2011 Indiana legislative walkouts
On February 22, 2011, Democratic legislators in the Indiana House of Representatives staged a Legislative Walkout. Republican legislators attempted to pass a right to work bill in the Indiana House of Representatives. The bill would have made it illegal for employees to be required to join a workers union. Republicans argued that it would help the state attract new employers. Unable to prevent the measure from passing, all but three Democratic legislators fled the state to neighboring Illinois to deny the body quorum while several hundred protesters staged demonstrations at the capital. Minority walkouts are somewhat common in the state, occurring as recently as 2005, and as long ago as Civil War era, when at the request of Governor Oliver P. Morton, Republicans fled the capitol to prevent anti-war and pro-Confederate legislation from passing.[1]
Governor Daniels stated that while he supported the legislation, he believed the Republican lawmakers should drop the bill because it was not part of their election platform and deserved a period of public debate. Republicans subsequently dropped the bill, but the Democratic lawmakers still refused to return to the capital, demanding additional bills be tabled, including a bill to create a statewide school voucher program. Their refusal to return left the Indiana General Assembly unable to pass any legislation.[1]
Daniels was interviewed in February, 2011, about the similar 2011 Wisconsin budget protests in Madison. He declined to authorize the state police to compel the legislators to return. While supporting the Wisconsin Republicans, he stated that in Indiana "we're not in quite the same position or advocating quite the same things they are up in Madison."[2]
The minority leader returned to the statehouse March 3 to negotiate the return of the minority members, detailing the list of bills they wanted removed from the agenda. House Speaker Brian Bosma rejected the request, and the House passed a resolution fining the missing members $250 daily until this return; this could exceed the representatives entire annual salary if the remained away from the capital more than 90 days.[3]
It has inpired the 2011 First Flight High School protests and walk-out.
References
- ^ a b Associated Press (February 22, 2011). "Democratic lawmakers leave Indiana, block labor bill". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
- ^ "State Budgets and Public Unions", transcript, The Diane Rehm Show, 2011-02-21. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
- ^ "Missing Indiana Democrats to be fined". Ballot News. March 3, 2011. Retrieved 03-07-2011.
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