Indiana Labor Measure Is Expected to Progress
House Democrats brought state lawmaking to a halt in Indiana for much of this week, refusing for a third straight day on Friday to come out to their chamber floor in a procedural effort to stop right to work legislation at the center of a mounting battle over unions here.
But by Friday afternoon Republicans in the Senate succeeded in moving the measure out of a committee to the full Senate, where passage is likely next week. And by the end of the day, even Democrats in the House who could face steep fines for not attending the session in the coming days seemed to hint that there was only so much they could do to stop the provision from eventual adoption.
We know we cant stay out forever, Representative B. Patrick Bauer, the Democrats leader, said after emerging Friday afternoon from a room in the Statehouse where the Democrats had been meeting privately and using the Internet to watch the floor proceedings they were missing.
Republicans have solid majorities in both the State House and Senate. But only in the Senate do they have such a big advantage that Democrats cannot avoid a quorum or stop votes on issues an option House Democrats have enough seats for.
full: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/07/us/indiana-right-to-work-measure-expected-to-pass.html
On Thursday, Democracy Now hosted one D and one R member of the Indiana House to discuss the right to work (for less) bill. Transcript: http://www.democracynow.org/2012/1/5/as_statehouse_row_erupts_over_gop