Indiana Dems pressured to come home, vote
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Republicans are urging individual boycotting House Democrats to break ranks with their caucus and return to the Statehouse to work.
Gov. Mitch Daniels said Wednesday that if House Democratic leaders don't "have a conscience about the unconscionable things they've done, maybe individual members do."
House Minority Leader Patrick Bauer says Democrats won't return to Indiana from a hotel in Illinois until House Republicans are willing to negotiate their agenda. But Republicans are refusing to negotiate with lawmakers who have fled the state to shut down the House.
The state budget and a private school voucher bill face legislative deadlines Thursday and could be complicated if Democrats don't return.
If Democrats don't return Thursday, the bills will technically die. However, Republicans plan a legislative maneuver to extend the deadlines.