Stipend question resurfaces, but without its teeth

The bid to use the 2026 ballot to change how many state lawmakers get paid ended this spring not with a bang but with an advisory opinion from the Supreme Judicial Court. 

The high court's April opinion that the initiative was inappropriate for the ballot effectively killed the question that would have restricted the extra pay top lawmakers hand out to committee chairs and others holding leadership positions. 

Turns out it's only mostly dead. Voters in eight House districts will still get to weigh in this November as to whether they want an overhaul of Beacon Hill's stipend system. 

Rather than a change to state law, the question in those eight districts is a non-binding one. It asks if voters want to instruct their state rep "to vote in favor of legislation or rules to reduce the House Speaker’s and Senate President’s control over state legislators' stipends (extra pay) and to provide stipends only to legislators who do significant extra work that is transparent and accountable to the public?"

Act on Mass executive director Scotia Hille said the questions are a way to send the message that the public is still interested in changing a system that is "really functioning more like a business where the CEO gets to decide where you stand rather than a public body." And, Hille said, some primary challengers this year baked stipend reform into their campaign platforms. 

"As much as they might have hoped, I don't think legislators have put this behind them," she said.

Non-binding public policy questions are an election-year tool for advocates who want to prod lawmakers by illustrating tangible support for their ideas, but they don't necessarily drive legislative action. In 2024, voters in 11 districts passed questions directing their representatives to vote for legislation creating a single-payer health care system in Massachusetts ... but no such bill ever hit the House floor for a vote. 

A non-binding single-payer question is on the ballot again this year in the First Hampden and Fifteenth Middlesex House districts. Elsewhere, voters could face questions taking their temperature on a statewide social housing authority, a carbon fee, and the abolition of Norfolk County government. 

The stipend question — number 10, 11, or 12 depending on the community — is set to go before voters in districts represented by House Minority Leader Brad Jones of North Reading and Democratic Reps. Thomas Moakley of Falmouth, Carmine Gentile of Sudbury, Simon Cataldo of Concord, Michelle Ciccolo of Lexington, Marjorie Decker of Cambridge, Steve Owens of Watertown, and Kate Lipper-Garabedian of Melrose.

Hille said those are all districts with active volunteers “who said, ‘This really matters to me and I would like to see it on the ballot this fall.’”

If you don’t live in one of those eight districts, you could still get a chance to vote on lawmaker pay — in 2028. A proposal to eliminate legislative stipends is among the potential ballot questions initially filed for the next election cycle. 

Ready to start thinking about 2028 yet? If you’re already gearing up to get something on the ballot two years from now, give me a shout: [email protected].

…Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll are endorsing Question 7, the ballot proposal that would allow for single-family homes to be built on smaller lots. Healey said the measure would "make the dream of owning a home a reality for more residents. The support from the corner office comes on the heels of a Monday endorsement from Citizens' Housing and Planning Association. CHAPA said Question 7 "could result in an estimated 2,200 to 5,700 net new homes per year." Healey and Driscoll say the question will help advance their administration's work to spur housing production. "Local communities depend on having housing options that working families and young people can actually afford,” Driscoll said…

…... The Andrew Yang-founded Forward Party, which says it backs candidates who are "accountable to the voters" and "focus on solutions, not partisan fighting," recommends a split ticket when it comes to Massachusetts' constitutional offices. The organization endorsed Auditor Diana DiZoglio, a Methuen Democrat, for reelection, and Belmont Republican Elizabeth Dionne, who's challenging Treasurer Deb Goldberg….

…Newton officials gathered over the weekend at the intersection of Austin Street and Bram Way to dedicate a new Setti Warren Plaza in honor of the late mayor, 2012 U.S. Senate candidate and 2018 candidate for governor. Former Secretary of State John Kerry and Warren's wife Tassy Warren were among those on hand for the dedication. Mayor Marc Laredo said in his prepared remarks that the spot, in the Newtonville neighborhood where Warren grew up, is "a place for possibility. A place where people will cross paths. Where conversations will begin. Where music will play, art will be displayed, and where a community will come together”...

9:00 | Boston Harbor Now and the Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront hold the Waterfront for All Summit | Boston Children's Museum at 308 Congress St., Boston | More Info and Registration

9:30 | Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meets and is set to learn the 2026 MCAS results | Agenda | Livestream

9:45 | U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan joins Sen. Barry Finegold for a discussion on legislative efforts to impose guardrails on artificial intelligence. RSVP to [email protected]| Room 109

10:00 | Gov. Healey holds a press conference "about rising gas prices and efforts to lower costs for Massachusetts residents," according to her office | Room 157

10:00 | Firearm Control Advisory Board meets. Agenda includes a discussion of pending regulations tied to the 2024 gun reform law, which is up for a repeal vote on the statewide ballot this November | 200 Arlington St., Chelsea | More Info

10:00 | Executive Office of Veteran Services sponsors the first annual Military Service Members and Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day | Memorial Hall

10:00 | Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Juana Matias gives remarks at a groundbreaking ceremony for Newburyport Crossing Phase III. Newburyport Mayor Sean Reardon and others also speak | 168 Route 1, Newburyport

10:30 | Lottery Commission meets. Treasurer Goldberg chairs the meeting | For access contact [email protected]

11:00 | Massachusetts Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs host its first Summit for Massachusetts Youth. Reps. Arriaga, Ryan and Madaro and Sen. Gomez are set to participate in a panel discussion with more than 100 kids, alumni and staff | House Chamber

1:00 | Advisory Board to the Comptroller meets. Items on the agenda include proposed changes to comptroller regulations and the comptroller’s compensation | Agenda and Access

2:00 | Boston City Council holds a hearing on private fundraising in Boston Public Schools, called by City Councilor Julia Mejia, to examine transparency, accountability, equity, and oversight of private fundraising, school-affiliated nonprofit organizations, and privately held funds that support BPS | More Info

7:00 | Republican candidate for governor Mike Minogue holds a meet-and-greet | Irish Brewing Boston at 83 Morse St., Norwood

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UNEMPLOYMENT AUDIT: An audit of the state Department of Unemployment Assistance found long hold times for callers, delayed payments and at least 33,000 email exchanges with lawmakers whose constituents went to them seeking help with benefits. The department says it's made improvements since the time periods covered in Auditor Diana DiZoglio's probe. | State House News Service (gift link)

COURTING VOTERS: Republican candidate for governor Mike Minogue wants U.S. Attorney Leah Foley to investigate the selection of a politically connected team to redevelop the Springfield courthouse, calling it "the worst financial deal in the history of Massachusetts." | Boston Herald

GAS TAX CLASH: As gubernatorial hopeful Mike Minogue pushes for a gas tax holiday, House Speaker Ron Mariano is calling the idea "fiscally irresponsible" and an attempt to distract voters. | MassLive

ELIGIBILITY CHANGES: MassHealth coverage will change for more than 7,000 immigrants — many in Suffolk, Middlesex, Essex and Worcester counties — as new federal rules kick in next month. | GBH News

COMMUNITY CARE: Massachusetts families whose loved ones get support through Adult Foster Care programs worry about the impacts of Medicaid cuts and a shift in federal policy around enforcing the right for people with disabilities to get care in their communities rather than institutions. | WCVB

OFF THE LABEL: In the Sixth Congressional District, Dan Koh says he's a "big tent" Democrat, not aligning himself with any particular faction of his party. Micah Jones is going with the Charlie Baker playbook, calling himself a moderate, "common sense" Republican. | Boston Globe

AI FOR EFFORT: As AI technology evolves, school districts are developing a town-by-town patchwork of policies managing its use in the classroom, unlike the blanket pauses in New York City and Los Angeles. State education officials put out an AI guidance framework last year. | WBUR

BACK TO SCHOOL: UMass Boston seniors studying public health will be able to teach health education at three Boston high schools, in a new partnership between the university and the city. | WBZ NewsRadio

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