INDIANAPOLIS, In (WDRB) -- Indiana's top House Republican says he's considering fining Democrats a thousand dollars a day if they continue to walk-off the floor. It's only been two days into the 2012 legislative session and if feels more like 2011.
On Thursday, right to work protesters, many on them union members, flooded the Indiana state capitol. They were armed with protest signs and a message. "Right to work was designed to strangle unions financially," says union worker Bill Clark. He's actually from Louisville with BAC Local 4 but the union extends into southern Indiana. He, along with hundreds of this union brothers and sisters, are upset right to work is at the forefront of the 2012 legislative session. "In right to work states, construction accidents are at a much higher rate. It is an erosion of wages," says Clark.
"It's trying to take away the middle class," says Phyllis Frost, a retired teacher from Gary.
While protesters cover every street corner outside the capitol and every floor inside, the unions biggest supporters aren't even there. House Democrats refused to show up on the floor Thursday for a second straight day. The boycott blocks a hearing on right to work. House Republicans are considering a $1,000 a day fine. A new law allows the fine against each lawmaker who sits out more than three days in a row. Republicans established the new penalties after Democrats left the state last year to block the right-to-work measure.
The speaker is so upset he made sure to leave Wednesday's roll call lit up. Most noticeable is Jeffersonville's Steve Stemler, (D). "I've decided to stay on the floor. I believe it's what my constituents have asked me to do and I'm going to remain here," says Stemler.
The Democrat says his appearance on the floor is not an endorsement of right to work. "We need to slow the process down. We need more discussions on it. There's this urgency at the current time because of the Superbowl. The majority party wants to push this through," says Stemler.
Stemler says it feels like deja vu since he found himself in the same position last year as House Democrats fled to Illinois for five weeks. The move worked and right to work didn't pass. "There's a lot of back channel discussions going on with leaderships of both sides and hopefully there will be some agreement," says Stemler.
House Democrats say they'll continue with this delay tactic as long as possible as union members vow to continue their protest.
Copyright 2012 WDRB News. All Rights Reserved.
