Lawmakers to get back to work next week

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - State lawmakers failed to meet an artificial deadline late Thursday night. It will now be at least next Wednesday before they finish their work for the year, work that includes a jobs bill.

Democratic House Speaker Pat Bauer was back in his Statehouse office Friday blaming Senate Republicans for the failure to reach an agreement Thursday night.

"They wanted him to leave," said Bauer.

The reference is to key negotiator Sen. Brandt Hershman (R-Monticello), a congressional candidate who left the Statehouse to attend a Republican dinner during negotiations on a bill to delay a bailout of the state's unemployment system.

Republicans fought back Friday.

Governor Mitch Daniels(R-Indiana) said of Democrats, "They looked around for some handy excuse to do what they wanted to do anyway, which was walk off the job."

Hershman told a news conference that he left the Statehouse when Democrats asked for two hours to consider a new proposal.

He said he was in contact the whole time.

"It's disappointing because it's nothing but a manufactured political stunt," he said.

GOP leader Sen. David Long (R-Fort Wayne) says Speaker Bauer crossed a line, "And I think that's unacceptable and I think Senator Hershman is owed an apology."

Bauer brushed it off.

"He shouldn't get so emotional," he said in reference to Long. "Keep his feet on the ground, steady as you go. I look up to him."

Meantime, the state Senate went back to work Friday afternoon.

The House will return on Wednesday because the speaker says everyone needs time to cool off.

The Republicans, meantime, plan to restart negotiations on Monday and Bauer says the Democrats will take part.

Lawmakers could still head home before the official deadline on March 14.