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.

General Assembly wraps session distinguished by cooperative tone

INDIANAPOLIS | Hands were shaken, hugs were shared and state lawmakers, who spent the past four months passionately opposing each other in great and small policy debates, were all smiles Saturday morning after House Speaker Brian Bosma gaveled out the 2013 Indiana General Assembly.

Legislature embracing cooperation over conflict at midpoint of session

INDIANAPOLIS | For the first time since 2010, the Indiana General Assembly has made it to the midpoint of its annual session without a walkout, boycott or protest shutting down the business of the legislature.

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.

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.

Shakeup in Ind. House Dem leadership could put Hammond rep on top

INDIANAPOLIS | State Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, is poised to become interim leader of the Indiana House Democrats on Thursday following a planned vote to remove state Rep. Pat Bauer as House minority party leader.

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.

Ind. Senate approves right-to-work bill

INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana is halfway to becoming the nation's 23rd right-to-work state after the Republican-controlled Senate narrowly approved the labor policy Monday.

Bosma fines absent House Democrats

INDIANAPOLIS | House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, fined 33 of the 40 House Democrats $1,000 each Wednesday for refusing to attend the House session.

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 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.

Democrats dissent from right-to-work report

INDIANAPOLIS | In a rare move, Democrats on the General Assembly's right-to-work study committee have challenged the findings of the official report issued by the committee's Republican majority.

Right-to-work battle may be proxy election fight

INDIANAPOLIS | Amid promises of new jobs and concerns about wages during legislative hearings on a right-to-work law for Indiana, one state senator explained why Democrats plan to do everything they can to stop it from becoming law in Indiana: It's about winning elections. That is also why m…

Unions give earful to lawmakers considering right-to-work

INDIANAPOLIS | Union workers from Northwest Indiana and across the state packed the Statehouse on Thursday to remind lawmakers they oppose making Indiana the nation's 23rd right-to-work state.

East Chicago school walkout still planned as flurry of meetings take place

EAST CHICAGO | Meetings Thursday failed to prevent a push for a walkout of dozens of East Chicago students today.

Gov. Daniels endorses right-to-work hearings

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mitch Daniels no longer opposes the Indiana General Assembly considering right-to-work legislation, but he hasn't decided if he'll support it.

Daniels signs budget, abortion, immigration and 77 other bills into law

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mitch Daniels on Tuesday signed 80 bills into law, including the state's 2012-13 budget, a measure imposing new abortion restrictions and defunding Planned Parenthood, legislation limiting state aid for illegal immigrants, a ban on texting while driving and maps of the st…

Unions helped bankroll House Democrats' walkout

INDIANAPOLIS | Expenses incurred during the House Democrats' 34-day walkout were paid for in part by labor organizations, campaign finance records show.

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.

Senate approves two-year state budget

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana Senate on Thursday agreed to a $28.2 billion, two-year state budget that keeps most state spending at reduced 2011 levels, does not increase taxes and is projected to leave Indiana with more than $1 billion in the bank by June 2013.