Republican State Rep Candidates Blast Sales Tax Holiday Decision

TEWKSBURY, MA -- The two Republicans running to represent Wilmington and Tewksbury in the state legislature scrambled to issue denouncements of the State Senate's decision to cancel plans for a sales tax holiday this year. The Senate rejected a budget amendment Tuesday that would have given Massachusetts taxpayers a sales tax holiday in August.

"We're now on the verge of three straight years without a tax free weekend. And keep in mind, in January of 2017, our legislature voted to give themselves pay raises, to the tune of $18,000,000 per year," Pina Prinzivalli posted on Facebook. Her post came an hour after Erin Buckley, also of Tewksbury and also a Republican, issued a press release on the state Senate vote.

"Business as usual on Beacon Hill is the limiting of business off Beacon Hill," Buckley said. "These votes have an especially negative impact on the towns of Tewksbury and Wilmington, as they sit so close to the sales tax-free New Hampshire border."

There are also six Democrats and an independent in the race to replace James Miceli, who died last month. The field will be pared to three following Democratic and Republican primaries in September.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).