Healey Showers Top Staff with Bonuses as Alleged Criminals Walk Free
Today, the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance blasted Governor Maura Healey and legislative leaders for their lack of urgency in dealing with the bar advocate budget spat. On Tuesday, more than 100 defendants had their charges dismissed, including individuals facing dangerous charges such as assault and domestic battery due to the lack of resolution.
“Tuesday was a deadline that State House leaders allowed to pass,” said Paul Craney, Executive Director of Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. “If lawmakers don’t want to do their job by dealing with the bar advocate pay dispute resulting in a broken judicial system and alleged criminals walking free, then the Governor should pause their pay until they return to work. Massachusetts lawmakers positions are considered a ‘part time’ job with full time pay. It’s time they earn that pay before another victim is notified of their alleged perpetrator’s release due to the legislature and Governor’s inaction,” added Craney.
It has been reported that bar advocates are seeking an increase in pay from their current $65 an hour to a number that is more in line with the other New England states. An estimate of $100M is being floated as a total that would satisfy their request.
“To put that in perspective, $100M of a $61B budget represents .001% of the budget," said Craney. “Suddenly State House leaders cannot seem to find a way to fund or negotiate a resolution, despite hastily passing a massive $61B budget in a matter of days.”
Magnifying the issue is a Boston Globe report that Governor Maura Healey is showering some of her top staff with generous pay bonuses. According to the report, 3,600 members of her administration will earn a 2 percent increase, some of whom are already making more than $200,000 a year. The raise would mark the second time in six months Healey has given some of her team a salary bump. Healey has also added thousands of new employees to the state payroll since taking office.
“Governor Healey has been on vacation for much of July, including an international trip without ever disclosing a return date,” said Craney. “The Governor is awarding her top staff with generous bonuses all while victims of crimes are being notified their alleged perpetrators are having their charges dismissed. The Governor should cut whatever vacation she is on or is planning to take and demand lawmakers get back to work to fund or negotiate an immediate resolution with the bar advocates. If the Governor can find time to give bonuses to her top staff, she can find time to deal with the high stakes problems of the Commonwealth,” concluded Craney.