85%.
CLASSIFICATION #1 – REGIONAL SENATORS’ BASE PAY — Here are regional senators’ base pay. They are the exact same for all senators.
Sen. Joanne Comerford, $73,655; Sen. Paul Mark, $73,655; Sen. Jacob Oliveira, $73,655; Sen. John Velis, $73,655
CLASSIFICATION #2 – REGIONAL SENATORS’ STIPENDS
Here are regional senators’ stipends for their positions in the Democratic and Republican management, as committee chairs, vice chairs and the ranking Republican on some committees.
Sen. Joanne Comerford, $40,936; Sen. Paul Mark, $27,564; Sen. Jacob Oliveira, $27,564; Sen. John Velis, $40,936
CLASSIFICATION #3 – REGIONAL SENATORS’ BASIC EXPENSE PAY ALLOWANCE
Here are regional senators’ spend for basic workplace expenditures. The quantity is $20,468 for members who live within a 50-mile radius of the Statehouse and $27,291 for those who lie beyond that radius.
Sen. Joanne Comerford, $27,291; Sen. Paul Mark, $27,291; Sen. Jacob Oliveira, $27,291; Sen. John Velis, $27,291
GRAND OVERALL OF REGIONAL SENATORS’ INCOMES
Here are the leading 10 senators who are paid the greatest wages consisting of the 3 classifications of base pay, stipends and basic expense pay allowance.
Karen Spilka (D-Ashland), $203,286; Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport), $196,736; Cynthia Stone Creem (D-Newton), $196,463, Michael Barrett (D-Lexington), $182,818; Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett), $182,818; Joan Lovely (D-Salem), $182,818; William Brownsberger (D-Belmont), $182,818; Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington), $175,995; Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), $175,995; Julian Cyr (D-Truro), $169,173
Here are regional senators’ existing overall yearly wage consisting of the 3 classifications of base pay, stipends and basic expense pay allowance.
Sen. Joanne Comerford, $141,882; Sen. Paul Mark, $128,509; Sen. Jacob Oliveira, $128,509; Sen. John Velis $141,882
RESTRICTION SALE OF FUR PRODUCTS (S 590) — A costs prior to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee would make it unlawful to offer a brand-new made fur item in Massachusetts and enforce a fine in between $500 and $5,000 per fur item for anybody founded guilty of the sale.
The step excuses utilized fur items and fur items utilized for conventional tribal, cultural or spiritual functions by a member of a federally acknowledged or state-recognized Native American people.
Supporters state that more than 100 million undomesticated animals like foxes, raccoon, dogs and mink are restricted to little wire cages and after that subjected to vicious killing techniques that are not controlled by federal gentle massacre laws. They state that animal defense companies have actually recorded animals being gassed, electrocuted, bludgeoned to death and skinned alive. They kept in mind that there are numerous fur options available and advised Massachusetts to end its complicity in this genuinely awful market.
“Our commonwealth has long been a world leader in animal welfare,” said co-sponsor Rep. Jack Lewis (D-Framingham). “With evidence of inhumane practices in the fur industry, the risks fur production has to our public health, and the availability of so many different options for warm and fashionable fabrics, I look forward to ongoing conversations on this and other animal welfare bills this session.”
BURY ANIMALS WITH OWNERS (S 1310) — A proposition prior to the Municipalities and Regional Government Committee would offer cities and towns the right to offer cemeteries the authority to permit the burial of individuals and their animals in the exact same area.
Supporters state individuals frequently consider their animals as members of their households and the existing law restricting joint burial is unreasonable.
Opponents state that joint burial provides hygienic, ecological and spiritual issues.
Sponsor Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) did not react to duplicated demands by Beacon Hill Roll Call to discuss his proposition.
RESTRICTION DOXING (S 1116) — Legislation prior to the Judiciary Committee would prohibit doxing which is the understanding release of private personal recognizing details of an individual, without their authorization, with the intent to frighten, bother or trigger stalking, physical damage or major property damage. Currently there is no state law that makes doxing a criminal activity.
“Doxing is a hateful act that goes far beyond violating one’s privacy,” said sponsor Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “It is used to intimidate, harass and jeopardize one’s safety. Online harassment has real-life implications and can no longer be tolerated. We need legislation to address this continual trend of online doxing and harassment, and protect citizens from experiencing such egregious behavior within the commonwealth.”
RIGHT TO DIE/ASSISTED SUICIDE/END OF LIFE ALTERNATIVES (S 1331) — This costs, understood by numerous names, would offer a terminally ill, psychologically capable grownup with a diagnosis of 6 months or less to live the alternative to demand, obtain and consume medication — to pass away in their sleep if their suffering ends up being intolerable. It is presently prior to the Judiciary Committee.
Supporters state the costs is imitated the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, which has actually remained in practice for 25 years without a single circumstances of abuse or browbeating. They note the costs consists of numerous core safeguards consisting of needing the terminal disease and six-month diagnosis to be verified by 2 medical professionals; needing the participating in doctor to notify the specific about all of their end-of-life care alternatives, consisting of hospice and discomfort or sign management; and permitting the terminally ill individual to withdraw their ask for medication, not take the medication once they have it or otherwise alter their mind at any point.
Sponsor Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton) said she is working with her co-sponsors and other fans to get this costs through the Legislature this session. “Individuals with terminal diagnoses should have access to safe options,” said Comerford.
QUOTABLE QUOTES
“As we continue to experience the aftermath and trauma of senseless gun violence in our communities, we must utilize all available resources to stop these tragedies. My colleagues and I urge these credit companies not to cave to political pressure and to move forward with what will be an important resource in detecting, identifying and stopping potential threats to public safety.”
Attorney General Andrea Campbell advising Visa, American Express, Mastercard and Discover to honor their dedication made in September to carry out a brand-new merchant code for weapon sales. The business just recently revealed they were no longer intending on carrying out the code, mentioning legislation in numerous states looking for to bar or restrict making use of the voluntary code.
“The bill … would impose a fee on the largest emitters of greenhouse gasses in Massachusetts, that would go into a climate resiliency superfund. These would be polluters like Shell Oil whose profits doubled in 2022 to $42 billion or ExxonMobile which reported a record $56 billion in profits.”
Rep. Steve Owens (D-Watertown) on his costs to hold leading polluters economically accountable for environment modification.
“Cocktails to-go were allowed during the pandemic to support struggling hospitality businesses which represent thousands of jobs across Massachusetts. Since then, cocktails to-go have become a regular part of takeout dining for adult consumers and a stable source of revenue for hospitality businesses as they continue to recover from the lasting impacts of COVID-19.”
Andy Deloney, senior vice president at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, advising the Legislature to extend for one year the law permitting dining establishments to offer beer, white wine and mixed drinks with takeout orders. The law is set to end on April 1.
Bob Katzen invites feedback at [email protected]
