Indiana

And Now, a Word or Two From Pat Bauer

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

I recently received a copy of this e-mail sent out by Indiana House Democratic Leader Pat Bauer regarding the Statehouse Stalemate.  I thought it was worth reprinting here.

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On Wednesday, I met face to face with the leader of the Indiana House Republicans.

I think we had a good discussion. They?re not yet prepared to meet us even halfway on the issues dividing us, but it?s clear that the GOP is starting to realize that my caucus will not be bullied or taunted into backing down in our fight for working families.

Maybe they didn?t consider at first that we?re not doing this to grab headlines. This isn?t about winning the next election or keeping our jobs as legislators.

We?re doing this because if we go home now and allow the Republicans to attack workers? rights with impunity, Indiana families will suffer.

Their wages will fall. Their retirements will be at risk. Their children?s schools could be dismantled, and their voices in the workplace will be stifled.

We cannot allow that to happen.

I?m extremely proud of my Democratic colleagues, both here and around the country, for sticking together and doing everything we can to make sure working families are protected, but we can?t win this fight alone.

You can lend your voice too by signing the DLCC?s petition in support of Democratic legislators across the country who are fighting for working families.

Click here or visit www.dlcc.org/WorkersRights to sign on.

I don?t plan to go home for good unless I?m confident that the rights of Hoosier families can be protected.

I went into Wednesday?s meeting with an open mind, hoping my Republican counterpart would do the same. I delivered a message from my Democratic colleagues ? firmly, but respectfully ? that the issues dividing us are more important than anyone?s political ambitions. Thanks to our meeting, I?m cautiously optimistic that that message is slowly beginning to sink in.

That makes me hopeful that a meaningful compromise can be achieved.

But until then, I will continue to draw strength from my fellow Indiana House Democrats. All of us want to go home, but all of us recognize that the discomfort we?re experiencing ourselves is nothing compared to pain Indiana families will experience under the GOP proposals.

And that?s why, together, we?re going to continue standing up for the rights of working families.

Sincerely,

B. Patrick Bauer
Democratic Minority Leader
Indiana House of Representatives

p.s.  Visit www.dlcc.org/WorkersRights to sign the petition today!

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on March 05, 2011 (boomark / email).