Chants of "Occupy the Superbowl" and "Labor's in the house" are ringing through the Indiana Statehouse now as a large crowd grows inside the building.
House Republicans denied anti-RTW Democrats meeting space, so they caucused in the Rotunda. Workers surrounded the Democrats in a huddle reminiscent of that will happen at Lucas Oil Stadium next month. (See photo above.)
@missionworker tells us the presdient of Interfaith Worker Justice opened the caucus with a prayer.
Teamsters from all corners of Indiana and beyond headed to the Statehouse early this morning to lobby against the right-to-work-for-less bill that the Republican leadership is trying to move
Teamsters from Local 414 boarded a bus at 6:30 a.m. to be there for the 9:00 a.m. session. We suspect Teamsters from Local 364 left even earlier. And we're quite certain Teamsters from Local 135 got there early. (We know we left some of you out. Sorry.)
House Speaker Brian Bosma, who led his own damn walkout in 2001, is threatening to fine Democrats $1,000 a day for walking out of the Legislature. He had tried a bait and switch that didn't work. Bosma promised Democrats they could try to amend the RTW bill to allow for a referendum, then got a legal opinion that such a referendum is unconstitutional. Charming.
Bosma's problem is that some of his Republican members support unions. From @inunion:
Pro-union Republicans push back against union-stripping Indiana governor #inunion #inlegis #1u #p2
Indiana Lunchpail Republicans (David Fagan) argue #RTW4Less is inconsistent with party principles; vows to primary proponents #inunion #inlegisIt will be another rock 'em, sock 'em day in Indianapolis.
If you can't be there today, 'Like' Local 716's "Against the Right to Work Law in Indiana" Facebook page.
And stay strong, brothers and sisters.
