Donnelly criticizes RTW, Republicans

HAMMOND | U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly criticized the Republican-led Indiana General Assembly on Tuesday for passing right-to-work legislation.

Donnelly, a Granger Democrat, met with Northwest Indiana residents at Schoop's Hamburgers as part of his statewide tour kicking off his U.S. Senate campaign.

Donnelly announced last May his intentions to run for the seat now held by Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar. Lugar is running for re-election and faces Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock in May's primary.

"People elected those in the Legislature to create more jobs, more opportunities -- that's what the message was," Donnelly said. "It was the worst time to do it."

A retired Inland Steel employee brought up the right-to-work policy. The law restricts unions from requiring nonmembers to pay dues or fees. Supporters of the law say the policy will bring jobs to the state.

Yet, Donnelly said companies rank a well-trained workforce and good infrastructure higher than a right-to-work policy in relocating to an area.

"Hopefully the General Assembly will understand the real way to build the state is through good education, is through good roads and bridges and is through a government that has friendly policies toward business," Donnelly said.

Next on the campaign trail, Donnelly will make stops in South Bend, Kokomo, Muncie and Fort Wayne on Wednesday.