Associated Press
TOM LoBIANCO,Associated Press
Updated: Jan 25, 2012 7:09 PM
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana's Republican-controlled House of Representatives cleared the way Wednesday to become the first right-to-work state in a traditionally union-heavy Rust Belt increasingly targeted by non-union foes.
The House voted 54-44 to make Indiana the nation's 23rd right-to-work state after Democrats ended a periodic boycott which had stalled the measure for weeks. The measure is expected to face little opposition in Indiana's Republican-controlled Senate and could reach Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels' desk shortly before the Feb. 5 Super Bowl in Indianapolis.
"This announces especially in the Rust Belt, that we are open for business here," Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma said of the right-to-work proposal that would ban unions from collecting mandatory representation fees from workers.
But Republicans have struggled with similar anti-union measures in other Rust-Belt states like Wisconsin and Ohio where they have faced a massive backlash. Ohio voters overturned Gov. John Kasich's labor measures last November and union activists delivered roughly 1 million petitions last week in an effort to recall Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
Indiana would mark the first win in 10 years for national right-to-work advocates who have pushed unsuccessfully for the measure in other states following a Republican sweep of statehouses in 2010.
Hundreds of union protesters packed the halls of the Statehouse again Wednesday, chanting "Kill the Bill!" and cheering Democrats who had stalled the measure since the start of the year.
"We did better than anybody ever expected," House Minority Leader Patrick Bauer told The Associated Press before debate began on the issue, adding that outnumbered Democrats fought the best they could in the divisive labor battle.
Republicans foreshadowed their strong showing Monday when they shot down a series of Democratic amendments to the measure in strict party-line votes. Democrats boycotted again for an eighth day
Republicans handily outnumber Democrats in the House 60-40, but Democrats have just enough members to deny the Republicans the 67 votes needed to achieve a quorum and conduct any business. Bosma began fining boycotting Democrats $1,000 a day last week, but a Marion County judge has blocked the collection of those fines.
The measure now moves to the Indiana Senate which approved its own right-to-work measure earlier in the week. Gov. Mitch Daniels has campaign extensively for the bill and said he would sign it into law.
Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
1776 | January 26 2012 9:31am
"ACDCROCKS ACDCROCKS | January 25 2012 10:58pm
Repukes are sad."
What was that you were saying about When you have nothing you hurl insults"? So tell us then oh smarmy one, when will you be off for the peoples paradise of cuba? Too bad you are a union thug and will never be more than pimple on the a.ss of humanity.
Ahahhahahahhahahahhahah!
bburgbill | January 26 2012 9:30am
You should really try and understand what the union is about before you speak against it. The entire "standard of living" is based on union gains made over the past 100 years. How can so many people turn such a blind eye? you have swallowed a huge load in believing the Republicans this time. The fact is rtw does nothing to help you if you are non union and if you are, its gonna diminish wages and benefits. So thank yourself when your neighborhood goes downhill. My non union counterpart makes 10/hr less with no health and no retirement. Is that something you want for yourself?
jermagicstick | January 26 2012 7:29am
the southern indiana people needs to be ed. quit voting these high class republicans in these rep. would not even give these poeple a chance at the bar oh thats right they dont miggle with the reg. people they use them to get rich why you put in 20years at $7 hr no insure nothing they would spit on the indiana people that vote them in and they recuite from the chuch say i love jesus well this is not what jesus would do to its people
jermagicstick | January 26 2012 7:17am
you guys are dumd*******Republican party now pay you peanuts and no one will be able to buy nothing not even food why the rich get more money 5 houses and the farmer gets little taxe break his kid will be working for $7hr this will be the poors state lets say $7 hr 5million people for the state rev ,not much who going to buy the car ,the house,the t.v. all the lux items because indiana people will not be able to buy them, no safty
collier666 | January 26 2012 7:11am
Remember the republicans in the next election. This is the first step for them to make the whole country Right to Work. Take a look at who will be running in the next election, Perry and Daniels. Both are anti-union supporters. Daniels said in 2006 he would not support or change any of Indiana’s labor bills. Well who is lying now. Daniels got his hit squad in place and now everyone is going to pay the price. Daniels came in to office as your best friend, but in the late 50’s so did Castro in Cuba. The people should have been able to vote on this issue in November, but the chicken republicans new it would not pass. The working people in Indiana have taken one great step backwards. There should be laws passed in Indiana to let the people be heard on laws that actually effect the welfare of their rights. Not to let over paid politicians control it.
braves1 | January 26 2012 6:17am
Outstanding!
AwlHattin_Ocattle | January 26 2012 6:06am
What a great day for freedom!
There's your first principle.
You either believe and intend to live to this, or you do not. It is a binary choice with no shade of gray.
Either you, and only you, have the right of dominion (ownership) over your person and nobody else does, or you do not.
This does not mean you cannot cede that authority for a period of time and on a voluntary basis to some other entity (e.g. a union, or to military service, etc) but it does mean that nobody else can compel you to do so.
The difficulty with first principles is that they're inviolate. One either believes in them or one does not.
Once you adopt one you are then forced to square all your other political principles against this first one, and if you cannot fit what you wish to adopt into that first principle then you must modify or abandon whatever it was that you intended to do.
The problem with all unions and its thuggery is that they have no first principle that comports with freedom.
When union thugs can shut down work of a business that they do not own,,,Houston, we have had a problem for long rime!
ACDCROCKS | January 25 2012 10:58pm
Repukes are sad.
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