Indiana lawmakers seek to revive ‘right-to-work’ plan

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana panel plans to urge lawmakers to approve “right-to-work” legislation when they reconvene in January in a move that could set the stage for another showdown with House Democrats, who staged a five-week walkout over a similar proposal this year.

A draft of a report compiled by the legislature’s Interim Study Committee on Employment says businesses refuse to locate in Indiana because it is not a “right-to-work” state. The report obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press proposes prohibiting workers from being required to pay union representation fees.

The Republican-led committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday to consider the report.

Union members say the measure would create a “free-rider” situation in which workers can benefit from union representation at no cost.