INDIANAPOLIS, March 29 (UPI) -- Democratic members of the Indiana House returned to work this week after five weeks of self-imposed exile in Illinois.
The legislators got right to work after marching en masse from party headquarters to the Indianapolis statehouse at 5 p.m. Monday, the Indianapolis Star reported. They and Republicans remained in session into the evening.
The state legislature is on a tight schedule with only five weeks left in the session. During that time, senators and House members have to pass a budget and to clear up a mass of other work left undone while 39 of the 40 House Democrats were in Urbana.
House Speaker Brian Bosma, a Republican from Indianapolis, warned his colleagues they will have to work hard through April 29 to get everything done. That means many evening sessions and no more Fridays off.
"We're going to need every minute of time to make this a success," he said.
Monday night's agenda included debate on amendments to House Bill 1216, the bill that precipitated the walkout. The bill changes customary wage and union provisions for workers hired for public construction jobs, and Republicans agreed to changes to get the Democrats back, the newspaper said.
