Democrats face angry union members after tough vote to cut pensions

SALEM — Last week, 31 Democrats voted to cut into benefits promised to public employees in what was likely their toughest vote of the 2019 legislative session, if not their career. It prompted 17 to file public explanations for why they voted.

In a political environment where public employee unions give generously to many Democrats’ campaigns, cutting into pensions is a line rarely crossed.

Public employee unions have long been considered as the puppet masters…