Ind. House Dem leader hints at possible walkout

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The leader of Indiana's House Democrats hinted Wednesday that party lawmakers may walk out for the second year in a row to oppose the same Republican "right-to-work" bill blocked last year by their five-week boycott. But some lawmakers seemed split on whether to make such a move.

House Democratic Leader Patrick Bauer told The Associated Press that his caucus planned to meet Wednesday to debate how to handle the GOP proposal that would make Indiana the 23rd state to bar businesses and private unions from mandating that workers pay union fees for representation.

Bauer led the walkout last year. But new fines and lawmakers concerned about re-election in 2012 have made the group wary of another. Rep. Scott Reske, D-Pendleton, says he feels the $1,000 a day fine is expensive and he hinted that some Democrats might not push for a walkout.