When does "sticking up for working people and the middle class" seem a lot like being a bought-and-paid-for tool of the unions? Maybe when the unions, including out-of-state ones, pay your hotel bill during your desertion to Illinois? Indiana GOP Chairman Eric Holcomb:
Democrats continue to fight for narrow special interests clamoring for the status quo. A finance report filed last week shows the entire Urbana hotel bill was footed by unions - many of them out-of-state.
Unions contributed $139,000 to the Indiana Democrat Party during the walkout, every penny of which went to pay off the $84,953.70 hotel tab.
I think he meant to say every penny of the hotel tab came from the contributions, but his point is still clear. And attorney Gary Welsh at the Advance Indiana blog argues that this might put House Democrats in felonious territory:
Indiana law prohibits lobbyists from paying for out-of-state travel for state lawmakers. Further, the law prohibits lawmakers from soliciting or accepting campaign contributions while the legislature is in session. The walkout was staged by the House Democratic caucus in an effort to kill right to work legislation and other legislation opposed by labor unions. A strong argument can be made that Democrats violated the law by soliciting contributions for this purpose, which is a Class D felony, from the very special interest groups that stood to benefit from their bolting the state and remaining there until they were assured of obtaining concessions critical to their key constituency.
As he also points out, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller seems to have no interest in pursuing the matter. And I haven't seen any news reports about the issue, or even heard any Republicans speaking about it other than the chairman. Maybe they're hoping this will just go quietly away.
Comments
Considering they walked out again yesterday they should most certainly be levied the fines (even though the unions will pay it anyway probably) and they should be prosecuted as well.
http://www.dnj.com/article/B2/20110420/NEWS02/304200120/Indiana-Senate-Democrats-walk-out-over-anti-bolting-proposal?odyssey=nav%7Chead
Is there any compelling reason any thinking person should vote for them again either?
I'm going to steal a comment from the link, as it seems a good question to me:
"Cato said...
"Is this not just a corporation engaging in political advocacy, the same sort of activity Republicans usually howl to protect?"
And course the Republicans hope the felony possibility will just go quietly. They don't want prosecuted themselves when they use the same tactic in the future, as they have in the past (1991 and 2001.) Of course in the Republicans' case, they were only smart enough to run away as far as the basement in 2001.
Michaelk42: The basic difference is that what Republicans "howl about" does not have a specific law against it. But, as any recent left-wing leaning person, you don't believe in following all laws - only those that allow you to crow about how "correct" your position is!
And your reference to the GOP in the past doesn't track because they stayed in the State of Indiana! And your quote of Cato assumes that the lawbreakers are the unions! - Well they are not - it's the elected representatives who are breaking the law! So charge them, AG Zoeller!!!!!
ps: I sure hope that you are NOT my son, because if you are, I'm ready to disown you!!
OK, Kalb...
"Further, the law prohibits lawmakers from soliciting or accepting campaign contributions while the legislature is in session."
I don't see an exception for corporations in there.
"But, as any recent left-wing leaning person, you don
This story is in error. The Indiana GOP LIED in their press release, and you bought into Leo. In addition to the money that the Dems took in from Unions, they also received about $334,000 from non-union sources.
THAT money, not the Union money, paid the bills in Urbana.
The State GOP has just PROVEN they are willing to lie- how does that make my conservative friends feel?
Sorry- that is $195,000 from NON UNION sources- looked at the wrong note I wrote!
Am I being overly simplistic here? Is the following statement true?
"Indiana law prohibits lobbyists from paying for out-of-state travel for state lawmakers. Further, the law prohibits lawmakers from soliciting or accepting campaign contributions while the legislature is in session."
Put aside the D or R for minute, if that's the law, where is the "grey" area here? They were out of state, the legislature was in session, and they accepted money from contributors, right?
Sounds pretty simple. Seriously, am I missing something here?
Tim- no. Only STATE REPS cannot accept money during session (well, that DOES include the Governor). The State Party CAN accept money during that time.
To think the law was broken really is nothing more than wishful thinking on behalf of the GOP.
Kevin, so what that means is, the party takes the money in from whomever and the party pays for the State Reps trip and that's legal then right?
Apparently, unless someone would like to point to the part of the actual law that says differently. So far this whole thing seems to be based on the opinion of one right-wing blogger/attorney commenting on a lie/misrepresentation from the GOP.