Indiana Supreme Court OKs walkout fines for House Democrats

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a bid by House Democrats to rescind more than $100,000 in fines withheld from their paychecks by the Republican majority for shutting down legislative business to block a right-to-work proposal.

Democrats hope to benefit from GOP tax-veto clash

INDIANAPOLIS | Hoosier Democrats are working to capitalize on last week's unusual one-day special session of the Indiana General Assembly that saw a Republican-dominated legislature override a Republican governor's veto to enact a retroactive income tax increase.

$30 billion Ind. budget wins committee approval

INDIANAPOLIS | The House Ways and Means Committee voted 16-7 Tuesday to send a two-year budget plan to the full chamber that increases spending on education and provides new funding for roads, but does not reduce the income tax rate.

Chief Justice urges lawmakers to compromise on walkout fines

INDIANAPOLIS | The eyebrow-raising moments that have accompanied Indiana's becoming a right-to-work state continued Thursday at the State Supreme Court, where Chief Justice Brent Dickson all but demanded House Republicans and Democrats settle their dispute over walkout fines before the court does.

Northwest Indiana representatives elected to lead House Democrats

INDIANAPOLIS | House Democrats have chosen two Northwest Indiana representatives to lead their caucus against a supermajority of House Republicans during the 2013 legislative session.

Indiana House Democrats set for leadership fight

INDIANAPOLIS | A dramatically shrunken caucus of Indiana House Democrats will decide Thursday whether their leadership looks to the future or the past.

Indiana Supreme Court to rule on walkout fines for Democrats

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana Supreme Court has taken jurisdiction of a lawsuit challenging the ability of House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, to deduct walkout fines from House Democrats' paychecks.

House Democrats walk out in right-to-work referendum dispute

INDIANAPOLIS | A dispute over the constitutionality of a right-to-work referendum led House Democrats to walk out Tuesday, denying the Republican-controlled body enough members to take any legislative action.

Democrats end boycott, report to Indiana House floor

INDIANAPOLIS | House Democrats have ended their three-day boycott of Indiana House sessions. Democrats were present on the House floor at 12:30 p.m. region time Monday and answered the attendance roll call for the first time since the 2012 legislative session began.

Democrats prevent quorum on first day of Indiana House session

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House will try again Thursday to convene its first meeting of the 2012 session after House Democrats refused to enter the chamber Wednesday in protest over the speed at which right-to-work legislation is slated to move through the Legislature.

Legislature approves budget, adjourns for year

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana General Assembly approved a two-year, $28 billion state budget late Friday night and adjourned for the year, bringing an end to one of the most tumultuous legislative sessions in state history.

Attorney general to defend House if sued over walkout fines

INDIANAPOLIS | Attorney General Greg Zoeller is prepared to defend the Indiana House of Representatives in any lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of walkout fines.

Time running out for anti-walkout law

INDIANAPOLIS | It appears House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, will have to wait until next year to try to win passage of a measure prohibiting partisan walkouts.

Legislature extends final vote deadline to April 21

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana General Assembly has extended the deadline for the House and Senate to act on legislation already approved by the other chamber.

House Dems skip session -- briefly

INDIANAPOLIS | House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said he "had that deja vu feeling all over again" when he looked at the Democratic side of the Indiana House Thursday and saw 40 empty seats.

Wage issue that was part of Dems' walkout clears House

INDIANAPOLIS | A proposal affecting wages paid on public works projects that was at the center of the House Democrats' walkout cleared the Republican-controlled House on Wednesday.

Hundreds of amendments to school voucher, budget bills debated

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House worked into the night Tuesday debating and voting on hundreds of proposed changes to two of the most controversial items of the legislative session.

House Democrats return to Statehouse, end 34-day walkout

INDIANAPOLIS | House Democrats returned to Indiana on Monday, ending the longest partisan walkout in state history and providing the Indiana House with enough members in attendance to take legislative action for the first time in more than a month.

Walkout pricey for House Democrats

INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana House Democrats will pay a hefty price for their 34-day sojourn in Urbana, Ill. -- more than $8,000 each.

House Dems resolute as standoff enters second month

INDIANAPOLIS | As the House Democrats' walkout entered its second month Wednesday, two region representatives said their resolve to defend public schools and Hoosier workers will not waver.