Democrats in Indiana End Protest and Return

By EMMA G. FITZSIMMONS
NYT

CHICAGO — The political standoff over union rights and school vouchers in Indiana ended on Monday as House Democrats returned to the Capitol almost five weeks after they fled the state.

Whether it was an effective protest depends on whether you are a Democrat or a Republican. Democrats said they ended the walkout after Republicans agreed to make changes to several pieces of legislation. Republicans said the concessions were minor.

A major point of contention had been a bill that would prohibit any requirement that employees in private sector workplaces pay union dues or fees, but Republicans withdrew the measure last month.

Before returning to the House floor for an evening session, Representative B. Patrick Bauer, the minority leader, said Democrats had been successful in softening the worst parts of the Republicans’ agenda. One compromise, for instance, limited the number of students involved in a private school voucher program.

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