Prayer group gets waiver on Indiana Statehouse access

INDIANAPOLIS — A prayer group is getting special access to the Statehouse for the opening day of the 2012 session.

People attending Capitol Commission Indiana’s prayer day at the Statehouse can show a copy of an email message to skirt an expected large crowd of union members protesting proposed right-to-work laws on the Legislature’s opening day Wednesday.

News of the waivers emerged after state safety officials set a new 3,000-person limit on the number of people inside the Statehouse at one time.

Capitol Commission State Director Matt Barnes says his group isn’t getting special treatment. He says anyone attending a pre-scheduled Statehouse event will be allowed to use a special entrance.

Indiana AFL-CIO Spokesman Jeff Harris says the special access is part of an effort to limit public debate at the Statehouse.