Mike Boudo
Watching the State House struggle with the hack holidays is like watching someone trying to learn a foreign language: they may remember a few words, but they can't speak it.
In this case, the language is common sense, and it's obviously still beyond Beacon Hill's capabilities.
No one denies there is some history surrounding Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day...the question is: how much can we afford to pay to honor them?
The estimated cost of the letting state workers stay home to celebrate is $5 million dollars, which could also be used to hire 100 social workers at $50,000 each; 66 teachers at $75,000, or 50 police officers at $100,000 a year.
Which do you think a state with a $2 billion dollar deficit needs more?
So does it make you proud--or does it embarrass you--that more than half of the state's Senators and Representatives still say, "We want the holidays!"
"Then what's next?" Sen. Jack Hart asked. "Do we eliminate president's day, do we eliminate July 4? Why don't we eliminate, why don't we forget about our history and eliminate Thanksgiving?"
The bad news for them is the issue isn't going away.
Tomorrow, a bill to kill the two holidays will be introduced in the Senate...guaranteeing the debate will continue.
My guess is that, ultimately, Evacuation Day will be evacuated and Bunker Hill day will be buried at the State House...and that voters will give some of the legislators who support the hack holidays every day off.
I'm Andy Hiller, and that's my instinct.
(Copyright (c) 2009 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
