Indiana Democrats Shut Down Statehouse Business
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Indiana Democrats did not show up for scheduled floor debate on Tuesday, shutting down the statehouse and preventing a vote on a controversial union work bill.
The Indianapolis Star is reporting that the legislators are leaving the state, with some reportedly headed for Illinois. Democratic lawmakers in Wisconsin did the same thing last week over union-related legislation in their state.
Protests have erupted in Indianapolis after a House committee on Monday passed a worker rights bill that would prohibit union membership and fees from being a condition of employment. Union activists say the bill is aimed at weakening unions and would drive down wages.
Indianapolis Star political reporter Mary Beth Schneider reported on Twitter that "hundreds of union members [are] in [the] statehouse, chanting "Ditch Mitch" and "Save our Families."
She said Indiana State Police have added extra troopers at the statehouse, including outside the door to Gov. Mitch Daniels' office.
Only 58 House members were present, short of the 67 needed to have a quorum to conduct business.
Democrats in Wisconsin also walked out last week to block a GOP led bill that would require unionized state workers to pay into their pension and health care benefits and restrict their rights to collective bargaining. Gov. Scott Walker is pushing the bill to help cut the state's budget deficit. That standoff is entering its second week, with several Democrats taking refuge in Illinois.
According to the Indianapolis Star, Democrats said they were in meetings to discuss potential amendments to several bills. GOP House Speaker Brian Bosma adjourned the House until noon. It wasn't clear exactly where the Democrats were located.
Daniels has said he supports the GOP bill but questions the timing, saying there are more important bills to consider, such as education reform.
On the education front, the Indiana Senate approved a bill to limit teachers' collective bargaining rights despite objections from minority Democrats and hundreds of union members.
The Republican-ruled Senate voted 30-19 to approve the bill, which is part of Daniels' aggressive education agenda.
The proposal would limit collective bargaining agreements between local districts and teachers' unions to wages and wage-related benefits. Supporters said teacher contracts shouldn't include details that do little to improve academics, such as requiring comfortable teachers' lounges.
But critics said the bill erodes union power, and argue that local districts should determine what's in contracts.
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