Maybe in turn, the GOP legislators were hoping that putting the other items under the gun would heighten the public outrage at the boltibuster. After all they’re supposed to be there to represent the Indianan public.
Wouldn’t surprise me, because everyone knew that this would happen. Either yesterday or two days ago, when the GOP said that it was bringing the bill to the floor, the Ds announced, then and there, that they weren’t going to attend. No one made any effort to stop it.
I think the GOP expected some more support from the Gov and to score some outrage points with the people of the state of Indiana.