Big atmosphere shift inside Indiana Statehouse

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The first half of this year's Indiana General Assembly session has been much quieter without the raucous right-to-work debate that drew thousands of protesters to the Statehouse and sparked Democratic boycotts the two previous years.

Leaders of the more-powerful Republican supermajorities in the House and Senate haven't walked in lockstep with new GOP Gov. Mike Pence over tax-and-spending issues. But so far they have worked around the edges of some potentially divisive issues that their most conservative backers support.

House Democratic leader Scott Pelath says a more civil tone was needed after a rough few years but maintains Republicans haven't given a clear direction to the state.

Republican leaders call this year's session positive and productive so far, although Pence continues pushing for his proposed 10 percent income tax cut.