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Bosma considers fines for boycotting Democrats

Associated Press
March 1, 2011
Keywords
Government, Government & Economic Development, Legislation, Legislature, Politics, State Government
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Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma says fines are among the only options left to try and persuade boycotting Democrats to return to the Statehouse after a week spent in Illinois.

Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said he's being contacted by a growing number of the public who want Democrats fined, which is allowed by House rules. Bosma said he's thinking about it but just wants Democrats to return. Bosma noted that fines have been threatened in previous walkouts, but are often waived as a condition of the minority party returning.

Democrats fled Indiana last Tuesday to derail GOP-backed bills. They say they want to negotiate on the proposals before they return.

Bosma says he won't negotiate and that Democrats need to come back to work "like big boys and girls."

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  • Fine Then Fire Them!
    AreYouKiddingMeMarch 2, 2011 1:28 PM
    Just make sure they do not get reimbursed for their "travel expenses" by using our tax dollars.
    In my world if you don't show up to work for a day let alone a week you don't get paid and you get fired too.

    Fire them all and hire some average working class people to fill their seats we might actually accomplish something then.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Throw them out!
    John HMarch 2, 2011 8:16 AM
    I agree with Lori, education is determined by more than test scores. Part of the problem is that the local schools have spent too much on athletics and not enough in the core areas. Now that the revenue has dried up, they can't afford to do both. The school leaders did not plan ahead properly. Irregardless, the Dems are neglecting their duty to us citizens;throw them all out!
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • And then What??
    BuMMeRMarch 2, 2011 7:55 AM
    You fine them and its only tax payers money that will pay for it. Dem or Rep they are not doing there job and need to be fired and move on. Mind you the topics are sensitive and need to be discussed, but this is not showing the public that they as leaders can lead like thier promises expressed. Whatever side they are on does not matter. When they have to go into special meetings tax payers have to pay them again.

    Hold the meetings and move on. If they choose not to attend then let them explain themselves during thier next election...

    They are not doing thier job so fire them and move on.

    D
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Clarification
    DanMarch 2, 2011 7:16 AM
    I thought this would post under the comment I pushed reply to. I wrote this in response to Lori's comment.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Disagree
    DanMarch 2, 2011 7:14 AM
    I disagree with this. Why should the republicans have to negotiate? Yes this would be the best option, but do you think the Democrats negotiated with the Republicans when they were in control? Take a look at what happened at the national level. The health care plan. Did the democrats negotiate that? Heck no!
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
    • democrats
      ritaMarch 2, 2011 7:02 AM
      Well, Bosma, get off your duff and fine the democrats 5,000.00 per day. Bet they come back to Indy and work then
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment
      • parents
        DGMarch 1, 2011 10:44 PM
        I concur w/ Lori regarding the students learning. I don't care how great the teachers are if they don't have support from the parents the kids are not going to achieve nearly as well as they would w/ family support.
        Reply to CommentFlag Comment
      • another thought
        LoriMarch 1, 2011 10:32 PM
        I am a teacher. I guess my biggest complaint is what they are doing with education. How many of you get a raise decided by someone else's performance? They are blaming poor ISTEP performance solely on the teachers. Nevermind that student accountability for behavior and homework is almost nonexistent. Nevermind that many parents don't seem to care about their child's education. Nevermind that some students just don't test well--due to anxiety. Yes, the democrats need to return; however, at the same time the republicans need to realize that their "solution" is no solution. They need to be willing to make changes in bills that are faulty. The superintendent has a personal stake in charter schools--his wife is in charge of creating them. As for Mitch, I would welcome him to my classroom anytime. He has no idea about all the little things that happen to hinder the future of our students. Sorry for the rant, but that is what is on my mind more than anything!
        Reply to CommentFlag Comment
      • What Ever
        PhilMarch 1, 2011 10:06 PM
        Didn't the Republicans walk out of debates a few years ago when the Dems were in control. Bosma needs to remember what goes around comes around. The republicans talk of smaller government and yet they keep pushing further and further into peoples lives and jobs.
        Reply to CommentFlag Comment
      • Demonrats need to get real
        SheilaKMarch 1, 2011 6:32 PM
        Lori, they have the right to debate(can't do that if they aren't here) and the bottom line is, they don't like being in the minority and their only solution is give them what THEY want or they won't play nice.
        Election have consequences and the MAJORITY of people threw the bums out just for this kind of lunacy.
        WE DON'T WANT THE DEMOCRAT AGENDA. Simple as that, and since we have the majority now, you all have to live with it. I sure as hell didn't like all the democratic agendas being thrown at us from DC but you didn't see republicans just refrain from the process! They voted against it but they lost. The Indiana Demonrats need to face the reality.

        Reply to CommentFlag Comment
        • terrible cry babies
          charliekMarch 1, 2011 5:37 PM
          They lost the republicans should not give on anything...obama would not listen his 1st 2 years.. most people do not belong to the union...They should be fired!!!!!!!!
          Reply to CommentFlag Comment
        • Really?
          RichMarch 1, 2011 5:26 PM
          show up at your desk in the morning or you dont work for me anymore! thats the way it works for everyone else in this country ...
          Reply to CommentFlag Comment
        • Nope
          Jerry CurtisMarch 1, 2011 5:09 PM
          Nope. The Republicans won. They don't need to negotiate anything, except, perhaps how large the fines levied against the absent Democrats should be.
          Reply to CommentFlag Comment
        • Lawyer needed!
          BoMarch 1, 2011 5:06 PM
          We all need to find a Lawyer and file a class action law suit against them, 1. to remove them from office, 2. To make them pay back the pay they are getting with interest, 3. To pay for the cost of a new election to replace them.
          Reply to CommentFlag Comment
        • Dem-wits
          EdwardMarch 1, 2011 5:00 PM
          I think their pay should suspended and they should be fined till they return. Union entitlement people NEWS FOR YOU this will not hurt us real working individuals my company has no union and don't want a leech union. I will still have a job in the end and I don't have to be part of some illegal cover up. Stop feeling entitled you cry babys.
          Reply to CommentFlag Comment
        • Middle Class
          ChrisMarch 1, 2011 4:51 PM
          The majority of people who are middle class are not affiliated with any union. To say this will destroy the middle class is inaccurate and ridiculous.
          Reply to CommentFlag Comment
        • clarification
          LoriMarch 1, 2011 4:50 PM
          The current bills, as they stand, will destroy the middle class. GOP needs to be willing to negotiate as much as the Democrats need to return to the state. The Democrats are doing the only thing that can be done to stop the bills from passing as they stand today.
          Reply to CommentFlag Comment
          • fine them??
            EdMarch 1, 2011 4:48 PM
            Don't worry about fining them,dock their pay and make sure they do not receive any per deim while they are not in session.
            Reply to CommentFlag Comment
          • BUT....
            LoriMarch 1, 2011 4:45 PM
            The only thing the democrats want is for the republicans to negotiate the bills that will destroy the middle class. Many senators are not doing their job--working to get an acceptable agreement for their constituents. Both parties need to bend!
            Reply to CommentFlag Comment
            • They should be fined!
              ColletteMarch 1, 2011 4:00 PM
              They should be fired! As a worker I couldn't just boycott work because we want to go in. I would be fired. So if they can't be fired then they should be fined for holding everything at a stand still and wasting time and money!!
              Reply to CommentFlag Comment

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            1. If a television station wants to improve viewership, get rid of the local blackout. I was born by the brickyard, and have attended 15 or more races. I have children now, I won't attend unless circumstances are perfect. As those with growing families know, they never are. I'm always impressed that upwards of 250,000 people attend the 500. However, as a growing, or, more apt, sprawling city, Indianapolis and its immediate suburbs count almost 2.2 million. Show the race live, let the venue get a kick-back on revenues, and open-wheel racing might have a fighting chance to be relevant again. Just in time for those tax-payer lights to make sense.

            2. John Moore, I too have had the same issue recently. A property next to my house was on the Land Bank and I was interested in purchasing. When I tried to contact Reggie, I got back emails that had nothing to do with what I asked about. Actually my latest response from him was on this past Friday. I had asked about how to buy the property and if it was still available. His response to me was to contact the mayor's office to get the schedule of his appearances. (???) Hopefully the city is able to do something to fix what this guy has done, it would be nice if they would take the properties back and sell them properly so land owners like me and you mother would have a fair chance.

            3. I too work in the industry, with over 25 years of experience and your political spin has probably nothing to do with any rebranding. "Let's dress it up" would have nothing to do with the government "telling us how and what to eat." Give it a political rest. And being a producer for a radio show doesn't mean you've been involved in advertising and branding for 30 years.

            4. Ms. Morris did not understand the ways of the business world, otherwise, like the IMS, she could have petitioned the State Legislature for a handout of State Funds for her charity work. Ms. Morris should consider becoming a state lobbyist for Lemonade Stand Operators.

            5. David Copperfield!

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