Right-to-work hearing draws big crowd

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Democrats in the Indiana House of Representatives continued their walkout Friday to protest the right to work bill. It's now three days old but there are signs of cracks in the Democratic resolve.

Six Democrats appeared on the House floor today, up from four yesterday. One of those six gave up a leadership post in the process. Rep. Dale Grubb, D-Covington, has served as caucus chairman, the number three leadership post for the House Democrats, since 1994. Just yesterday he accompanied Minority Leader Pat Bauer into a private meeting with House Speaker Brian Bosma. Today Grubb resigned his leadership post.

"Just seemed like a good point in time," said Grubb. When asked if he is at odds with the Minority Leader he said, "I stand firm for many of the same principles on these issues he does."

While Grubb declined to spell out the reason for his resignation there was speculation that he was fired for coming to the House floor yesterday, something he did again today when he was recognized to speak.

"I stand at this microphone today and I stand on this floor because I'm hoping that the issue can be resolved in a manner that is satisfactory to both caucuses," he said in a floor speech about right to work, "that gives it an adequate and fair hearing."

Republican Jeff Espich took the microphone to say, "No one here is more respected than Dale Grubb."

And other Republicans leaped at the development, suggesting that Grubb was cool head in a caucus run amuck. House Speaker Brian Bosma even said that he agreed to meet some Democratic demands to slow the advance of the right to work bill. "Those were with, through, Representative Grubb," said Bosma, "and you saw where that landed him with his caucus."

If the Democrats stay out on Monday, some of them risk fines of up to a thousand dollars a day. Because he answered a roll call Grubb is not one of them.

If just one more Democrat decides to break with the Democratic leadership it would be enough to give the Republicans the quorum of 67 members required to conduct business.