NEW ALBANY, IN (WAVE) - The battle over the controversial Right to Work legislation rages on in the Indiana Statehouse. Wednesday, Republicans voted to start fining missing Democrats $1,000 a day. Some 40 bill hearings were canceled Wednesday, but the rallies continue both at the Statehouse and locally with more planned in southern Indiana.
Wednesday was another day of Democratic no-shows and another rally of support for Minority Leader Pat Bauer. Flanked by union demonstrators, Bauer made his way through a barrage of cheers Wednesday despite a newly GOP approved $1,000 a day fine.
"You've tried to uphold the Constitution of the United States and your right as citizens to address your legislature and they've tried to stop you from being in this building, but you wouldn't allow it to happen," Bauer told the crowd of supporters.
"If there was any other Hoosier that said they were going to show up to work on a given day and refused multiple days in a row, they would be fired and unfortunately," said House Speaker Brian Bosma to reporters. "We can't do that here so all we can do is impose the fines."
"Right to work is basically a Republican way of busting the unions," said New Albany resident Richard Jordan.
Jordan told WAVE 3 he believes fining Democrats for taking a stand is the wrong move. Like Democrats, the Kroger staffer and United Food and Commercial Workers member wants the issue on the ballot.
"Let's let the people of Indiana decide whether the state should be a Right to Work state or not," Jordan said.
Jordan contends wages are lower in Right to Work states and collective bargaining rights will disappear for most of the people he knows.
"Right to Work is going to affect everybody," said Jordan, "teachers, firefighters and police officers."
However, Bosma isn't budging on his stance and called Wednesday's move by the Democrats just another delay tactic.
"They (Democrats) need to show up on the house floor and do the job they're elected to do, not attend rallies in lieu of working," said Bosma.
Jordan and others will take part in the local right to work forum at 6 p.m. Thursday at the public library in New Albany.
Meanwhile, The NFL Players Union reports it will also be joining the Democrats in what they call peaceful protests in Indianapolis leading up to the Super Bowl. Among those taking part will be two quarterbacks from Indiana, Jay Cutler and Rex Grossman.
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Empty seats in the Indiana House chamber on January 18.
Minority Leader Pat Bauer
House Speaker Brian Bosma
Richard Jordan
January 18 rally inside the Indiana Statehouse.
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