The 1-11-19 Indiana Talks Daily Progress Report

Op-ed: Increase teacher salaries without increasing school funding in Indiana?
This week the House Education Committee, on a partisan vote of 9-3, passed House Bill 1003.  House Bill 1003 affirms increasing teacher salaries but provides no additional funding to public schools to do so.  Instead, the GOP calls on public schools to spend differently. (Journal & Courier) 

Mayor Goodnight to make campaign announcement 
Please join me this Monday 4:30 pm for a special campaign announcement at The Hobson Kokomo. I look forward to seeing you there, and sharing my plans for 2019 with you! (Facebook)

The hidden costs of child care: Lack of accessibility, affordability costs Indiana billions
A study released late last year revealed that inadequate early childhood education costs Indiana companies, taxpayers and the economy big time. Conducted by Early Learning Indiana, a nonprofit dedicated to early childhood education, and the Indiana University Public Policy Institute, the study takes a deep dive into early childhood education and child care by looking at long-term costs and possible solutions to a statewide problem. (WTHR)

10 percent of Indiana dairy farms closed in difficult 2018
Indiana dairy farms had a bad 2018. About ten percent of them closed statewide. (WANE TV)

Rep. Karlee Macer named to influential House leadership position
State Rep. Karlee Macer (D-Speedway) has been appointed to a leadership position with the Indiana House Democrats, a move that will allow the caucus to capitalize on her history as a bipartisan legislator and highlight her ability to coach and support new members. (Indiana House Democrats)

SB 373 – Flags & God in Public Schools
Sen. Kruse has introduced SB 373concerning flags and god in public schools. He wants to mandate that a framed picture of a U.S. flag, a state flag, and the words “in God we Trust” be placed in every public school library and classroom. The entire display must be at least 14 x 17 inches with the motto being at least 4×15 and each flag being 5×5. (Masson’s Blog)

Indiana breweries, wineries suffer due to government shutdown
Breweries, wineries and distilleries in Indiana and Michigan are experiencing delays — and taking a financial hit — because some permits are not being issued due to the partial federal government shutdown. (Fox 59)

Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, to testify publicly before Congress
President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen will testify before the House Oversight Committee, the first major move by House Democrats to haul in a member of Trump’s team connected to special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, according to a schedule published by the committee. (CNN)

Kamala Harris set to toss hat into presidential ring: Sources
Sen. Kamala Harris has decided to seek the 2020 Democratic nomination for president, sources close to her told KCBS Radio. She’ll announce her candidacy on or around Martin Luther King Day, probably at a campaign rally in Oakland, the sources said. (CBS News)

As Trump visits border, Texas landowners prepare wall fight
As President Donald Trump traveled to the border in Texas to make the case for his $5.7 billion wall , landowner Eloisa Cavazos says she knows firsthand how the project will play out if the White House gets its way. (AP)

The story keeps changing’: Trump falsely asserts he never promised Mexico would directly pay for the border wall
It was a foundational promise of Donald Trump’s historic presidential campaign: Mexico would pay for his 2,000-mile border wall. But as he desperately fights for $5.7 billion in taxpayer money for the project, Trump now claims he never said Mexico would directly foot the bill. (Washington Post)