“Where Democracy Goes to Die”: Massachusetts Rep. Boldyga Skips Every Committee Hearing This Session

BY SAM DRYSDALE

A state representative who says legislative committees are “where democracy goes to die” has not attended a single hearing this session — an attendance record that his opponent is highlighting as an example of why his western Massachusetts district underrepresented. 

Republican Rep. Nicholas Boldyga of Southwick is not shy about standing up against Beacon Hill leadership and systems. By not attending committee hearings where people have a chance to offer opinions and lawmakers can ask questions, he’s refusing to participate in part of the lawmaking process that he calls a “sham.”

“The committee process is rotten at its core and the only purpose it serves is to provide cover for the corruption, secrecy and closed-door decision making on Beacon Hill that shuts out the public and rank and file members,” he said in a statement to the News Service.

Tom Hendrickson, a Democrat running for the seat that Boldyga holds, argues that the hearings are a critical forum for lawmakers to hear directly from the public. 

An Agawam City Councilor, Hendrickson said western Massachusetts has to fight hard for representation on Beacon Hill and that Boldyga owes an explanation to his constituents for not showing up for one of the most direct ways the public interacts with the legislative process. He published a press release Wednesday that called Boldyga’s attendance record “disgraceful.”

“We need strong representation in the State House, advocating for our community, representing us. And our current representative is not providing that,” he said. 

The 3rd Hampden District that Boldyga has represented since 2011 sits is in the southwestern part of the state, west of Springfield and bordering Connecticut. It includes the towns of Blandford, Chester, Granville, Montgomery, Russell, Southwick, Tolland, Huntington, Middlefield and parts of Agawam. 

Boldyga’s profile on the Massachusetts Legislature’s website doesn’t list a phone number at the State House, and the site directs visitors to his district office phone number, and notes that his district office in Southwick is his preferred mailing address. 

“Our community has serious needs around education funding, health care, cost of living — major issues,” Hendrickson said. “Western Massachusetts is already outnumbered in the State House, and that issue gets exasperated when our representatives don’t even show up to work.”

In a statement, Boldyga pointed to reporting from The Boston Globe that found 12 committees held no hearings last session and considered no legislation, though those panels still offered “exorbitant stipends” on top of base pay to its chairs “as rewards for loyal allies.”

“Thousands of bills are filed and hearings are held for show — almost all of them never reach the floor,” he said. “Leadership decides behind closed doors what advances, ignoring testimony, silencing members, and even ignoring committee votes.” 

Boldyga said Hendrickson is “pushing this as a gotcha.” Hendrickson raised issue with Boldyga accepting a $29,907.95 stipend for travel and office expenses while not attending State House hearings. 

“It’s almost 30 grand,” Hendrickson said. “I don’t know what his explanation or excuse is going to be in terms of him not — if it’s that he doesn’t want to travel across the state, he gets paid directly for those travel expenses, so there should be no excuse.” 

The state treasurer’s office, which distributes legislator pay, confirmed Boldgya accepts the allotments for travel and office expenses. 

Lawmakers who live 50 miles or more from the State House receive higher office and travel payments, adjusted every session. This session, lawmakers who travel a farther distance to Beacon Hill get an extra $29,907.95 on top of their $82,044.31 base pay; those living within a 50-mile radius receive $22,430.96.

Asked how he uses the allotment and to respond to Hendrickson’s claims about his district being underrepresented, Boldyga replied: “Even though the committee process is a complete sham and it’s where democracy goes to die… I’ve still voted in nearly every committee poll. Regardless of that, Democratic leadership rarely advances any of those bills to the floor for a vote.”

He continued, “My focus remains on the issues that matter most to my constituents: fighting for a full audit of the Legislature that Democrats have denied, lowering sky-high utility bills that Democrats have caused, and making Massachusetts more affordable. My district is well-represented against these continued failures of Democrats on Beacon Hill.”

Boldyga sits on the Joint Committees on Aging and Independence, Agriculture and Fisheries and Revenue. Between them, the committees have held 19 hearings this session. According to legislative records, Boldyga did not attend any of them. 

Senators are allowed under their chamber’s rules to participate remotely in committee hearings, but the House requires its representative to be physically present in the hearing room. Unlike members of the public or the Senate, Boldyga could not have joined the hearing over video call.