At a hotel in Urbana, Illinois, 38 Democrat members of the Indiana House of Representatives are in caucus. This last Tuesday (February 22, 2011) they decided that they didn’t want to play the game anymore. It looked like they were going to lose, so they grabbed their toys and went off to pout at a neighbor’s house.

Just in case you haven’t been keeping up on events at the state house this week, the Indiana House Democrats walked out and crossed the state line in order to shut down House proceedings. It was initially in response to a bill that would affect union bargaining rights. But when House Republican leaders agreed to drop the bill, the Democrats said they are opposed to 11 additional bills the Republicans want to introduce this session. Since the Democrats no longer have a majority in the House or Senate, passage of the bills would be likely. So the Democrats did the only thing they felt they could do, flee the state.

They chose to run off to Illinois. The Governor there is a fellow Democrat and would not likely let Gov. Daniels send the Indiana State Police across the state line after them. With the Democrats gone, the House does not have enough members present for a quorum, so no business can be done. They have effectively shut down the legislative process in the State of Indiana. A similar occurrence happened this month in Wisconsin regarding similar legislation. The lawmakers there returned to their duties and the bill was passed anyway.

This is not the first time that Hoosier Democrats have done this. They pulled the same stunt when they were in the minority in 1995 with regard to a redistricting bill. The bill was dropped from the agenda and they returned to their duties. I have been unable to find an instance in the State where Republicans have done this, at least not in recent history. The current walk-out has cost Hoosier taxpayers over $90,000 according to Gov. Daniels.

This situation is terribly disturbing to me. In November, Indiana voters went to the polls and elected a Republican majority in the State House of Representatives and the Senate. It was a clear message that the majority of voters in the state were done with the liberal policies of the Democratic Party. They voted in Republican majorities for a more conservative avenue in government. For the Democratic members of the House to ignore that fact and flee the state when a bill comes to the floor that they don’t like is unconscionable.

This nation was built on the rule of law. It is based on the democratic representation of the People in government. Like little children, Indiana House Democrats are thumbing their noses at the majority of Hoosier voters who wanted a change in the direction of our government. They are sticking their tongue out at every single law abiding Hoosier and the Indiana Constitution. Why should any of us follow any of the laws when our own legislators don't follow them? Once again, this shows their belief that they are above the law. This should make every voter, Republican or Democrat, sick to their stomach. If they don't like the bills, then they should vote against them, just as the Republicans have done when they were in the minority. Just because they don't like the bills, doesn't mean they don't need to be there doing their jobs. The system is constructed to right legislative wrongs. If the bills proposed are passed, and they in some way violate the State (or Federal) Constitution, then they can be resolved in the court system. They can also be repealed once the Democrats get their majority back. THAT is the way the law and our system of government works! THAT is why the conservatives were voted into control in 2011.

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