Mass. pols spend freely despite huge Dow nosedive
John Kerry, Barney Frank top the list
The economic squeeze gripping the nation has yet to hit the Bay State congressional delegation, which continues to max out on staff and in many cases pay top aides significantly more than their counterparts across the nation, a Herald review found.
All of the state’s Washington lawmakers have taxpayer-funded staffs larger than the national average, which is 14 in the House and 34 in the Senate, according to the Congressional Management Foundation.
Leading the Bay State delegation in staff size and payroll is Sen. John F. Kerry, who has 48 employees making a collective $2.5 million. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Newton) has the highest payroll of the state’s 10 House members, spending $1.23 million on 22 staffers, records show.
Both Kerry and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy pay their chiefs of staff the maximum $162,000 salary, while Kennedy has a “special assistant” making the same. And while the average salary for a senate legislative director is $120,000, Kerry pays his $159,000.
Kerry spokeswoman Brigid O’Rourke hinted that the senator would be open to staff cuts, saying: “The next president and the next Congress will need to examine the operations of government across the board, and to cut spending where appropriate - that includes Congress.”
A Kennedy aide said: “Sen. Kennedy is very proud of his staff and the work they do on behalf of the people of Massachusetts. He finds their service invaluable.”
On the House side, five of the state’s 10 members pay their chief of staff more than the $130,000 national average.
Rep. William Delahunt (D-Quincy) tops the list, paying his chief aide $154,000 while Frank has a $159,000-a-year “special counsel” and a $135,000-a-year “chief district adviser,” records show.
House members have office budgets of $1.3 million and are restricted to 18 full- and four part-time employees.
Senators are given office budgets between $2.7 million and $4.5 million but have no restrictions on staff sizes.
Senators and House members, who make $169,000, can pay staffers as much as they want so long as none makes more than 90 percent of the lawmaker’s salary.
The Bay State’s all-Democrat congressional spending continues unfettered, even as downsizing at private companies becomes the norm and state officials brace for significant cutbacks.
Last week, the state Legislature pledged to cut its budget by 10 percent while Gov. Deval Patrick said he’d cut his staff by 7 percent.
All of the state’s Washington lawmakers have taxpayer-funded staffs larger than the national average, which is 14 in the House and 34 in the Senate, according to the Congressional Management Foundation.
Leading the Bay State delegation in staff size and payroll is Sen. John F. Kerry, who has 48 employees making a collective $2.5 million. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Newton) has the highest payroll of the state’s 10 House members, spending $1.23 million on 22 staffers, records show.
Both Kerry and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy pay their chiefs of staff the maximum $162,000 salary, while Kennedy has a “special assistant” making the same. And while the average salary for a senate legislative director is $120,000, Kerry pays his $159,000.
Kerry spokeswoman Brigid O’Rourke hinted that the senator would be open to staff cuts, saying: “The next president and the next Congress will need to examine the operations of government across the board, and to cut spending where appropriate - that includes Congress.”
A Kennedy aide said: “Sen. Kennedy is very proud of his staff and the work they do on behalf of the people of Massachusetts. He finds their service invaluable.”
On the House side, five of the state’s 10 members pay their chief of staff more than the $130,000 national average.
Rep. William Delahunt (D-Quincy) tops the list, paying his chief aide $154,000 while Frank has a $159,000-a-year “special counsel” and a $135,000-a-year “chief district adviser,” records show.
House members have office budgets of $1.3 million and are restricted to 18 full- and four part-time employees.
Senators are given office budgets between $2.7 million and $4.5 million but have no restrictions on staff sizes.
Senators and House members, who make $169,000, can pay staffers as much as they want so long as none makes more than 90 percent of the lawmaker’s salary.
The Bay State’s all-Democrat congressional spending continues unfettered, even as downsizing at private companies becomes the norm and state officials brace for significant cutbacks.
Last week, the state Legislature pledged to cut its budget by 10 percent while Gov. Deval Patrick said he’d cut his staff by 7 percent.
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