"Senate OK’s pay raise for judges" by Peter Schworm | Globe Staff, May 25, 2013
Salaries for the state’s judges would climb by $30,000 during the next three years under a measure that won legislative approval this week with little fanfare.
Supporters said the increase, which the state Senate approved Thursday following earlier backing by the House, takes aim at longstanding concerns that the salaries of Massachusetts judges trail their counterparts in other states. But critics described the raises as excessive, given tax increases that political leaders are proposing.
And we will still be seeing service cuts, you wait and see.
Under the plan, the yearly salaries of trial court judges will jump from $130,000 to $160,000, a 23 percent boost. The raises — which would affect nearly 400 trial and appellate court judges, along with clerks — would cost an estimated $22 million over three years.
That seems like pretty good pay to me.
Legislators said the increase would mark the first raise judges have received in years and would help the court system stay competitive with the private sector....
That last part is a $ad comment on Ma$$achu$ett$ justice.
Critics said the magnitude of the increase, particularly as state leaders are calling for substantially higher taxes, was worrisome.
“That’s a pretty significant jump, and it doesn’t seem wise,” said Paul Craney, who directs the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, a conservative-leaning advocacy group. “We’re essentially asking people to pay more in taxes so that public employees can get a pay raise.”
“We’re going on a spending spree,” he added. “And this is a perfect example.”
The salary increase is included in the budget that will be submitted to Governor Deval Patrick, whose office did not respond to requests for comment Friday.
The raise proposals were amendments to larger budget bills. The House amendment, filed during a budget debate that began in April, has drawn little notice....
And the newspaper carries this on a Slow Saturday, too.
Supporters said the pay raises are long overdue....
That very well may be, and it might surprise you to see me say I agree with this particular expense. The last thing you want on the bench is an angry judge.
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