Hedlund, other Republicans in state Senate collect leadership stipends with nobody to lead

[Ian David]

Hedlund, other Republicans in state Senate collect leadership stipends

All four Republicans in the state Senate next year are in line to earn thousands of dollars in bonuses for party leadership positions, even though they'll have no one below them to actually lead.

Republicans currently fill five leadership posts that come with attractive, taxpayer-funded stipends. Outgoing state Sen. Richard Tisei, R-Wakefield, earns a bonus of $22,500 for serving as Senate minority leader. State Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, makes $15,000 as assistant minority leader.

State Sen. Robert Hedlund, R-Weymouth, receives $15,000 to serve as the minority whip, while state Sen. Richard Ross, R-Wrentham, also takes home $15,000 for the title of assistant minority whip. State Sen. Michael Knapik, R-Westfield, earns $15,000 as the ranking minority member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Next year, even fewer Republicans will occupy the Senate. Tisei, who lost a bid for lieutenant governor as Charlie Baker's running mate last week, will step down at the end of the year.

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