Meeting in Gardner Auditorium, the joint committees heard testimony from the state's “big five”: Governor Romney, represented by his finance chief Eric Kriss, Secretary of State Bill Galvin, Attorney General Tom Reilly, State Auditor Joe DeNucci and State Treasurer Tim Cahill.

Of interest to our members was the number of questions addressed to Cahill relative to the status of the Commonwealth's pension fund. Cahill explained that the $35 billion fund is performing well with its investments and has expanded its diversification in order to mollify any wide market swings.

When asked by Representative Alice Wolf (D-Cambridge) about mandatory Social Security and the impact it could have on Massachusetts, the Treasurer explained that it would be “fiscally impossible” for the state and local governments to maintain retirement systems while meeting the costs of Social Security for their employees. Cahill actively opposes mandatory Social Security for Massachusetts' public employees.

New to the budget writing process this year is Representative Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop), who is now the House chairman of the powerful Committee on Ways and Means. DeLeo, who previously headed the important Committee on Bills in Third Reading, was appointed to the post by House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi. He replaces John Rogers (D-Norwood), who is now the House Majority Leader.

In the Senate, Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) was reappointed by Senate President Robert Travaglini to return to the helm of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means for a third year. Murray, who has been an outspoken critic of Governor Mitt Romney, easily won reelection to a fifth term last fall, despite being targeted by the governor.

Both DeLeo and Murray are longtime supporters of the Association and its members. While the House is not expected to release its version of the FY06 budget until late April, it is expected to contain authorization for a full 3% state/teachers COLA, along with a fully funded pension appropriation.

Association officers also anticipate that the governor's proposal to increase the insurance premiums for those retirees under age 65 will not be included in either chamber's version of the budget.