Jeremy Brilliant/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - House Republicans Thursday approved fining Democrats $250 for every day they stay in Illinois.
It's not clear when the Statehouse standoff will end. Democrats are blocking Republican legislation by staying out of state for a tenth day.
If Wednesday's meeting between Democratic and Republican leaders was a step forward, it seems the announcement of the fines Thursday was two steps back. The negotiations that were going on at the Statehouse ground to a halt, and the Democratic lawmakers in Urbana, Illinois are preparing for another weekend away from home.
Skype is the primary form of communication for Indiana lawmakers who have been away from the Statehouse and their constituents for the past ten days. House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) announced Thursday he'll fine the Democrats $250 a day starting Monday if they don't come home.
"If he fines me, I'll pay it. I think it's that important. I would hope, like I've always said, that people come together some place in the middle," said Rep. Dennis Tyler (D-Muncie).
"If you are sitting in Illinois and not doing your work here that is costing the taxpayers money. You need to be working. We will see if we can recoup some of that cost to the taxpayers," said Bosma.
But Minority Leader Pat Bauer (D-South Bend) said the threat of a fine has derailed negotiations between House Democrats and Republicans.
"Obviously the fine disrupts any collegiality that we had yesterday trying to negotiate something. And it's a partisan step backwards or two," said Bauer.
Both Bauer and Bosma said progress had been made during an hour-long meeting Wednesday at the Statehouse. Fellow members of the Democratic caucus saw the meeting as a positive step.
The lawmakers are still confident leaving the state was a good move.
"The democratic process is in action right now. I truly believe that our founding fathers are looking down on us right now in Illinois and saying this is the way the process is supposed to work," said Rep. Terry Goodin (D-Austin).
"We're more encouraged that there's movement and that there were amendments filed this morning to modify some of the issues that we raised. So they are reacting and we just have to let it play out," said Rep. Bill Crawford (D-Indianapolis).
"It takes a lot of courage to come up here, defend your vote. It's cowardly not to do that," said Rep. Rebecca Kubacki (R-Syracuse), speaking on the House floor later Thursday.
One Indiana Democrat in Illinois suggested that the house speaker move those controversial bills to a summer study session. That way Republicans won't have to change anything and everyone will have more time to discuss the legislation. That would be enough to get Democrats to come back to Indianapolis.
Such fines have been threatened in previous House walkouts over the years, but have been waived when the minority party returns.
