INDIANAPOLIS | Only 1,300 non-employees will be permitted to enter the Statehouse during the upcoming legislative session, and organized protests will be restricted to designated areas, the Indiana State Police announced Friday.
State Police Superintendent Paul Whitesell said the public access cap is needed to ensure the safety of everyone in the 123-year-old building, particularly in case of fire.
"Public safety is our primary concern as we work to facilitate the most possible accessibility to the state capitol and the legislative process while ensuring, at the same time, the safest possible environment," Whitesell said.
After the 2011 session, which saw two months of daily protests by union members opposing the legislative agenda of the House and Senate Republican majorities, Whitesell asked the state fire marshal to set a maximum occupancy for the Statehouse.
The fire marshal determined the Statehouse could safely hold 3,000 people at one time. With about 1,700 state employees and lawmakers in the building every day, that leaves room for up to 1,300 more people.
Nancy Guyott, president of the Indiana AFL-CIO, said the public access cap makes the Statehouse "the people's house no more."
"Hiding behind the State Police and conveniently contrived capacity concerns, those in control of the Statehouse are using this 'policy' to shut out the voices of dissent and limit access to government to only those they favor," Guyott said.
Police said to ensure Statehouse hallways and stairs remain clear, indoor protests during the 2012 session, which starts Wednesday, will be limited to the second and fourth floors. Small gatherings will be permitted outside the House and Senate chambers on the third floor. Outdoor protests will be limited to the South lawn.
The Statehouse will be open weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., region time, or until the end of legislative business. Public entry to the Statehouse will only be through the East doors, police said.