FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chip Faulkner, communications director ― 508-915-3665
Just two months after election "The
Best Legislature Money Can Buy" got too cute with this latest pay grab
proposal. They're piling this latest taxpayer-abusive pay raise
alongside a different stack of cash ― their base salary ― above and
beyond the only constitutionally-mandated automatic “salary adjustment”
in the history of the world.
Since their 1998 constitutional
amendment won't permit them to vote for a hike in their base salary, in
exchange for that automatic “adjustment,” they've now schemed to
circumvent that prohibition and insult the voters who foolishly believed
them that they’d never again vote for their own pay raises.
Chip Ford, executive director of CLT,
noted: “After five months of taxpayer-funded paid vacation, on its
return self-enrichment is the Legislature's first priority without even
a public hearing. This tells constituents of each legislator all they
need to know.”
Their 4.1 percent raise last month made
them the sixth-highest paid state legislators in the nation, but that
wasn't enough. Now they're shooting for Number One and this shameless
haul would put them close if not there.
If only they could get this creative
with solving real problems, could accomplish meaningful legislation this
whiplash rapidly, they might be worth more pay without evoking the wrath
of their constituents.
If this arrogant pay grab is adopted,
CLT promises this affront will be forefront on the voters' minds when
their representative and senator stand for re-election ― and we
keep our promises.
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