All too often in government, decisions are based on what is politically expedient rather than what is fair.

A case in point is the debate over the elimination of the two Suffolk County holidays, Bunker Hill and Evacuation Days. Talk radio hosts have had a field day railing against these so-called "hack holidays."

But the vast majority of our state employees aren't hacks - they are hard working, dedicated public servants who do important work. They educate our children, provide care and support for our elders, police our streets, prosecute criminals, protect our environment, guard the public health, and maintain our roads and bridges. In short, they help ensure the quality of our lives and provide the framework under which our economy can prosper.

From time to time, a particularly glaring case of political favoritism comes to light. Such cases must never be excused or tolerated. But it is unfair to use these few cases as an excuse to punish all state workers - which is exactly what elimination of these holidays would do.

The economic crisis has hit us all hard, particularly the families of state employees. They have suffered salary cuts and unpaid furloughs. They will soon be required to pay a larger share of their health insurance premiums. Thousands have received their pink slips, creating crushing workloads for those who remain. Although Bunker Hill Day and Evacuation Day apply only to Suffolk County, most other state workers - including those in Bristol County - get two floating holidays in their place. Proponents of eliminating the holidays admit that there would be little, if any, economic benefit. Instead, they argue that doing so will send some sort of symbolic message about reform.

What we need on Beacon Hill is real reform, not symbolic reform. That's why I've been a strong advocate for reforms at the state level that will have a real effect on state finances and the effective functioning of our government:

The abuses of the pension system must stop. No employees should receive a full year's credit for one day of work. No legislator should receive extra benefits for not being re-elected. The House has passed a first round of pension reform that ends these abuses, but more is needed. For example, we need to stop individuals who are approaching retirement from using political connections to land high-paying jobs for their final three years in order to double their pensions.

I'm proud to have voted for a strong ethics reform bill in the House, and I've been working with my colleagues and House leadership to ensure that the tougher provisions passed by the House prevail over those passed by the Senate. I have co-sponsored legislation (S347) to reduce the influence of special interest money by prohibiting lobbyists from soliciting campaign contributions and prohibiting principals of state contractors and their immediate family from giving or soliciting campaign contributions.

I've been a leader on Beacon Hill in the effort to restore greater transparency and accountability to our system, particularly when it comes to the way we spend our economic development dollars. This week, the Legislature heard testimony on one of my signature bills (H333) to do just that. The people of the commonwealth deserve to know how we are spending our money - who is receiving subsidies, how much we are paying, and what benefit we are getting for that money.

As your state representative, I've vowed to always be honest with you, my constituents, about the work I do, the challenges we face, and the reasons I vote the way I do. I came to Beacon Hill to work for real - not symbolic - change.

We must re-engineer government to make it more efficient - to consolidate and regionalize services. We can only accomplish this with the commitment of motivated public employees. Sending them a message that they are not appreciated or respected is unlikely to work to our advantage - and I don't believe it's fair to eliminate a benefit to workers simply to send a symbolic message, or to advance someone's cynical political agenda.

STEVE D'AMICO, D-Seekonk, is state representative for Rehoboth, Seekonk and Norton Precinct 1. His vote, and Rep. Louis Kafka's, D-Sharon, against repealing the Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day holidays, were criticized in an editorial on Monday.