House · Republican

Susan Williams Gifford

Former member, served 2015–2024 in the sessions covered here · 2nd Plymouth

Data through FY2026; built October 19, 2026.

Residence

Wareham

First elected

House 2002

Prior public offices

Wareham Board of Selectmen (1999-2002)

Left office

died (October 22, 2024)

Seats held, General Courts 189–194 (the FY2017–FY2026 budgets)
Session	Chamber	District	Lines
189th (2015–16)	House	2nd Plymouth	2011 lines
190th (2017–18)	House	2nd Plymouth	2011 lines
191st (2019–20)	House	2nd Plymouth	2011 lines
192nd (2021–22)	House	2nd Plymouth	2011 lines
193rd (2023–24)	House	2nd Plymouth	2021 lines

Posts and stipends

Susan Williams Gifford was paid $328,526 in leadership and committee stipends from 2016 to 2024.

Posts and stipends by session (stipends by calendar year)
Session	Posts	First year	Second year
189th (2015–16)	3rd Assistant Minority Leader	not available	$15,000
190th (2017–18)	3rd Assistant Minority Leader	$35,000	$35,000
191st (2019–20)	3rd Assistant Minority Leader	$37,912	$37,912
192nd (2021–22)	3rd Assistant Minority Leader	$39,766	$39,766
193rd (2023–24)	3rd Assistant Minority Leader	$47,759	$40,411

Posts: the Legislature’s leadership and roster records as compiled for this project; where those name no post, the member’s committee chair, vice-chair and ranking roles from the Legislature’s member profiles. Stipends: additional compensation in the Comptroller’s payroll data (CTHRU dataset 9ttk-7vz6), 2016–2026; 2026 is the year to date. Stipends for 2015 are not available. Base salary is not included.

The district

2nd Plymouth on its 2021 lines: 3 cities and towns, 42,708 residents (2020).

Wareham 55% · Carver 27% · Middleborough 18%, 32% of the town

Percentages are each place’s share of the district’s 2020 residents; for a town split between districts, the share of the town inside this one follows.

Population-weighted Fairness Index of the district’s cities and towns: 48 for all state aid and 51 for discretionary money (50 is a fair share).

Local earmarks are counted three ways. District money uses the first, clauses that name a place in the district; the second table adds organizations located in the district (placed in the district) and state facilities located there (everything placed). Three ways to count a local earmark.

District money, first measure: enacted earmarks in clauses naming a place in the district, by session (district money, not the member’s)
Session	District	Dollars	In corrective clauses	Per resident per budget, rank	Without corrective clauses, rank
189th (2015–16)	2nd Plymouth	$88,000	$0	$2.06 · 100th of 160	$2.06 · 98th of 160
190th (2017–18)	2nd Plymouth	$69,000	$0	$0.81 · 156th of 160	$0.81 · 155th of 160
191st (2019–20)	2nd Plymouth	$131,000	$0	$1.53 · 142nd of 160	$1.53 · 142nd of 160
192nd (2021–22)	2nd Plymouth	$171,000	$0	$2.00 · 153rd of 160	$2.00 · 152nd of 160
193rd (2023–24)	2nd Plymouth	$134,000	$0	$1.57 · 159th of 160	$1.57 · 159th of 160

District money is where enacted earmarks land, by the place a clause names, mapped to districts by 2020 population; it is not attributed to the member and does not include leadership’s base-text money that names no place. Ranks are of district money per resident among the chamber’s districts, 1 = most. “In corrective clauses” is the part carried by a Ways and Means chair’s corrective amendments, which is leadership’s money; the last column gives the per-resident figure and rank without it. Sessions are labeled by the General Court that enacted each budget. Per-resident figures use the district as drawn for each session (2011 lines through the 192nd General Court, 2021 lines from the 193rd), so they will not equal a session’s dollars divided by the resident count above.

The same district on the other two measures, by session (enacted; includes any corrective-clause money)
Session	District	Placed in the district	Per resident per budget, rank	Everything placed	Per resident per budget, rank
189th (2015–16)	2nd Plymouth	$88,000	$2.06 · 110th of 160	$88,000	$2.06 · 113th of 160
190th (2017–18)	2nd Plymouth	$69,000	$0.81 · 159th of 160	$69,000	$0.81 · 159th of 160
191st (2019–20)	2nd Plymouth	$131,000	$1.53 · 150th of 160	$131,000	$1.53 · 151st of 160
192nd (2021–22)	2nd Plymouth	$171,000	$2.00 · 158th of 160	$171,000	$2.00 · 158th of 160
193rd (2023–24)	2nd Plymouth	$134,000	$1.57 · 160th of 160	$134,000	$1.57 · 160th of 160

Budget amendments

Susan Williams Gifford sponsored 17 budget amendments in FY2017–FY2026, asking for $806,000 in all.

Amendments sponsored

FY2017–FY2026 budgets

Adopted, known outcomes

82%

9 of 11

Chamber rate, same ask sizes

63%

expected at the chamber’s rates

Of the 11 with a known outcome, nine were adopted (82%). At the chamber’s adoption rate for amendments of the same size, about seven (63%) would have been.

Largest enacted items matched to an amendment Susan Williams Gifford filed (strong text matches)
Year	Amount	Enacted budget text (excerpt)	Amendment
FY2023	$20,000	“the Carver council on aging to install new fencing handrail along the sidewalk entrance at the council on aging facility”	H4700 #367
FY2023	$20,000	“the Wareham council on aging for improving its outreach services”	H4700 #368
FY2022	$20,000	“the Wareham council on aging for its meals and nutrition programs”	H4000 #128
FY2018	$12,000 (shared two ways)	“the veterans council of the town of Wareham to host the Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall Memorial”	H3600 #573

Strong matches: 4 enacted items, $72,000 (the member’s share where several amendments claim one clause). A further one weaker text match is not listed; attribution is inferred from amendment text and is less certain there. House attribution is inferred throughout, because the House adopts most amendments inside consolidated amendments.

11 outcomes are inferred by matching amendment text to the House’s consolidated amendments, because the House records most amendments only as “Consolidated A–G.” Ask size is the larger of the earmark dollars and the line-item change an amendment requests; bands: no dollar amount, under $50,000, $50,000–$250,000, $250,000–$1 million, $1–5 million, $5 million or more. Leadership’s unattributed base-text and corrective-amendment money is never assigned to a member. The comparison describes outcomes; it is not a measure of merit.

Bills sponsored

Susan Williams Gifford filed 66 bills as lead sponsor in these sessions; zero were enacted on their own. In completed sessions, 0% of their lead bills were enacted on their own, against chamber medians of 3% to 7% for the same sessions.

Most bills die in every legislature, and many policies pass inside other bills; the chamber median for the same session is the fair comparison.

Bills filed as lead sponsor, by session and outcome
Session	Chamber	Lead bills	Folded into an enacted bill	Sent to study	Reported favorably, then died	No action	Enacted rate	Chamber median	Cosponsored
189th (2015–16)	House	14	1	13	0	0	0%	6%	244
190th (2017–18)	House	14	1	12	1	0	0%	7%	394
191st (2019–20)	House	14	0	12	1	1	0%	4%	357
192nd (2021–22)	House	14	0	11	2	1	0%	3%	320
193rd (2023–24)	House	10	0	8	2	0	0%	4%	202

Outcomes are the furthest point each bill reached in the record. “Folded into an enacted bill” means the history names the enacted bill that absorbed it. “Passed both branches; no chapter recorded” means the bill was enacted by both branches and laid before the Governor, with no chapter or veto in the history; in the 194th General Court such bills are shown as laid before the Governor (pending). The 194th General Court is in session until January 2027, so its open bills are pending, not dead, and its rates (*) are not comparable with completed sessions. Chairs and leaders control the calendar, which raises their rates. Source: malegislature.gov bill histories.

Recorded votes on accountability measures

Susan Williams Gifford cast 67 yes-or-no votes on the 67 accountability roll calls in this file (55 yes, 12 no).

Roll calls on rules, audits, public records, term limits and pay
Date	Measure	Vote	Chamber result
January 25, 2017	Recommit the 2017 pay-raise bill (H.58) to Ways and Means	Yes	Yeas 35, nays 125
January 25, 2017	Amd 3 (Lyons): legislators' raise not effective until next General Court	Yes	Yeas 40, nays 120
January 25, 2017	Amd 5 (Lyons): cap the increases at 4%	Yes	Yeas 36, nays 124
January 25, 2017	Engrossment of the pay-raise bill (stipend increases)	No	Yeas 116, nays 44
January 26, 2017	Enactment of the pay-raise bill	No	Yeas 116, nays 43
February 2, 2017	Override of Gov. Baker's veto of the pay-raise bill	No	Yeas 116, nays 43
February 2, 2017	Amendment 1.0 (Geoff Diehl): Text of the proposed House amendment (Representative Diehl) to the House Bill relative to Rank and File (House, No. 2017)	Yes	Yeas 34, nays 124
February 2, 2017	Sustain the Chair's ruling (point of order, Mr. Mark) against Diehl amd 2, Speaker term limits	No	Yeas 123, nays 33
February 2, 2017	Amendment 3.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): 24 Hour Time Frame for Bills to Be Acted On	Yes	Yeas 35, nays 124
February 2, 2017	Amendment 4.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Access to Information	Yes	Yeas 35, nays 124
February 2, 2017	Amendment 9.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Emergency Scheduling of Hearings	Yes	Yeas 38, nays 121
February 2, 2017	Amendment 10.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Equal Representation on Ethics Committee	Yes	Yeas 35, nays 124
February 2, 2017	Amendment 15.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Inoculators	Yes	Yeas 37, nays 122
February 2, 2017	Amendment 16.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Local Aid Resolution	Yes	Yeas 38, nays 121
February 2, 2017	Amendment 27.0 (James J. Lyons, Jr.): Defining and Limiting Informal Session	Yes	Yeas 34, nays 124
February 2, 2017	Amendment 20.0 (Shaunna L. O'Connell): Public access to House financial accounts audits	Yes	Yeas 34, nays 125
February 2, 2017	Amendment 21.0 (Shaunna L. O'Connell): Public access to committee votes	Yes	Yeas 41, nays 118
February 2, 2017	Amendment 5.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Local Aid Resolution	Yes	Yeas 37, nays 122
February 2, 2017	Amendment 11.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Committee Roll Calls on Website	Yes	Yeas 38, nays 121
February 2, 2017	Amendment 13.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Reports of Conference Filing Deadline	Yes	Yeas 37, nays 122
February 2, 2017	Amendment 14.0 (Shaunna L. O'Connell): Public access to committee votes	Yes	Yeas 38, nays 121
January 30, 2019	Amendment 1.0 (Jonathan Hecht): Time to review bills	Yes	Yeas 55, nays 103
January 30, 2019	Amendment 2.0 (Jonathan Hecht): Time to review amendments	Yes	Yeas 47, nays 111
January 30, 2019	Amendment 3.0 (Jonathan Hecht): Committee materials and votes	Yes	Yeas 49, nays 109
January 30, 2019	Collective bargaining for House employees (curb on leadership control of staff); not a disclosure/power-of-leadership rule in the narrow sense (contested meaning)	No	Yeas 9, nays 149
January 30, 2019	Amendment 11.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Access to Information	Yes	Yeas 40, nays 118
January 30, 2019	Amendment 12.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Emergency Scheduling of Hearings	Yes	Yeas 35, nays 123
January 30, 2019	Amendment 14.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Committee Polls – 2 Hours	Yes	Yeas 44, nays 114
January 30, 2019	Amendment 16.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): House Audits	Yes	Yeas 35, nays 123
January 30, 2019	Amendment 17.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): HWM Reports on Bills	Yes	Yeas 33, nays 125
January 30, 2019	Amendment 19.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Local Aid Resolution	Yes	Yeas 32, nays 126
January 30, 2019	Amendment 20.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Review of Consolidated Amendments	Yes	Yeas 32, nays 125
January 30, 2019	Amendment 22.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Committee Votes on Website	Yes	Yeas 44, nays 113
January 30, 2019	Fingerprint remote voting from committee rooms (contested meaning)	Yes	Yeas 32, nays 125
January 30, 2019	Amendment 25.0 (Marc T. Lombardo): Matters considered in an informal session	Yes	Yeas 32, nays 125
January 30, 2019	Amendment 31.0 (John H. Rogers): Relative to Rule 18C	Yes	Yeas 43, nays 113
January 30, 2019	Amendment 32.0 (Patrick Joseph Kearney): relative to Rule 100 ( c ) 3	No	Yeas 5, nays 152
January 30, 2019	Amendment 33.0 (Patrick Joseph Kearney): relative to Rule 20A and Rule 33A	No	Yeas 5, nays 152
January 30, 2019	Equitable office space (leadership allocates offices) (contested meaning)	No	Yeas 11, nays 146
January 30, 2019	Amendment 38.0 (Denise Provost): To assure adequate time to prepare and file amendments	Yes	Yeas 44, nays 113
January 30, 2019	Amendment 41.0 (Russell E. Holmes): Equal Pay Amendment II	No	Yeas 5, nays 152
January 30, 2019	House rules (H2019), rules package: on adoption of the order (contested meaning)	No	Yeas 125, nays 32
January 30, 2019	Conference-committee appointment deadline; adopted 157-0 (contested meaning)	Yes	Yeas 157, nays 0
January 30, 2019	Amendment 11.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Committee Roll Calls on Website	Yes	Yeas 47, nays 110
January 30, 2019	Amendment 12.0 (Marc T. Lombardo): Informal Session	Yes	Yeas 36, nays 121
January 30, 2019	Joint rules (H2021), rules package: on adoption of the order (contested meaning)	Yes	Yeas 157, nays 0
February 24, 2021	Amendment 8.0 (Erika Uyterhoeven): Public Committee Votes and Testimony	Yes	Yeas 36, nays 122
February 24, 2021	Amendment 3.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Electronic Poll	Yes	Yeas 38, nays 121
February 24, 2021	Amendment 6.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Procurement Amendment	Yes	Yeas 34, nays 125
February 24, 2021	Amendment 11.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Conference Committee Report	Yes	Yeas 35, nays 123
February 24, 2021	Joint rules (H68), rules package: on adoption of the Order (contested meaning)	No	Yeas 128, nays 31
July 7, 2021	Remote voting for members on military duty; adopted 160-0 (contested meaning)	Yes	Yeas 160, nays 0
July 7, 2021	Amendment 2.0 (Tami L. Gouveia): Speaker Term Limits	Yes	Yeas 35, nays 125
July 7, 2021	Amendment 6.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Emergency Scheduling of Hearings	Yes	Yeas 30, nays 129
July 7, 2021	Amendment 9.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Committee Polls - 2 Hours	Yes	Yeas 35, nays 124
July 7, 2021	Amendment 11.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Access to Information	Yes	Yeas 33, nays 126
July 7, 2021	Amendment 13.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Review of Consolidated Amendments	Yes	Yeas 32, nays 127
July 7, 2021	Amendment 12.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Committee Votes on Website	Yes	Yeas 38, nays 121
July 7, 2021	Amendment 16.0 (Erika Uyterhoeven): Public Committee Votes	Yes	Yeas 41, nays 117
July 7, 2021	Amendment 3.0 (Christopher M. Markey): Review Period for Released Bills	Yes	Yeas 39, nays 119
July 7, 2021	House rules (H3930), rules package: on adoption of the order (contested meaning)	No	Yeas 129, nays 29
February 1, 2023	Amendment 7.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Time to review technical/ perfecting amendments	Yes	Yeas 23, nays 130
February 1, 2023	Amendment 12.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Review of Consolidated Amendments	Yes	Yeas 23, nays 130
February 1, 2023	House rules (H2023), rules package: on adoption of the order (contested meaning)	Yes	Yeas 153, nays 0
February 1, 2023	Amendment 3.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Local Aid Resolution	Yes	Yeas 23, nays 130
February 1, 2023	Amendment 9.0 (Bradley H. Jones, Jr.): Hearing Schedule	Yes	Yeas 24, nays 129
February 1, 2023	Joint rules (H2025), rules package: on adoption of the order (contested meaning)	Yes	Yeas 153, nays 0

Votes marked “contested meaning” are rules-package and public-records passage votes; reform advocates were on both sides of them. Descriptions are the project’s plain summaries of each question, or the question as recorded for rules-package roll calls; the official record is on malegislature.gov. Votes are facts; no score is computed.

Campaign money in

Susan Williams Gifford’s committee reported $106,000 in contributions of $250 or more in years the member served, 2015–2024.

By year (years in the Legislature)
Year	Contributions
2015	$500
2016	$29,000
2017	$1,800
2018	$52,000
2019	$8,000
2020	$500
2021	$5,550
2022	$800
2023	$2,400
2024	$6,250

By kind of contributor
Kind	Total	Share
Political committees and PACs	$74,000	70%
Individuals	$31,000	29%
Unions and associations	$500	under 1%

Individuals’ money by the employer they reported
Employer reported	Share
A named employer	35%
Self-employed	36%
Retired	29%

Largest employers and organizations
Employer or organization	Kind	Total	Contributions
REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE	committee or PAC	$54,000	10
MRP-STATE	committee or PAC	$12,000	1
MA & NORTHERN NE LABORERS' DISTRICT COUNCIL POL ACTION COMM	committee or PAC	$4,500	9
MA MARINE TRADES ASSOC PAC	committee or PAC	$1,800	5
HI WAY CONCRETE PRODUCTS	individuals, by employer	$1,500	5
GHD	individuals, by employer	$1,500	3
GREEN SEAL ENVIRONMENTAL	individuals, by employer	$1,000	2
MUNI TECH	individuals, by employer	$1,000	4
MILHARMER ASSOC	individuals, by employer	$1,000	2
A D MAKEPEACE	individuals, by employer	$750	2

Source: Office of Campaign and Political Finance, itemized receipts of $250 or more since 2015; OCPF filer record: Gifford Committee (CPF 13579). Individuals are grouped by the employer they reported; no individual contributor is named, and an employer field that is a person’s name is withheld. Massachusetts bars business contributions to candidates. Employer shows affiliation, not instruction.

Sources

Every figure traces to a public record.

Facts only: posts, stipends, sponsored amendments, enacted items, roll-call votes and district money. No score or grade is computed. Associations shown here are not evidence of cause. Method.