The leader of Indiana’s House Democrats hinted today that party lawmakers may walk out for the second year in a row to oppose the same Republican “right-to-work” bill blocked last year by their five-week boycott. But some lawmakers seemed split on whether to make such a move.
House Democratic Leader Patrick Bauer told The Associated Press that his caucus planned to meet today to debate how to handle the GOP proposal that would make Indiana the 23rd state to bar businesses and private unions from mandating that workers pay union fees for representation.
Bauer led the walkout last year. But new fines and lawmakers concerned about re-election in 2012 have made the group wary of another.
Meantime, Gov. Mitch Daniels rescinded new statehouse security rules today that put a 3,000-person limit on the number of people allowed in the building at any one time, a victory for Democrats and labor leaders.
**UPDATE** Indiana’s House Democratic leader said today that party lawmakers will stall work in the chamber until certain demands are met over a Republican right-to-work bill that was blocked last year by their five-week boycott.
House Democratic Leader Patrick Bauer said they want the GOP to hold more public hearings on the divisive bill that would ban unions from collecting mandatory fees for representation. He did not say how many, however, adding that he wants to meet with Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma first to discuss what it wil ltake for Democrats to return to their seats.
“I think it’s a filibuster until we get the truth,” Bauer said of Republican plans to hold a hearing Friday on the measure.
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