The Hiller Instinct: Evacuation Day Hack Holiday

The State House looked like it had been hit by a neutron bomb...you know, the bomb that does away with people but does nothing to damage buildings. All this emptiness was the result of an e-bomb -- triggered by Evacuation Day...and the day off for Suffolk County public employees that comes with it.

But there were some signs of life...the governor, for example, did not evacuate for the day:

Hiller: “What do you think about the people who aren't working today?”

Governor Deval Patrick: “Look, I think the people who work for the state are good people. I think the people who live in Suffolk County are good people, but if you're asking me if I think Evacuation Day is an appropriate state holiday, I don't."

And hidden down another hall, there was actually a working group of legislators...virtually all of them Republicans and opposed to what are now commonly called hack holidays:

State Senator Michael Knapik, (R) Westfield said, “These two holidays I think are an insult to the taxpayers, a rip-off to the taxpayers. This is one of the easiest reforms we could possibly enact and we ought to do it in short order."

Minority leader and State Senator Richard Tisei (R) Wakefield said, "And we're also gonna try once again to make an attempt to eliminate Bunker Hill Day and Evacuation Day when we have the opportunity as the session moves on a little."

Sen. Knapik: "Believe me, I represent the City of Holyoke--I've got my green socks on today.. and we love to tell a good Irish joke as much as anyone else..."

Hiller: “Aren't these two days off the best Irish joke?”

Knapik laughed.

So Evacuation Day survives for another year at the State House. But its companion holiday may not. Bunker Hill Day comes on June 17th and, before then, there may be a vote here to kill them both.

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