The 2011 legislative session was most definitely a memorable one. It was a productive session because we were able to pass job creation and education reform legislation that will help thousands of Hoosiers. However, there were activities during the past legislative session, namely the five-week walkout, when the House Democrats left the Statehouse to check into a hotel in Urbana, Ill.
Many times before, the minority party has used a walkout as a tool to protest the actions of the majority party. However, never before had a walkout been used to this extent. Historically, walkouts have lasted one afternoon and then everyone gets back to work the following day.
Nevertheless, the House Democrats left for 35 consecutive days, the longest in state and national history. Indiana breaks records all the time, but that is a broken record I’d like to forget and never see repeated.
Hoosiers across the state were demanding consequences for the actions of those members who left our state to avoid doing their jobs. Therefore, the Speaker and House Republicans passed a House motion to begin fining members who were not in attendance. As a result, each Democratic House member that was not present for a quorum was fined $250/day, which later grew to $350/day.
Hoosiers across the state elected members to represent their interests in Indianapolis, and walking out was a slap in the face of the Hoosier voter. Those constituents were left without a voice at the Statehouse and as a result, legislation dealing with vital issues for the state died due to a lack of quorum.
As I said before, the walkout is something I wish to put behind me. However, it is making headlines again. A member of the House Democratic caucus has taken legal action against the State of Indiana, House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis), State Auditor Tim Berry and Principal Clerk Caroline Spotts, saying his legislative wages were “improperly confiscated” as payment of fines.
There was a motion to dismiss the case, which Judge David Dreyer heard late last week and will render a decision on this motion in the next 30 days.
In the end, we took an additional measure before the conclusion of session to prevent a walkout from occurring again. The legislative body passed anti-bolting language that includes $1,000/day civil penalty for legislators who decides to run away from their responsibilities in the future.
I will keep you posted on what Judge Dreyer’s ruling is, which we hopefully get sooner rather than later.
