INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The Indiana House did no official business Thursday as Democrats boycotted for a second day, to try to stall a Republican-backed "right-to-work" measure.
The measure would forbid unions and companies to negotiate contracts requiring non-members to pay union fees.
The House lacked the 67 legislators required for a quorum to do business, with Democrats saying GOP lawmakers are trying to rush passage of a measure voters don't understand, The Indianapolis Star reported.
House Minority Leader B. Patrick Bauer cited a Ball State University poll that found half of those asked about the measure said they were undecided on whether they backed it or didn't know enough to have an opinion.
Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels and GOP legislative leaders, who consider the measure their top priority, say it would stimulate job-creation and make the state more business-friendly. Labor unions and Democrats counter it would result in lower wages and allow some employees to benefit from union representation without paying for it.
If they continue the boycott, Democrats risk fines of as much as $1,000 a day under a law passed after a boycott over anti-labor legislation last year.
The House and Senate, which normally hear bills independently a few weeks apart, have scheduled a joint hearing for Friday on the right-to-work measure.
