INDIANAPOLIS | The fight over right-to-work legislation at the Indiana General Assembly may shift to the Senate after House Democrats boycotted session Thursday for a third time this week.
Senate President David Long, R-Fort Wayne, said the Republican-controlled chamber will be prepared to act on Senate Bill 269, their version of right-to-work, if the Republican-controlled House remains unable to vote on House Bill 1001 because not enough representatives are in attendance.
"In all my years I've never seen anything like this," Long said. "I'm afraid for the representative democracy process in this state if this is allowed to stand."
House Democratic Leader Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, said his members are willing and ready to debate and vote on any legislation, other than right-to-work, while they work to ensure a statewide right-to-work referendum passes constitutional muster.
Long said he believes the Democrats are just stalling.
"This is all about politics, special interests and the money that follows it," Long said.
The House is scheduled to convene at 8 a.m. region time Friday. The Senate meets at 11 a.m.