House approves fines for absent Dems

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Most of the Democrats in the Indiana House of Representatives are facing fines. Thirty-five of them are engaged in a new walkout over the right to work bill.

The fines are $1,000 a day, considerably more than a state representative earns. They will be taken out of their pay and their expense money.

The fines were imposed because Democrats met in the Statehouse rotunda to start the day surrounded by union protesters opposed to the right to work bill. That left House Republicans with no ability to conduct business. One of them begged the Democrats to return.

"Let us have our time," said Rep. Tim Brown of Crawfordsville. "Let us do it, let us do it the right way. We compel you attend. We want you to attend. Please come do the businesses."

"It has become clear that today is the day that fines were appropriate," said House Speaker Brian Bosma. "We have every intention to withhold those fines from pay that's due the members beginning today."

Democratic leaders put on a good face. "Sometimes you have to endure pain to serve the public," said Minority leader Pat Bauer. But they also went to court to challenge the fines.

Many of the union members who back their strategy also suggest that this could lead to civil disobedience that would disrupt Super Bowl activities. Is it possible? Labor leaders are noncommittal.

"It's nothing that we've talked about at this point," says Nancy Guyott of the AFL-CIO. "We're just focused on having citizens talk to their legislators."

Some of that talking is being done as a group activity. At one point today the group was chanting "Get Bosma, get Bosma" in reference to the House Speaker.

Brian Bosma will attempt to establish a quorum again Thursday morning. At this point there is no reason to believe the Democrats will return.