Posted on 02/23/2011 6:15:08 PM PST by Libloather
Ind. GOP leader: No compromise with absent Dems
By Deanna Martin, Associated Press – 1 hr 15 mins ago
INDIANAPOLIS – A political stalemate in Indiana showed no signs of ending anytime soon as House Democrats met privately Wednesday in an out-of-state hotel and Republicans refused to negotiate away their legislative agenda to lure them back.
While the tactic mimicked one used a week earlier by Senate Democrats in Wisconsin who fled to delay a vote on an anti-union bill, the Indiana Democrats said their protest was not about one GOP-backed proposal but a slate of them. In both states, Democrats don't have the votes to defeat the proposals, but by not showing up they can prevent the required quorum necessary to call the measures for a vote.
"We want to see a little more cooperation on everything," Patrick Bauer, the House Democratic leader, told reporters by phone from a hotel in Urbana, Ill. "I know they don't think it's necessary, but thank God the Constitution said you have a way of fighting tyranny."
Although Bauer declines to list all the sticking points, the vote that sparked Tuesday's walkout involved Indiana's "right-to-work" legislation that prohibits union membership from being a condition of employment. The walkout effectively killed that measure, but the Democrats were pushing to end other aspects of Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels' agenda, including aggressive education changes such as vouchers, the expansion of charter schools and restrictions on teacher collective bargaining.
House Speaker Brian Bosma said he talked to Bauer by phone Wednesday morning to tell him, "he needed to get back here."
"The negotiation takes place on the floor of the House," Bosma said. "This isn't the old back room deals that Rep. Bauer's used to cutting."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I like it! See #40!
It is good to see some guts.
You never negotiate with terrorists.
The Dems clearly smell BLOOD with this WIMP governor, since he FOLDED on the key issue.
By the time they’re done, you’ll think they have an undisputed MAJORITY.
I hope the Wisconsin governor understands what giving in will do...although he is showing more brains than just about any other Republican around.
Next, the Hoosier Rats will demand that the Republicans resign their seats....and the Republican wimps will probably do it to “get along.” Gag.
There seems to be some confusion over whether the bill is really dead. I have heard tonight The House Majority Leader
wants to keep it alive.
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