House Democrats seek right-to-work referendum

INDIANAPOLIS | House Democrats want Hoosier voters — not just the General Assembly — to decide if Indiana should become a right-to-work state.

Democratic Leader Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, announced Friday that Democrats will propose amending House Bill 1001 to require a positive referendum result for right-to-work to become law.

"Since this bill was not debated in the last election and obviously won't be debated in a future election, the only way to let the people in on this is to have a referendum," Bauer said.

Statewide referendums typically are used only for voter approval of proposed constitutional amendments, though nothing appears to prohibit requiring voter approval before a measure becomes law.

House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said he generally doesn't believe legislation should be submitted to voters, but will allow the Democrats to present their referendum plan. 

"I think it's a very reasonable amendment to offer, and we indicated there would be full and fair discussion and debate," Bosma said.

The speaker could technically block the Democrats' referendum proposal under the House's "bill pending" rule, since the proposed amendment is similar to House Bill 1296, a right-to-work bill requiring a referendum. 

Bosma said he will not do that.

"If a majority feel that this should be sent to the voters to decide instead of their elected representatives, we'll abide by that," Bosma said.

Under a right-to-work law, a company and a union cannot agree to charge fees to nonunion employees for union services they receive. Right-to-work is not a guarantee of a job.

Most Republicans believe the policy will attract new businesses to Indiana, while Democrats say workers in right-to-work states earn less and receive fewer benefits.