Table of the actions taken by the House on particular line items that I have been contacted about by constituents. For local aid issues, the Quinn Bill and employee health contributions, please dedicated posts on those issues.
State employee health insurance premiums
Like roughly 80% of Massachusetts workers, public employees receive health insurance as part of their compensation. The issue of how much active employees should contribute to the cost of that insurance has been controversial in every recent budget season. Since the cost of public employee health insurance is just under $1 billion, the employee share …
Reform before Revenue — Scheduling Difficulties
Perhaps the main things to underline at this stage are: (a) nothing at all is settled yet about the budget, reform or revenue; (b) all the major players endorse the principle of reform before revenue and are trying to do the right thing.
Quinn bill — police educational incentives
I have been contacted by a number of folks about the Quinn bill — the police education incentive — on both sides of the issue. Today the House voted to compromise and to fund the incentive, but at a reduced state contribution level. I supported the compromise.
Voting for a sales tax increase
Even with the sales tax increase, the budget will sustain deep cuts and Massachusetts will have a roughly average tax burden compared to other states. The increase will fund local aid, Big Dig debt and limited restorations of key programs.
Reform before revenue, part 2 — pension reform
Pension reform is probably the most fundamental and controversial among the reforms on the agenda this year. Now seated on the Public Service Committee, I expect to give this area quite a bit of my own attention.