A gunman looking for someone he believed owed him money shot himself inside an Indiana real estate office several hours after releasing hostages Friday, and he died after being rushed to a hospital, police said.INDIANAPOLIS – House Democrats announced Friday they will seek a statewide public referendum on the right-to-work issue, and that chamber’s Republican leaders said they will not block a vote on such an amendment.
“We stand before you saying that we believe that since this bill was not debated in the last election … the only way to let the people in on this is to have a referendum,” Democratic Leader Patrick Bauer said.
“We will be proposing a referendum so all the people can determine whether this bill is the right to work for less, for less income, less safety, less health care or not in an election.”
The House is expected to take up various amendments to the right-to-work bill Tuesday.
The measure prohibits unions and employers from requiring all employees covered by a contract to pay some sort of union representation fee.
Supporters contend it is an issue of freedom and will attract new businesses here. Opponents say it will weaken unions and lower wages across the state in the private sector.
Republicans clearly have the numbers on the issue since they control both the Indiana House and Senate by wide margins. And Democratic leaders have conceded they can’t boycott all year to block the bill.
So Democrats are trying a new tack – the referendum.
Statewide public ballot questions are exceedingly rare on policy issues that aren’t constitutional amendments. Several longtime legislators could not recall one in modern history.
Lawmakers in 2008 asked voters of the 43 largest townships to decide whether to eliminate or retain their township assessors. And there are also many local referendums on school construction and operating increases.
GOP House Speaker Brian Bosma said he will not use parliamentary rules to block a vote on the referendum amendment.
“If a majority feel that this should be sent to the taxpayers or the voters to decide, instead of their elected representatives, then we’ll abide by that,” Bosma said. “I’m not afraid of the vote.”
At least one Republican filed a right-to-work bill with a referendum requirement.
