Pay the fines.  That’s the message today to Democrats who walked out of the Indiana House of Representatives in 2011.

The Indiana Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling that said House Speaker Brian Bosma didn’t have the authority to levy fines on absent Democrats.  It says that Bosma’s decision can’t be questioned.

The fines were imposed when Democrats tried to stop right-to-work legislation by leaving the Statehouse and going to a motel in Urbana, Illinois.  Retired Representative Bill Crawford led several Democrats who argued the fines were illegal.

“It was over, on average for each member, over about $3400,” said Crawford.

The Supreme Court heard the case in January with an attorney for the Democrats telling justices that the House Speaker overstepped his authority when he had the money deducted from paychecks.  “Our clients are entitled to it whether they’re lying on a beach in Barbados,” said Mark GiaQuinta, “or cutting their grass at home on the weekends, or in the legislature.”

But the Supreme Court disagreed.  The ruling says “both the issuance and collection of fines as legislative discipline are functions constitutionally committed to the legislative branch…”

IHouse Speaker Brian Bosma believed all along that the courts were powerless in this case.  In a statement he said, “I consider this a victory for the Indiana Constitution and the proponents of limited government, and consider the matter closed.”

Asked if he regrets walking out, Crawford says, “Oh, absolutely not, I think the issues were clear.”

But he also says the fines reduced both his pay and his pension.

House Minority Leader Scott Pelath didn’t react publicly to the Supreme Court ruling.  That’s his way of saying it’s time to move on.
The state Democratic Party, however, is using the ruling to launch a fundraising appeal, suggesting that there is a need for more Democrats in the General Assembly.

Paula Cooper was released from prison Monday.
Cooper, once the youngest death row inmate in Indiana, is had her death sentence changed to a 60 sentence by the state Supreme Court in 1998.  Good behavior in prison reduced it further.  A college degree gave her another break.  She was released after 27 years behind bars.

Paula Cooper worked in the kitchen at the Rockville Correctional Facility prior to her release.  She was trusted with lunch preparation for the prison staff.  In an interview with the Times of Northwest Indiana she talked about her experience.  “Maybe 10, 15 years into my sentence,” she said, “I really didn’t even understand what happened.  I mean, honestly, I sat and tried to figure it all out.”

What happened was that Cooper and three other teenagers killed and robbed a Gary Bible school teacher in
1985.  78-year-old Ruth Pelke was stabbed 33 times with a butcher knife.  The thieves got away with ten dollars and her car.  Cooper, just 15 at the time of the crime, was sentenced to death..

While on death row she received letters from around the world.  Pope John Paul pleaded for mercy and a Vatican representative visited Cooper in prison.  And Ruth Pelke’s grandson, Bill, joined death penalty protests saying, “My grandmother would have been appalled by that sentence.”

Now Bill Pelke reacts positively to Cooper’s freedom.  “She wants to do good and I want to try to help her to do good,” he said, “and I hope that people are willing tol give her a second chance.”

Paula Cooper told the Northwest Times she wants to prove herself.  “I mean, I don’t care if I have to sweep floors, wash dishes, or flip hamburgers,” she said, “I’m going to take whatever I can get, you know, just to get on my feet and show people that I deserve a chance.”

Paula Cooper is now 43 years old.

Secretary of State Connie Lawson has rejected a complaint that accused the GOP of vote buying at the Indy Pride festival last weekend.

The Stonewall Democrats charged that a television raffle was used as an enticement to convince people to register to vote.  The group called for an investigation on Tuesday supplying photographs of the GOP booth.

In a letter to Aaron Schaler, the president of the Stonewall Democrats, a representative of the Secretary of State’s office says the activity in the photographs doesn’t appear to violate the law.

Jennifer Wagner is the Democrat and Lesley Weidenbener is in for Jon Schwantes.  Today’s topics:

• The veto override
• The ISTEP review
• Luke Messer’s GOP Weekly Message
• GOP accused of vote buying at Indy Pride
• Indy car sharing
• I.U. Baseball team to the College World Series

Governor Mike Pence on Friday gave his first public reaction to the Wednesday override of a tax bill veto.

Pence called it an honest difference of opinion between himself and members of the General Assembly.  Lawmakers held a first-of-its-kind veto session to give retroactive approval to the collection of taxes in two counties.  The override passed with a two-thirds vote in both Houses even though a simple majority was all that was required.

“We believe we offered a more appropriate solution for taxpayers,” said Gov. Pence, “but I respect the process and look forward to moving forward and working with members of the General Assembly in the days ahead.”

Governor Pence urged lawmakers to sustain his veto without success.

A majority of Indiana voters support immigration reform according to a poll released Thursday.  It’s a poll that was conducted by three Washington-based organizations who are leading the push for immigration reform.  They found support for their cause in 29 states, including Indiana.

The focus is the immigration reform bill agreed upon by the so-called Gang of Eight, a bill that includes a pathway to citizenship for 11 million immigrants who are now here illegally.  Angela Adams, a local attorney affiliated with the immigration reform group called Bibles, Badges, and Business shared the results with us.  They show 69% in Indiana support immigration reform, 62% support a pathway to citizenship, and 92% think it’s important for Congress to act this year.

Adams says it tells her one thing.  “People are ready for this,” she said.  “I think that, you know, the time is now.”

You don’t need to tell Indiana GOP Senator Dan Coats.  He took to the Senate floor Wednesday to encourage a debate even though he opposes the current version of the immigration bill.  “Immigration reform needs to take place in an open, fair, and thorough debate,” Coats told fellow Senators, “with the input of the American people and I’m certainly hearing from many of them in my state.”

Saturday there will be a rally on the Circle in support of immigration reform.  Preparations are underway at AFL-CIO headquarters.
The focus is to get Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly to take a stand.

“I think the most important part,” says organizer Stuart Mora of Unite Here, “is that there is continued public showing that this is a priority for Hoosier voters.”

It’s remains a complicated issue.  While supporters focus on the pathway to citizenship, the biggest concern for Senator Coats is border security.  The poll didn’t touch on that.

The Indiana General Assembly overrode a Mike Pence veto Wednesday.  Never before has the legislature called a special veto session to undo an action taken by this, or any other, Indiana governor.  Lawmakers, led by the governor’s fellow Republicans, sent the message today that they make up an equal branch of government.

It took most of the day for lawmakers to meet in private, form a plan, and then carry it out in both the House and Senate where first, the governor’s veto message was read to them.  “If Hoosiers owe taxes they should pay them,” said Pence in the written message, “but when Hoosiers pay taxes that are not owed they deserve relief and the legislation does not meet that standard.”

It’s in reference to a bill that retroactively approved the collection of local income taxes in two Indiana counties where officials simply forgot to renew authorization.  Republicans pushed for the override.  “I believe, and I think many others do as well,” said Rep. Eric Turner (R-Cicero,) “that the same local taxpayers would end up paying more taxes in the future.”

Democrats fought in favor of the GOP governor.  “Condoning the unlawful collection of taxes,” said Rep. Pat Bauer (D-South Bend,) “is a terrible precedent.”

The House vote was 68-to-23 to override the veto and then it was all repeated in the Senate where the vote was 34-to-12.

Afterward the Republican leader in the Senate lawmakers will still work with the governor.  “On this one we had a disagreement,” said Sen. David Long, “and we thought a pragmatic solution was needed.”

This was a meaningful and public defeat for a governor who clearly still has some things to learn about negotiations with the General Assembly.  Mike Pence, meantime, made no public appearances Wednesday.  The only comment from the governor’s office came from his communications director who said that Mike Pence will continue to put taxpayers first.

The Stonewall Democrats, an organization of gay voters, accused Marion County Republicans of breaking election laws at the Indy Pride festival last weekend.

The Republicans registered voters at a Pride festival booth alongside a raffle for a free television.  In a complaint to the Secretary of State, the Stonewall Democrats allege that laws were broken because voters were required to register before they could enter the raffle.  President Aaron Schaler calls it an attempt to buy votes.  “We would just like to see the Secretary of State look into it,” he said.  “We always just want everyone to be above board.”

Republicans say it’s an attempt to keep them out of the festival.  “It’s disappointing that when you try to participate in community events like this,” said Marion County GOP Chairman Kyle Walker, “that there’s other folks that try to take political potshots at ya.”

Walker says there was no connection between the raffle and the voter registration efforts.

So far there is no reaction from Secretary of State Connie Lawson.

An independent review of ISTEP scores began Monday.  It could lead to some tests being invalidated.

State school Superintendent Glenda Ritz just announced that a third party will review the test of every student who was interrupted by server problems in April and May.  That applies to 78,000 students statewide.

Ritz says she hired the National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment in New Hampshire led by Dr. Richard Hill to determine if test scores are valid.  In all 482,000 students took the test, so a majority will likely be validated, but Ritz says the results need to be above reproach.

“Like all Hoosier parents students and educators I was extremely frustrated with the alarmingly large number of interruptions during the taking of Indiana’s high stakes test,” said Ritz.  “These interruptions were simply unacceptable and they call into question the validity of the test scores.”

The review will cost as much as $53,000, money that could come from fines against test maker CTB McGraw Hill.

Glenda Ritz also says that she hopes this will lead to changes in the use of the ISTEP exam.  She says the stakes involving teacher compensation and evaluation are too high.

The weekly Republican address is often delivered by a member of Congress and this week it will be Indiana Congressman Luke Messer.

It’s unusual not only because Luke Messer is a freshman, but also because he is the third freshman from Indiana to deliver the GOP address this year.  Only 26 Congressmen get the honor on an annual basis.  The message will go out to a national audience Saturday.

“You know,” says Messer (R-6th District,) “it’s a heady experience for a young guy that grew up in Greensburg, Indiana, lives with his family in Shelbyville to be speaking to the entire nation, particularly only after being in Washington for only a few months.”

It’s part of an American ritual.  Each Saturday the President delivers his weekly address and then Republicans offer a response.  In April, Indiana freshman Jackie Walorski had the honor.  And before that, in early February, yet another Indiana freshman, Susan Brooks, played role of party spokesperson.

Messer says it’s all evidence that Indiana is an important state for conservative leaders.  But he got the nod, in part, because this week’s message is about a GOP effort to stop a hike in student loan interest rates.

“I think I was chosen because I’d co-authored a bill on student loan interest rates,” he says, “and because I was a product of Pell Grants and student loans.”

No matter, it’s an opportunity that could open the door to bigger things.