URBANA, Ill. — Knowing their boycott of the Indiana General Assembly would extend at least into next week, House Democrats have hunkered down in their low-key Illinois hotel for a long weekend.
Their top-ranking member here, Minority Leader Patrick Bauer, ruled out the possibility of a return for Monday's scheduled session. He did not speak Friday with Republican Speaker Brian Bosma, and said no talks between the two are planned in the coming days.
"We represent people, and they need to have their voices heard," said Rep. Gail Riecken, D-Evansville. "There was a need to make a break and hopefully make an impression."
The scene in Illinois on Friday was much the same as on other days this week, with Democrats meeting behind the closed doors of the Comfort Suites hotel's breakfast lounge, darting in and out for restroom breaks, bringing bagels back from a nearby Panera Bread and taking phone calls.
A group of about 10 Urbana teachers spent their lunch breaks outside the hotel, holding pro-union signs and soliciting honks from vehicles passing on Urbana's Lincoln Avenue. About a dozen lawmakers walked over to greet the teachers and thank them for their support.
Some legislators switched rooms so that those whose families were en route for the weekend would have the extra space they needed.
The wife and two young sons of one Democratic staffer arrived to visit for the weekend, and the two boys headed for the pool.
A van from Urbana's Concord Custom Cleaners pulled in front of the hotel with a rack of the lawmakers' dry-cleaned suits and shirts.
Some, such as Rep. Gregory Porter, D-Indianapolis, who had not packed for a long stay, bought additional clothing from local retailers.
Another group of supporters, organized by teachers' and labor unions, is expected to show up at the hotel today for a rally to support Democrats who are blocking the progress of contentious education reforms and labor measures.
Democrats, who are in a 40-60 minority in the Indiana House, have left the state to block a list of bills they stridently oppose. Among the proposals contained in those bills are private school vouchers, new restrictions on teachers' collective bargaining rights, crackdowns on labor union rights and more.
Republicans such as Bosma and Gov. Mitch Daniels call their ideas "mainstream" and said since they were hot topics of the 2010 campaign season, they deserve up-or-down votes on the floor of the House.
Democrats, meanwhile, are taking advantage of the Indiana Constitution's requirement that a two-thirds quorum, or 67 members, be present for the House to conduct business.
They're in Illinois because they want to make sure Daniels can't send the Indiana State Police to force them back to the Statehouse — a move Daniels has pledged not to make.
The state Democratic Party, which is footing a hotel bill that runs around $2,400 per night, sent an e-mail to supporters Friday asking for donations to help fund the boycott.
"The Indiana Democratic Party has committed financial resources to enable our lawmakers to continue fighting for working Hoosiers without involving any public dollars. There's no reason everyone should pay for GOP obstinacy," the e-mail said.
"Still, this fight isn't a cheap one, and we sure could use your help."
The Indiana Republican Party, meanwhile, urged backers to call Democrats' staffers at the Statehouse and urge them to get back to work.
"We deserve representatives fulfilling their duties to Hoosiers on the floor of the House of Representatives," a GOP e-mail said Friday.
They highlighted the cost — $90,000 — that Bosma attached to the Democrats' disappearance. That, he said, is because the Indiana House of Representatives costs about $18,000 a day to operate, and staffers still get their checks even if Democrats are out of town.
An Illinois pizza joint might appreciate some donations as well.
For a second straight day, a Papa John's pizza delivery man showed up with 20 pies that pranksters — not the Democrats — had ordered.
On Thursday, the Democrats each chipped in enough cash to buy the pizza anyway.
On Friday, Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, sent the delivery man away.