Courage is contagious, and the Democrats in Indiana are taking a page out of the Wisconsin playbook:
Republicans control every Statehouse power base — governor, Senate and House — but they remain virtually powerless to enact laws so long as 39 House Democrats remain holed up in an Urbana, Ill., hotel.
For now, at least, Indiana’s GOP majority has been outmaneuvered.Those 39 Democrats managed to shut down the House for a month and win concessions from Republicans on labor and education bills — and they’re angling for more.
As long as they hang together — and thus far the House Democrats are withstanding fines, the threat of censure and blistering accusations that they are derelict in their duty — the legislature is at an impasse.
Without them, the House lacks the quorum it needs to do business. For now, at least, Indiana’s GOP majority has been outmaneuvered.
Those 39 Democrats managed to shut down the House for a month and win concessions from Republicans on labor and education bills — and they’re angling for more.
As long as they hang together — and thus far the House Democrats are withstanding fines, the threat of censure and blistering accusations that they are derelict in their duty — the legislature is at an impasse.
Without them, the House lacks the quorum it needs to do business.
It’s a pretty interesting article, explaining all the pros and cons.
What do they mean, “not doing their job”? They’re doing exactly their job. If more national Ds started doing their jobs, maybe they’d win some seats back. Not likely, of course.