For the second year in a row, I’ve notified the state treasurer that I will not be accepting the 5.5 percent legislative pay raise the governor certified in 2009.
The reason is very simple: with the Massachusetts economy still in bad shape and with our poor state fiscal situation, now is not the time for state legislators to be accepting a pay raise.
Our state needs leadership from its elected officials in order to get us out of this economic situation we’re facing. Leadership can take many forms, and in this case, I think it’s important for elected officials to lead by example. This is a time for frugality and for shared sacrifice, not a time for pay raises.
You can read about my decision and similar ones by other legislators in this story in today’s Worcester Telegram.
What do you think about legislative pay raises? Should more legislators be following suit and refusing the pay raise? Or, do you think it’s OK for legislators to accept the raise? Please post a comment below and get a conversation started.
