Indiana legislators 'closer than ever'
URBANA – Some Indiana state representatives say their time together at an Urbana motel has helped them to grow closer together.
"This has been a bonding experience for us," said state Rep. Charlie Brown of Gary, one of more than 30 Democrats who have made the Comfort Suites in Urbana their home since they left Indianapolis last week to prevent the House from having a quorum to delay votes on bills they say could harm workers' rights.
"We have shown unity in supporting the issues that are most important to the working class in Indiana, including helping labor unions to survive and fighting for public education."
State Rep. Cherrish Pryor of Indianapolis said the legislators' meetings have strengthened the Democrats' resolve as their time in Urbana enters its second week.
"I think this has made us a lot stronger," Pryor said. "I'm hopeful we are making some progress."
"I think we were pretty united already on the issues before we came here, but, if anything, we are closer than ever," said state Rep. Dan Stevenson of Highland.
The Hoosier State representatives said they were enjoying their stay in Urbana.
Brown said he enjoyed his breakfast Monday morning at the Courier Cafe. Pryor said several of the representatives look part in worship services on Sunday morning in Champaign-Urbana, and Pryor said the legislators went to local pharmacies to get their prescriptions filled for medications.
"The people of Urbana have shown us a lot of hospitality," Brown said. "We have been treated well, especially here at the Comfort Suites. The people have really gone overboard in terms of making us feel at home."
Pryor said more work needs to be accomplished before the Democrats can consider returning to Indiana.
"I'm not sure when it is going to be over," Pryor said. "We are communicating with the Republicans. Hopefully they will come to their senses as we continue to stand up for the working people."
This whole process is like ripping off a band-aid. There are two ways to get it done, and they both hurt. One can just bite the bullet and rip the thing off, or one can take their time and tear and tear bit by bit, which actually hurts more. Either way the band-aid is coming off, but WI & IN dems are choosing to make it hurt for longer than it has to.
I'm sure we're all very happy that they are all closer now. Perhaps they could go on a retreat together, or sing folk songs in the lobby.
Maybe I'm looking at this from the wrong perspective. Maybe this dereliction will catch on, and democrats from Illinois will go to the Dells or to West Lafayette on an extended vacation from their duties.... If only.
If they were really "standing up for working people" they'd fund their employment package. Since everyone knows the taxpayers do not intend to forgo the fruits of their own labor maybe it's time the dems just admit the depths of their deceipt. They don't have the money for this and they never did have the money for this. The public employee unions are the "working people" in the dems' eyes. The rest of the citizens are just there to pay taxes.
For confirmation of how good the public employee unions have it just compare their retirement package with what the rest of the "working people" get - social security. Look at when you can retire with full benefits. Look at paid sick days. Look at the number of paid holidays. Look at the annual payout. Look at the health care benefit and who pays for it. The conventional argument is that public employees work for lower wages so they can receive the nice bennies at the end. Maybe it'd be cheaper for the taxpayers to equalize the upfront pay and the bennies with the private sector.
Oh, and open up the job rolls of the public employees so anybody who wants to can apply and hold such a position without pressure to join the democratic fundraising machine, er, I mean union.
I really wish someone (perhaps the News Gazette) would spend some time on this.
The job roles are open. The Rutan Supreme Court decision years ago eliminated patronage except for "exempted" administrative positions as agency directors, and other high administrators that come and go with changing administrations. You can apply Squirrel. You have to meet the positions qualifications, and pass a competitive interview based on the Rutan decision. Your not required to join a union. Public employees pay into their pension systems. It is automatically deducted from their pay. They have no choice. The legislators, and governors since Gov. Thompson has not paid,."borrowed" the employer contribution to the pension systems. Yes, public employees have sick leave, and paid holidays. The public employees pay a health care premium, and office visits, and specialist visits with monetary limits on procedures. I am sure that some of the private employees do the same at the same amounts if their employer provides health care. The public employees are "working people" just as their neighbors in the private sector are "working people". I do not know what taxes you pay; but based on your current misconceptions, I suspect that you pay liquor taxes.
Well, isn't that sweet that the democrats got a taxpayer-funded retreat. They can sit around and try to convince everyone that it really is about the "middle-class" (which I'm a part of), and not about their union masters that provide so much of that yummy campaign money. Please.
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