INDIANAPOLIS —
Indiana House Democrats walked off the floor Monday after losing an effort to put a right-to-work measure aimed at unions before voters, possibly resuming an off-and-on boycott strategy aimed at derailing the measure for the second straight year.
Democrats ended a previous boycott earlier Monday and spent close to five hours debating the right-to-work measure with Republicans. But they left the House floor shortly after losing a party-line vote on the referendum proposal and losing close to a dozen votes to change the measure.
Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma said Monday evening he had heard Democrats might resume their boycott if they lost the vote.
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans had little trouble giving final approval to the right-to-work proposal, which would ban unions from collecting mandatory representation fees from workers whether or not the employees are members.
The Senate voted 28-22 to send their right-to-work measure to the House.
Republicans, who have a 60-40 majority in the House, had little trouble beating back the series of Democratic proposals to automatically sunset the right-to-work bill if unemployment climbs too high, mandate that the state’s economic development corporation disclose terms of business agreements and make other tweaks to the measure.
Lawmakers did approve a pair of Republican amendments to exempt building and construction trade unions form the measure and giving the Department of Labor enforcement authority. The two changes align the House measure with the Senate plan.
Republicans’ efforts Monday prefaced what could be a relatively easy final House vote for the right-to-work bill, if Democrats end their boycott.
If the measure is adopted, Indiana would become the first state in more than a decade to approve right-to-work legislation. National advocates have tried without success to push the measure in New Hampshire and other states following a wave of Statehouse victories by Republicans in 2010.
Supporters say the right-to-work measure would bring more jobs to Indiana, where unemployment has crept up to about 9 percent. Opponents say it is aimed at breaking unions and claim it would depress wages for all workers.
Democratic Rep. Scott Pelath of Michigan City opened the lengthy debate Monday with a procedural move designed to kill the measure. Democrats supporting the motion said the legislation is the most divisive bill the Legislature has ever seen.
“This institution is best served if we just end this right here and right now,” said Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Indianapolis. “If you look at the collateral damage that this institution has suffered ... you have to ask yourself, at what cost?”
Republican Rep. Jerry Torr of Carmel said the proposal was premature and the GOP-led House rejected the motion, 59-39, as union protesters chanted outside the House chamber.
Republican lawmakers were largely quiet throughout the hours-long debate, rising only occasionally to rebut Democrats. Republican Rep Ralph Foley of Martinsville argued that just because a measure is controversial does not mean it should be avoided.
“I think this is what we do, we don’t avoid controversy,” Foley said.
Indiana Democrats, who blocked similar legislation with a five-week walkout last year, are seeking a statewide voter referendum in November that would decide the fate of the right-to-work bill. Democratic House Minority Leader Patrick Bauer introduced a version of the referendum on Friday that he said was designed to pass constitutional muster.
Republican leaders maintain that such a referendum isn’t allowed under the state constitution and that the Legislature must decide what becomes state law. The Republican-led Senate rejected such a referendum last week and planned to take a final vote on the right-to-work bill Monday.
The right-to-work battle has disrupted the legislative session that began Jan. 4 and has brought large crowds of union protesters to the Statehouse. Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma last week imposed $1,000-a-day fines against absent Democrats, but a Marion County judge issued an order Thursday blocking those fines from being deducted from the state paychecks of boycotters who have sued.
If the legislation passes, Indiana would become the 23rd state to approve a right-to-work law, handing national conservatives and business groups a major win on an issue that has recently eluded them elsewhere. It also would deal another blow to organized labor, which has seen mixed results in its fight against initiatives to curb union rights nationwide that followed the Republican victories in 2010.
The last state to enact a right-to-work law was Oklahoma in 2001.
Clark County
January 23, 2012
Democrats lose right-to-work referendum vote
Two approved amendments bring House bill in line with Senate version
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Union suing to block state’s right-to-work law
Indiana Democrats vehemently objected and boycotted the House session for several days, and union members turned out by the thousands to protest what they called “the right to work for less bill.”
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Ash Wednesday 2012
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Fundraiser builds a solid foundation: Individuals, businesses give generously to help out NA-FC schools
Early Wednesday morning, the foundation via a Facebook update, announced it had exceeded its goal and raised more than $60,000 at the event.
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Henryville High School Hornets’ Nest named finalist for state scholastic journalism award
Nationally-known scholastic journalism judge Dan Niles said, “The Hornets’ Nest was a pleasure to read, especially for all the solid reporting and good quality of photos.”
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Two treated after apartment fire in Jeffersonville
A pan with grease was left on the stove and caught fire, Sharp said. Two people were asleep in a back room of the apartment. They heard some popping and crackling which alerted them to the fire.
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Report: 1si leader to resign
After attempting to reach Wassmer for comment, he responded via text message with “news release coming out in the morning.”
Continued ... - Garbage truck flips in Borden
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Man killed in morning accident in Clark County
A Clark County man is dead after a fatal accident on his way to work Wednesday.
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Jeffersonville City Council, mayor closer to agreement on hires
Moore has changed his position in regards to a communications director since taking office. Initially, he’d said the city would not have a full-time communications director when the last one, Larry Thomas, was laid off.
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Clarksville hits snag with wastewater project
The town had reached an agreed order with IDEM that calls for upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant and collection system including 10 pumping stations around town to be rehabilitated at a cost of about $18.2 million.
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Union suing to block state’s right-to-work law
