No breakthrough in talks to end Indiana House walkout
Legislators from both parties threw cold water Thursday on optimism about a breakthrough ending the month-long boycott by Indiana House Democrats.
Legislators from both parties threw cold water Thursday on optimism about a breakthrough ending the month-long boycott by Indiana House Democrats.
The leader of the boycotting Indiana House Democrats returned to the Statehouse on Wednesday for what he called a "very positive" meeting with Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma.
A legislative stalemate in Indiana reached a political milestone on Tuesday as House Democrats stayed away from their jobs for a 30th consecutive day in what now ranks among the longest Statehouse boycotts in recent U.S. history.
An Indiana state senator is returning campaign contributions from Timothy Durham, a former Indianapolis businessman charged with running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of more than $200 million.
Both Democrats and Republicans claim the walkout by Indiana House Democrats is rallying support for their side, spurring new donations and rousing the party faithful.
Indiana House Democrats, whose walkout nearly a month ago halted the legislative process, remain in no hurry to return considering they face the prospect of losing on almost every vote.
The Republican leader of the Indiana House said his patience was wearing thin with Democratic lawmakers who have shut down the legislative process in Indiana for three weeks by walking out on their jobs.
More talks between the Republican and Democratic leaders of the Indiana House might be inching the two sides closer to resolving the now three-week-long boycott by Democratic legislators.
More than two weeks after Democratic lawmakers fled Indiana to block GOP-backed legislation, both sides gave optimistic signals Wednesday about resolving the stalemate.
Frustrated Republicans say they won't be bullied into changing their agenda, and Democrats showed no signs of backing down — with one lawmaker vowing to stay in Urbana, Ill., "until hell freezes over.”
Two special prosecutors have asked the Indiana inspector general to investigate whether indicted Secretary of State Charlie White improperly accessed a report detailing evidence of alleged voter fraud against him.
Gov. Mitch Daniels has spent years talking about issues that typically make voters' eyes glaze over: Cutting spending. Balancing budgets. Shrinking government. The priorities haven't changed much in Daniels' six years as governor. But suddenly voters are paying attention.
An Indiana House Democrat threatened Monday to continue the caucus's ongoing boycott "as long as it takes" to get changes made to Republican-backed proposals, even if their absence shuts down state government.
Oregon Republicans attending the annual Dorchester Conference in Seaside, Ore., say they would vote for Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels as a presidential candidate, while former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin came in third.
As pressure mounts for Indiana Democrats to end their Statehouse boycott and get back to work, some members of the exiled caucus are holding town hall meetings to explain to their constituents why they are holed up in an Illinois hotel.
Most House Democrats skipped Thursday's floor sessions, extending their stay at an Urbana, Ill., hotel to a 10th day and preventing action on the bills because too few members are present.
Secretary of State Charlie White, the man whose job is to maintain the integrity of Indiana's elections, ignored mounting calls for him to step down or resign after his indictment Thursday on charges he broke the laws he's supposed to enforce.
Most House Democrats skipped Thursday morning's floor session, extending their stay at an Urbana, Ill., hotel to an 11th day and preventing action on labor and education bills they oppose.
The leader of House Democrats who left Indiana over bills they disagreed with has returned to the state and met with the Republican House speaker — but their talks ended with no agreement on ending the weeklong Statehouse standoff.
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.