(The following appeared on the Indianapolis Star website on March 15, 2011.)
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Republican legislators considered a Plan B on Monday as Democrats began their fourth week of stalling action in the Indiana House.
The alternative still requires Democrats to return but would cut them out of any chance to shape bills through amendments.
Democrats started their walkout on Feb. 21 and have been staying at an Urbana, Ill., hotel since Feb. 22, in order to obstruct votes on collective-bargaining and public education bills.
There must be 67 representatives on the floor to take any official action. By staying in Illinois, the Democrats have blocked the Republicans, who hold a 60-40 majority.
House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said those options don’t include taking the approach used in Wisconsin, where legislators passed a bill targeting public employee collective bargaining without Democrats by removing the budget language. Unlike that state’s constitution, Indiana requires a quorum on all bills, not just those with fiscal impact.
The full story is at www.indystar.com.