Hoosier House Republicans have voted to fine the hiding-in-Urbana Democrats $250 a day for their absence, starting Monday. Big whoop.
It is not clear whether Democrats will actually have to pay those fines. While fines have been issued in the House before, they have always been rescinded.
A fine that's "always been rescinded" isn't much of a threat, is it? House Speaker Brian Bosma has "signalled" that that "might not" happen this time. Uh-huh.
Meanwhile, in a courtroom in another part of the state:
A northern Indiana judge weary of people trying to avoid jury duty scolded about 350 people who failed to return juror questionnaires sent to them in October.
St. Joseph Superior Court Judge Michael Scopelitis (skoh-puh-LEE-tuhs) ordered the people who failed to return the questionnaires to appear before him Thursday. Another 350 are scheduled to appear Friday. The South Bend Tribune reports that about 100 people failed to appear as ordered on Thursday. Scopelitis says he likely will order sheriff deputies to arrest them.
Scopelitis told those who showed up Thursday that whether or not they like jury service, it's a civic duty and they've got to do it.
Maybe Bosma should ask the judge to travel to Urbana with his lecture. A few people there could stand to hear about civic duty.
