House Speaker Brian Bosma (left) and
Minority Leader Pat Bauer.
(Indianapolis, Ind.) - Indiana House Democrats have agreed to end their walkouts at the Statehouse in exchange for Republicans slowing down slightly on right-to-work legislation.
House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) has agreed to put off debate by the full House on the bill until Tuesday. A vote on the bill could come sometime later next week.
“My commitment is to do what I believe I’ve done in virtually every circumstance, and that is to have a full and fair debate on amendments as they are offered in bills,” Bosma said.
House Minority Leader Pat Bauer (D-South Bend) said his party will return to session in exchange for being allowed to offer amendments.
Democrats were infuriated after a Republican dominated House committee did not allow Democrat members to add amendments to the bill before it passed the committee Monday. Bauer accused the committee’s leader of violating House rules.
Bosma said the committee hearing "did not reflect democracy's finest hour," but he stopped short of saying any rules were violated.
Democrats had refused to show up for session for all but two days of the first six in the Indiana 2012 legislative session which began January 4.
LINKS:
Upset Dems Skip Another Day At Statehouse
Ind. House Democrats End Legislative Boycott
Right To Work Bill Passed By Senate Committee
Ind. Democrats Hold Out On Day 2
Dems No Show On First Day Of Indiana Session
Gov. Lifts Restrictions On Statehouse Access
Prayer Group Waived Of New Statehouse Policy
New Policy Limits Crowd Sizes At Ind. Statehouse
Get Ready: 2012 Legislative Session Begins