Jun 17, 2009 12:55 pm US/Eastern
Today Is Bunker Hill Day. Are You Working?
Battle Over So-Called 'Hack Holidays' Gains Steam
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Wednesday commemorates a major battle in the Revolutionary War – the Battle of Bunker Hill. It is an official state holiday, but for Suffolk County only. Schools, state and city offices close in Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop.
Now the battle over Bunker Hill has now become a battle on Beacon Hill.
BIG PRICE TAG
According to critics, this holiday costs taxpayers millions of dollars. The combination of Bunker Hill Day and Evacuation Day, a similar Suffolk County holiday, cost an estimated $5 million, according to republican State Senator Richard Tisei.
He is among the lawmakers who say, for a state already in financial crisis, we can not afford to give select government workers special holidays.
"This holiday really represents, to a lot of people, another special deal to a small select group of people that not everybody in the state is able to take advantage of," Tisei said.
"It's a significant amount of money," agreed democratic State Senator Susan Fargo. After a dozen years in the senate, hearing the price tag has turned her against these so-called "hack holidays".
SUPPORTERS SAVED THE DAY
Not all lawmakers want to get rid of their own day off. A vote to eliminate these two holidays
failed in the legislature just this month. A new bill was quickly filed and is now in committee.
Read: How Your Rep. Voted, via State House News Service (N = vote to save the holidays)
Watch: Jon Keller's take on 'hack holidays'
On lawmaker who voted to keep the holidays, Rep. Frank Smizik, told WBZ's Jonathan Elias that "this issue does not rise to the level of discussion," adding it was nothing more than the "Republicans trying to set us up."
Not all government workers in Suffolk County will be out of the office on Wednesday. Governor Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and all Republican lawmakers are among those who say they will be working.
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