House Democrats failed to show up at the Indiana Statehouse Tuesday afternoon following the Senate's decision to pass controversial right-to-work legislation Monday evening.
Lawmakers voted 28-22 in favor of the legislation which would make it illegal for employers to force non-union members to pay representation fees.
Shortly after Monday's vote, House Democrats walked out of the Indiana Statehouse again.
The measure moved to the House for a third reading Tuesday. Union supporters continued their chanting in the halls outside as the half empty chamber found itself once again unable to debate the bill that would dilute organized labor's authority to collect dues from workers.
Just five Democrats showed up on the floor, leaving the House once again two members short of the quorum necessary to conduct business and move the legislation along.
"It continually surprises me that someone's elected to do a job, they're paid to do a job but they don't show up to do a job," said Representative Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis.
The House attempted to reconvene again at 3:30 p.m., but the Democrats were still absent.
House Democrats and union members may be trying to stretch out the right-to-work debate until Super Bowl week.
"That's what they're afraid of isnt it? The Super Bowl bringing in union players to entertain them in a union-built coliseum and I guess they don't wanna do it as they're entering the city," said Representative Pat Bauer, D-South Bend.
House Speaker Bosma will gavel the house into session at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday and Bauer said maybe the Democrats will be there. If they aren't, they will face another $1,000 fine. Absent Democrats are currently facing $4,000 worth of fines.
