There was a lot more emotion than mystery at the Indiana Statehouse today.

The so-called “Right to Work” bill came up for a final vote in the senate, although the outcome was never in doubt.

“I feel like we’re playing the Super Bowl today instead of Sunday, but our side has fewer men on the field and our team doesn’t have any pads or helmets,” said Sen. Vi Simpson, (D) Ellettsville. “We already know what the final score is going to be.”

Democrats dominated today’s floor debate. One senator called Right to Work a “parting shot” from the Daniels Administration.

“That’s what this bill is, it’s the last parting shot from an administration that has taken shots at so many people,” said Sen. Karen Tallian, (D) Portage. “It was public employees, it was teachers, it was gays, blacks, Hispanics, and of course, it was women, and now finally this.”

“I’ve seen more Carhartt in the hallways than I’ve seen in a Cabelas catalogue,” said Sen. Timothy Skinner, (D) Terre Haute, referring to another large crowd of Right to Work protestors that had assembled at the statehouse for the final battle.

“I don’t believe for a minute that companies are going to flock to Indiana because we’ve become a Right to Work state, I don’t believe that for a minute,” said Sen. Skinner. “I do believe though that this bill is really about one thing and that one thing is union busting—nothing more.”

The allegation of union busting was one that bothered Sen. Carlin Yoder, (R) Goshen, the main sponsor of Right to Work in the senate.

“I heard the word union busting yet again today, and I’ve always been bothered by that as we started this discussion,” said Sen. Yoder. “If this is truly union busting, what does that saw about our unions? If really, the only way that our unions can avoid being busted is to force people who don’t agree with them to pay dues to them, then maybe they should be busted.”

While Right to Work protestors have made their presence known in the statehouse, Sen. Yoder contends that the bill has many unseen supporters as well.

“I’m here to say that there is a lot of passion out there from those who believe in Right to Work as well. I’ve heard from a lot of people out there who say I’d love to be down there, I’d love to be able to share my voice but I can't because I don't have anybody there to pay for me to come here, and I don't have any money because I’m unemployed, they want to have a voice but they’ can’t. So let me tell you loud and clear the majority of Hoosiers are standing with us, they may not be the loudest, they might not be the most obnoxious at times, but they’re there.”

Sen. Yoder today revealed that about 10 protestors came to his house in Goshen last Friday. “I can live with people in my front yard; I can live with people cussing at me.”

Sen. Yoder further claimed that Indiana is already benefiting from Right to Work. Sen. Yoder spoke of an email he received from a company in northeast Indiana that had plans to relocate in a Right to Work state, but changed those plans in light of what Indiana was doing.

Sen. Yoder claims that the firm decided to expand in Indiana, creating 120 new jobs.

Sen. Yoder claimed that Right to Work was simply “giving freedom to those workers who don’t want to be part of something they don’t believe in.”

The final senate vote was 28 in favor and 22 against Right to Work.

The senate vote came shortly before noon, and by late afternoon, the bill had been signed into law by Governor Mitch Daniels. The Right to Work bill takes effect “upon passage.”

Sen. Ed Charbonneau, (R) Valparaiso, was one of nine GOP senators who crossed over to vote against Right to Work. The senate’s entire Democratic caucus voted against RTW.

Senators Zakas, Mischler, and Yoder all voted in favor of Right to Work.

Indiana now becomes the only Right to Work state in the nation that is not bordered by a Right to Work state.

Governor Daniels released the following statement:

“Seven years of evidence and experience ultimately demonstrated that Indiana did need a right-to-work law to capture jobs for which, despite our highly rated business climate, we are not currently being considered. This law won’t be a magic answer but we’ll be far better off with it. I respect those who have objected but they have alarmed themselves unnecessarily: no one’s wages will go down, no one’s benefits will be reduced, and the right to organize and bargain collectively is untouched and intact. The only change will be a positive one. Indiana will improve still further its recently earned reputation as one of America’s best places to do business, and we will see more jobs and opportunity for our young people and for all those looking for a better life.”