Walkout tramples on principles of democracy – Letter from Rep. Mark Messmer
For the eighth of the 12 days since the beginning of the 2012 Legislative Session, the members in the House minority have refused to carry out their elected duties. The irresponsible actions of House Democrats have denied representation not only to their own constituents, but to 6.5 million Hoosiers all across Indiana. Because of the minority’s disregard for the democratic process to protect a single special interest, hundreds of important issues cannot move forward.
One such bill concerns drug testing of welfare beneficiaries. House Bill (HB) 1007 would establish a pilot program to drug test welfare recipients. Individuals with children that fail the test could be investigated by the Department of Child Services for child abuse and neglect. With this legislation, we would be better equipped to identify the potential abuse of children and it would give incentive for those on welfare to seek help with drug addiction.
Another bill we are considering is HB 1005, which addresses conflict of interest and nepotism in local government. This bill would put limits on local officials’ ability to hire family members. It would also prevent an individual from serving on the board that approves their own salary and benefits.
Finally, HB 1238 passed out of the House Financial Institutions Committee this week. This bill would help speed up the process of determining when buildings that are in foreclosure are abandoned. This would allow those properties to get back on the market more quickly and help alleviate the problems with blighted buildings in our communities.
These three bills represent only of a fraction of the work that’s not able to progress because of the mob-rule mentality of the House Democrats. If our system of openly debating issues breaks down, we will lose the democratic process that our country was founded upon. Right now all Hoosiers voices are being silenced by the inaction of 35 House Democrats. I’m hopeful that the minority members will return to work soon so that we can act on all the important issues that are facing Hoosiers.
State Rep. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper)
Completely argee Rep. Messmer. It would be nice to hear how residents who are represented by those who walked out, find some way to remove them from office. Also, what goes around comes around.
The Indiana democrats decent into party politics is saddening (party above the people).
You are forgetting one thing, it is the Republicans decent into party politics that started this whole mess. Since they got the majority in 2010 they have been ramming their own interests through the statehouse. The RTW bill was originally scheduled to be through the House in less than five days. Where is the democratic process in that? I am proud of the Democrats are doing. They are making the public aware of this issue and how it will affect every working Hoosier. I unfortunately got stuck with Sue as my representative. I know that she co-authored this bill. If this is such a good issue she would have been able to run on it but it is not. I know she did not run on it because I still remember her standing on my front porch and this issue was never mentioned it. As for this fall this issue will be on a lot of people's minds and I only hope they remember that the Republicans did not have the courage to run on the RTW issue.
Hang on here you are blasting Democrats for walking out and not representing their district. Did you ever think that the majority of the people they represent might not want the Right to Work to pass? So in that case they have the peoples best interest in mind. Obviously Sue isn't listening to what the people want. I here more arguments against Right to Work than for it. And to set the record straight, this isn't debated down party lines. There are some Republicans in office that are listening to the people and vowed to vote no.
Hogwash Mr. Messmer (not the word I would really like to use). If and I STRESS the word "if" the Republicans were/are so worried about the other issue's you mentioned in your letter they would set RTW aside and move on to these other issue's and deal with RTW later in session. But you and your Republican co-horts are not in any way shape or form worried about doing the people's business you are more worried about cramming lousy, wage cutting legislation down our throats! Plain and SImple!
Putting the issue itself aside for now, whatever one's party affiliation or anyone thinks of RTW or any other, no elected official has the right to do what the Dems are doing: essentially walk off the job – abdicate their responsibilities – and live (serve another day or session) to tell about it. It's just plain irresponsible at best and cowardly at worst. Is that what we do, or teach our children to do – that if you don't like something, just ignore it, bury your head in the sand, run away from it, etc? Moreover, that because we may think a law or bill is wrong, we should shirk our duties to assure folks we have their bests interests in mind and to make them aware? This is the stuff of which to be proud of??? You guys REALLY have it wrong – and much more so than the Republicans. Plain and simple.
Everyone is forgetting one thing. The Republicans did the same thing back in 2004 lead by the current speaker of the house, Brian Bosma. If you do not believe you can the research yourself just as I did. Our children have already been taught this then. As everyone can see Brian lived to serve another day. There is one main difference though, the Democrats are being punished more severely now than the Republicans were when they did it. That is just more proof that the Republicans are out for blood and the Middle class is the ones that are going to end up shedding it if this gets passed.
Michael,
So, the Republicans were wrong in 2004, and you're holding THAT up as justification for the Democrats to do the same thing for TWO years in a row? Does that make the Democrats twice as wrong?
I am one of the "the people", too, and my representative is listening to me. I support RTW.
I am just pointing out that this tactic has been used before by the minority party. That is not the only time that the Repbublicans used it but I am not going to get into that. I only hope that you have dug into the issue a little bit because the name of it has nothing to do with what it is about . I am saying that because I have seen this first hand that people have judged this just by the name.
Republican or Democrat it doesn't matter, If you are Elected or Hired to do a job YOU SHOW UP!
I'm pretty sure if I or anyone in the workforce didn't like the way there JOB was going and decided they were not gonna show up until the company changed to suit THEIR WAY, They wouldn't have a JOB.
Amen, RT…and (for Michael) I have no problem admitting that the Republicans were indeed wrong in 2004.