House Democrats are leaving the state rather than vote on anti-union legislation, The Indianapolis Star has learned.A source said Democrats are headed to Illinois, though it was possible some also might go to Kentucky. They need to go to a state with a Democratic governor to avoid being taken into police custody and returned to Indiana.
The House was came into session this morning, with only two of the 40 Democrats present. Those two were needed to make a motion, and a seconding motion, for any procedural steps Democrats would want to take to ensure Republicans don’t do anything official without quorum.
With only 58 legislators present, there was no quorum present to do business. The House needs 67 of its members to be present.
I have to hand it to Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. When he imposed massive job-killing tax hikes in the dead of night last month, I was convinced the move would chase businesses ad family out of the Prairie State -- further decimating Springfield's finances. Being the political novice that I am, I failed to recognize the cagey economic stimulus plan embedded within Quinn's action: Luring truant Democratic lawmakers from across the country into Illinois to prop up local motels and chain restaurants.
Vote Democrat in 2012: "When the going gets tough, we'll literally flee the jurisdiction!"
UPDATE: At least one fugitive Wisconsin Democrat is, in a very literal sense, phoning it in:
The Committee on Transportation and Elections have begun the executive session on a proposed voter identification bill.The bill would require voters to show a photo ID in order to vote at a polling place or obtain an absentee ballot. Democratic Sen. Erpenbach joins the session over the phone. Sen. Lazich says Erpenbach can't vote over the phone but says she'll wait for him to arrive.