Pensions

Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said agreeing to reopener clauses is a "dangerous practice" for municipalities, although he couldn't comment specifically on Westford's contracts. "It's a risky proposition for any community, especially in this era with very tight budgets," he said. "It just makes it more difficult to manage your compensation costs."

Municipal health insurance: Widmer sees the big change in municipal health insurance as a much more effective and immediate way to achieve cost savings than the pension reform. It also showed that the Democrats who rule Beacon Hill aren't always ruling at organized labor's behest.

The bill follows a measure passed by the House in Arciero's last term that eliminated such pensions for elected officials, and this latest step has seen praise from government watchdogs, such as Michael J. Widmer of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. "Special pensions are very costly and should be eliminated," said Widmer. "They are just another example of sweetheart deals."