Walk-out to cost Democrats $250 a day
By Jon Seidel jseidel@post-trib.com March 7, 2011 4:42PM
Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM
INDIANAPOLIS — Daily fines of $250 began Monday for absent Democrats, including several from Northwest Indiana, but odds of those legislators returning to the Capitol this week already seem to be dimming.
The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament begins Thursday in Indianapolis and Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma said some lawmakers have been told they’ll have to leave their hotel rooms Wednesday night. That means they probably wouldn’t try to have session Thursday, even if the Democrats were willing to come back.
It didn’t look like that will make much difference, though, based on comments from Bosma, Democrat Leader B. Patrick Bauer and Rep. Terry Goodin, D-Crothersville. Goodin, Bauer and other Democrats fled Indiana and effectively shut down the House Feb. 22. They’ve been staying at a Comfort Suites in Urbana Ill., ever since.
“We will stay in Illinois as long as it takes,” Goodin said.
Goodin told reporters it’s Bosma’s turn to reach out to Democrats after a visit by Bauer to Indianapolis last week.
“The irrational remarks are just flying like crazy,” Bosma said in response.
The speaker said he’s made five phone calls to Bauer, without Bauer initiating any such contact. Bauer said he’ll reach out to the speaker Tuesday as the two parties continue their stalemate over a set of labor bills.
“I’ll either call him, “ Bauer said, “or I’ll send him a letter.”
Bosma said he sent letters to the Democrats Friday, notifying them formally of the daily fine for their absence.
Local Democrats fined for their absence Monday included Reps. Charlie Brown and Vernon Smith of Gary, Mara Candelaria Reardon of Munster, Chet Dobis of Merrillville, Earl Harris of East Chicago, Linda Lawson of Hammond, Chuck Moseley of Portage, Scott Pelath of Michigan City, Dan Stevenson of Highland and Shelli VanDenburgh of Crown Point.
Reach Jon Seidel at 648-3068.
Comments Click here to view or make a comment