The Indiana Statehouse will convene early next month for its biannual short legislative session. This year’s long session was largely derailed by a five-week walkout by Democrats who staunchly opposed Right to Work legislation proposed by Republicans.
“Right To Work” affirms the rights of every working American to choose whether or not to join a labor union. Currently Indiana is not a Right to Work state; therefore a person hired into a union shop is required to become a dues-paying member of that union.
Indiana’s Republican lawmakers contend that by not being a Right to Work state, businesses and corporations have avoided relocation or establishment in Indiana. By changing that, they claim, more jobs would come to the state. Indiana’s Democrats believe that becoming a Right to Work state would diminish both wages and working conditions.
There’s certainly an argument to be made for both sides of this issue. In January, fresh off of winning control of both chambers, Republicans introduced the Right to Work legislation in the House. Rep. Wes Culver of Goshen was a sponsor of the bill.
With a Right to Work bill on the table Democrats bolted from the Statehouse in February in order to kill it (along with other Republican-sponsored legislation). They set up camp in Urbana, Ill., for five weeks. It seemed the equivalent of a toddler holding its breath in an attempt to force its parents to relent. This is a ploy both parties pull in different forms when they are the subordinate. It’s the game of politics.
It is time now to put the games away and begin the practice of democracy. All indications are that Right to Work will be made the top issue of 2012’s General Assembly by the Republican majority. That shouldn’t mean we’re headed for the same train wreck of 2011. State Sen. Carlin Yoder of Middlebury told The Goshen News that he has helped draft three versions of a Right to Work Senate Bill and plans to be at the front of the battle charge.
Whether or not Right to Work legislation is a good idea for Indiana is seemingly beside point. What last session’s walkout fiasco did was throw cold water on our entire democratic system here in Indiana. We don’t blame the Democrats for standing up for their constituency and opposing Right to Work. That’s what our system is about. But our elected officials should not spit on the entire democratic process by running away and sticking their heads in a loophole.
It’s time to use the process as it was meant to be used. We should all expect our elected officials to show up to work, fight the good and honorable fight and let the process proceed as it is so deemed by our democracy through majority decision. You win some and you lose some and you move forward from there.
Residents of Indiana go to the polls every two years to elect their state legislators. Their vote is a clear voice of approval or disapproval of the work being done. Neither party should mute our collective voices from across state lines.
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