BACON HILL: Democrats Ram Pay Raise Bill Through House

BOSTON — House lawmakers on Wednesday acted quickly along party lines to ram through a complex $18 million package of legislative, judicial,and constitutional office pay raises, marking the end of a speedy process in which Republicans appeared to be powerless in their opposition. Each Republican amendment went down in defeat, including efforts by state Representative Jim Lyons (R-Andover) to delay the implementation of pay raises until after the 2018 elections and to cap boosts in stipends for

BOSTON — House lawmakers on Wednesday acted quickly along party lines to ram through a complex $18 million package of legislative, judicial,and constitutional office pay raises, marking the end of a speedy process in which Republicans appeared to be powerless in their opposition. Each Republican amendment went down in defeat, including efforts by state Representative Jim Lyons (R-Andover) to delay the implementation of pay raises until after the 2018 elections and to cap boosts in stipends for…