Legislators increasing staff members' salaries

BOSTON (WWLP) - Legislative leaders are handing out pay increases to their staff members, even as budget cuts loom over the state.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop) is handing out 3% raises to all 460 staff members in the House of Representatives. 

Senate President Therese Murray is also giving 3% raises to staff members working in her office. A spokesperson for the Plymouth Democrat says it is up to other Senate members to decide if they will give their aides similar raises.

The raises come at a time when state tax collections are coming in lower than projected, and the state is contemplating budget cuts. Despite the coincidence, Rep. Paul Donato (D-Medford) says that the increase in staffers’ salaries is not coming at the expense of other items on the state budget.

“We are not asking for additional dollars. The money that was coming from the pay raise is coming out of the Legislative budget,” Donato said.

Governor Deval Patrick told 22News that it is not up to him what the Legislature decides to do about paying their staff members.

“The Senate and the House have to manage their budget just as I have to manage mine, so as long as they manage within that budget, that's up to them,” Patrick said.

Still, Legislative staff members are seeing their pay go up while human service workers are seeing their 2% pay increases delayed by the state because of low revenues.

Legislative aides haven't received a raise in four years, while human service workers haven't seen a raise in five.