Indiana House Democrats leave state, Wisconsin style

[Joanne98]

Source: jsonline

Now Democratic lawmakers from another state seem to be leaving their homes for Illinois.

House Democrats in Indiana are leaving the state rather than vote a bill that would modify collective-bargaining for some workers there, according to the Indianapolis Star.

A source told the paper that Democrats from that state's lower chamber are headed to Illinois, though the paper notes that some might go to Kentucky.

Only two of the 40 Democrats were on the Indiana House floor when the chamber convened Tuesday.



Read more: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/116662989.html

---

Those two Democrats need to leave also.

[inademv]

1. It is messed up

that these sorts of defiance will receive more attention than the national problem of the Republicans in the Senate doing basically the same thing (but worse) to nearly every piece of legislation to make it into the Senate.

[AngryOldDem]

2. No, they haven't left.

They're just not showing up to the House floor.

http://indiana.onpolitix.com/news/36440/union-members-hold-statehouse-sit-in?referrer=wishtv.com

<<Only two of Democratic members of the Indiana House of Representatives showed up for the legislative body's 10 a.m. start time, bringing legislative action to a stand still.

The House needs 67 members present to have the quorum needed to conduct business; just five more democrats were needed Tuesday enable to consider legislation.
Democrat leaders say their colleagues are "in caucus," still considering amendments to pending legislation.

Tuesday's walk out comes as Republicans attempted to file controversial "right to work legislation," without the Democrats, the legislation cannot be considered.<<
_______________________________________________________________________________________

An update on the news just now says the House speaker is hoping to reconvene around 2 p.m. The Democrats say they are "working."

[Kolesar]

3. "A lot of bright young men have come out of Indiana"

"And the brighter they were, the sooner they came out of there" -- George Ade

Purdue University named their stadium after George Ade.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

4. Yep, I am from Indiana. Far from. n/t

[snappyturtle]

5. Those two Democrats were left there on purpose to assure the

repubs don't do something sneaky and so that they can make a motion and second it. The Indy Star newspaper is reporting:


http://www.indystar.com/article/20110222/NEWS/110222004/House-Democrats-flee-Indiana-stop-votes?odyssey=mod|breaking|text|IndyStar.com

[Joanne98]

6. Okay. I get it now. They need 2/3 for a vote .

[Joanne98]

7. Report: Indiana Democrats Flee State To Shut Down Union-Busting Budget

Illinois is about to become the state of refuge for another band of legislative Democrats fleeing their home state to shut down a union-busting proposal.

The Indianapolis Star reports that Democratic members of the state House are heading out of state to prevent the Republican majority from moving forward on a bill "that would bar unions and companies from negotiating a contract that requires non-union members to kick-in fees for representation."

In scenes reminiscent of those in Wisconsin, the Indiana Democrats are using the legislature's quorum rules to stop the GOP, despite being outgunned in the legislature and in the governor's mansion, where potential 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitch Daniels currently resides.

The breakdown of the quorum rules and the battle in the state House, from the Star:

The House was came (sic) into session this morning, with only two of the 40 Democrats present. Those two were needed to make a motion, and a seconding motion, for any procedural steps Democrats would want to take to ensure Republicans don't do anything official without quorum.
With only 58 legislators present, there was no quorum present to do business. The House needs 67 of its members to be present.

A source told the paper Democrats "are headed to Illinois, though it was possible some also might go to Kentucky."

The Democrats "need to go to a state with a Democratic governor to avoid being taken into police custody and returned to Indiana," the paper reports.


http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/report-indiana-democrats-flee-state-to-shut-down-union-busting-budget-1.php

[murielm99]

8. Good. Way to go!

The people of Illinois will be glad to shelter any legislators who flee. If we need a fund to help them, or a way to house them, let us know.

Why aren't our national Democrats doing anything to help?

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. So, proof of a conspiracy among Repugs.

Wis, Indiana, Ohio ( per JoAnne's posts).
Any other states?

[Joanne98]

11. Michigan maybe

[dixiegrrrrl]

15. Looks like Fla:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x482877

[amandabeech]

19. So far, the new Michigan pug governor, Snyder, has said that he doesn't want to do a Wisconsin.

He's doing plenty of bad stuff, but he seems to be reluctant to do union busting at this time.

There are plenty of retired and unemployed UAW types in Michigan who would make a lot of problems for Snyder, and he seems to know it.

[Joanne98]

10. Wisconsin style: Indiana Dems go AWOL

In a move straight out of the Wisconsin playbook, Indiana Democratic lawmakers fled the state today in a bid to kill a proposed right-to-work bill ahead of a vote.

Citing a source, the Indianapolis Star reported that Democrats "are headed to Illinois, though it was possible some also might go to Kentucky." Wisconsin's Democratic senators have been in Illinois for days, depriving Republicans the quorum needed to vote on Gov. Scott Walker's legislation to roll back collectively bargaining rights for state workers.



Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49974.html#ixzz1EiDV9K5k

[Joanne98]

12. Indiana Democrats flee state to protest anti-union bill

Indiana Democrats are reportedly joining their Wisconsin counterparts in staging an exodus from their state to protest a new union-busting Republican measure.

Only two of Indiana's 40 House Democrats showed up for a session Tuesday morning, precluding Republicans from attaining the votes needed to proceed on motions. The rest are fleeing to Illinois to stage a walkout, according to the Indianapolis Star and the local Indy Channel news station.

Only 58 lawmakers were present, falling short of the 67 required for a quorum. Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma called for a recess until later in the afternoon.

"A source said Democrats are headed to Illinois, though it was possible some also might go to Kentucky," the Indy Star reported.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/02/22/indiana-democrats-flee-state-to-protest-anti-union-bill/

[Joanne98]

13. Huff Post: Dems flee

Democratic lawmakers are fleeing Indiana in an attempt to block anti-union legislation, the Indianapolis Star reports. A source tells the paper that the Democrats will most likely enter Illinois, where fleeing Wisconsin senators are also ensconced as part of a similar maneuver.

The Wall Street Journal reports that protesters encouraged the departing Democrats:

Republicans arrived at the statehouse Tuesday morning to find no Democrats present, as protesters applauding the walkout could be heard inside the chamber.
The strategy is possible because Republicans make up 60 of 100 House seats. Without any Democrats present, Republicans lack a two-thirds majority needed for a quorum to act on the bill.


The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reports that the proposed Indiana legislation "prohibits employees from being required to pay union dues or representation fees as a condition of employment."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/22/indiana-democrats-budget-protests_n_826641.html

[defendandprotect]

14. kr

[Sabriel]

16. Illinois can steal Wisconsin's tourism motto, if it wants

"Escape to Illinois"

[endless october]

17. "right to work," sure.

just like the "patriot" act is patriotic.

[davsand]

18. Sounds like an exchange program needs to be set up.

It could be a sort of rotation, if you will. Send Wisconsin to Indiana, send Indiana to Wisconsin. If Kentucky or Iowa goes nuts we can work them into it as well. The big loser is the one state where the weather is so bad nobody is willing to go there...





Laura