Help us get the word out about stipend reform!
Overview
- 149 out of 200 State Legislators receive “leadership pay” direct from the Senate President or Speaker of the House (Boston Globe)
- These stipends make our legislature less responsive, transparent, and effective
- Voters in eight state house districts get the chance to weigh this practice on their ballot in November
Not-so-fun fact: In Massachusetts, the Speaker of the House and the Senate President have significant control over their fellow legislators’ salaries through “leadership stipends.” House and Senate leadership can (and do) cut their colleagues’ salaries when they fall out of line, or boost them in exchange for no extra work.
In collaboration with the Coalition to Reform our Legislature and the Legislative Effectiveness and Accountability Project, Act on Mass volunteers got a non-binding public policy question on the ballot in eight districts.
It reads: Shall the representative for this district be instructed 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?
Since the question is local and non-binding, there has not been much press coverage of the issue. We need your help to get the word out.
Read more about the history of the stipend reform campaign on our website: actonmass.org/stipends
Phonebank
Feel free to make calls on your own time, or attend a 10-minute training session and make calls with fellow volunteers on November 1st from 11am -12pm. This phonebank will be hybrid, so you can hop on Zoom using this link or join us at Studio Constellation in Somerville (259 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143). You can use this link to add it to your calendar.
To get the phonebank links, email info@actonmass.org
Here is a sample script, which is also included on the phonebank page:
Voicemail:
Hello! This is (your name) with Act on Mass. We’re a grassroots government watchdog organization. We’re calling voters to inform them that there will be an extra ballot question in your district that you may not know about. Question (10, 11, or 12 depending on the list), which will be the last question on your ballot, would instruct your representative in the House to make legislator pay more fair and equal. If you have any questions, go to actonmass.org/stipends. Have a good day!
Answer:
Hello! This is (your name) with Act on Mass. May I please speak to (their name)?
Like I said, I’m a volunteer with Act on Mass, we’re a nonprofit government watchdog organization. I’m calling voters in your district to spread the word about a local ballot question that you may not have heard about yet. Do you have a second to hear more?
If no: No worries! Before I let you go, I’ll just say that we recommend voting YES on (10, 11, or 12 depending on the list) to make legislator pay more fair and equal. You can also go to actonmass.org/stipends to read more.
If yes: Awesome! This year there are 9 statewide ballot questions, and in your district there will also be an additional non-binding local question. If passed, Question(10, 11, or 12, depending on the list) will instruct your representative in the state House to vote to limit the control the Speaker of the House has over his fellow legislators’ salaries. You can read more about this issue at actonmass.org/stipends, and I’m happy to clarify if you have any questions.
Write a Letter to the Editor
What are “LTE”s and “Op-Ed”s?
Letters to the Editor (LTEs) and Opinion Editorials (Op-Eds) are great ways to get the word out about issues you care about. They are relatively short, while still being extremely effective at educating the public, informing public policy, and influencing legislators.
The difference between the two mostly comes down to scope and/or word count – LTEs tend to be shorter.
In order to emphasize the timeliness and relevance of your LTE, it is best to draft it as a response to other articles or opinion pieces by the publication where you are submitting, where possible. At the very least, ensure you tie your LTE back to recent developments in your region. Outlets prefer LTEs to be a specific, targeted response to some current event/news, as opposed to ponderings on general issues.
Each publication is different, but typically LTEs should be between 200-500 words and Op-Eds should be 700-800 words.
Since this issue is a time-sensitive local issue, we think it is perfect for a Letter to the Editor.
Some prompts to help you get started
- When did you first learn about the stipend system in Massachusetts? What was your reaction?
- What policies would you like to see from our Legislature that are not being passed right now? How would stipend reform enable that?
- How does Massachusetts compare to other states with regard to legislator pay?
Helpful tip: make sure you have the right number for the question!
The question is the last question on the ballot in all districts, which is Question 10 in most districts. The question breakdown is as follows:
| Question Number | Towns |
| Question 10 | Acton, Cambridge, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Lincoln, Lynnfield, Marlborough, Martha’s Vineyard (Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, and West Tisbury) Middleton, Nantucket, Sudbury, Watertown, and Wayland |
| Question 11 | Falmouth, Lexington, North Reading, Winchester, Woburn |
| Question 12 | Reading |
Some Last Tips and and Talking Points
Start your piece with a “hook,” to entice the reader to keep reading. Essentially, why are you writing this, and why are you writing it now? Keep the most important information upfront, preferably in the first paragraph.
Be clear, concise, and conversational. Your style and tone are important. It is also important to write the letter in your own words. Make your reader feel like they are your friend and that you have some expertise or insight that they can learn from. If possible, share relevant personal or professional experience and any local connection(s) to the topic.
Stick to the word count. Each publication will have its own word count requirements, and they will not publish if you exceed the word count. Remember to be as brief as possible. Don’t feel like you have to include every detail related to the topic in a single piece. Quality over quantity!
Provide your contact information. Include your name and a way to contact you (email or phone). Local news outlets want to publish LTEs/op-eds by those who reside in their catchment area.
Refer back to the stipend reform info page for key talking points. Don’t get bogged down in too many details – remember, op-eds and LTEs thrive on brevity – but try to prioritize a few key points backed up by data.
After Submission: Make sure to check the publication over the next 10 days. If you are published, share it on social media to increase your impact! Use the hashtags #stipendreform and #mapoli so we can find and amplify your words. Email your published op-ed/LTE to your state lawmakers, too!
Table with us on Election Day
We are looking for volunteers to serve as a community resource and help voters navigate this year’s ballot. Showing up on Election Day is a great way to empower constituents and build out in-person grassroots advocacy networks in your community. If you’d be interested, fill out this form, and a member of our staff will reach out with materials and next steps.