INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ House Minority Leader Scott Pelath says Democrats will be pressing to increase Indiana's minimum wage and other changes to help middle class families during the legislative session that starts Tuesday.
The Michigan City Democrat said Monday that Democrats also want to eliminate Indiana's textbook tax and expand its preschool and full-day kindergarten programs.
Pelath outlined several other proposals Democrats would be pursuing, including revising Indiana's ethics and campaign finance laws.
Democrats will also push for creation of an independent redistricting commission he says would take politics out of drawing Indiana's next legislative boundaries. Pelath says Indiana should “no longer have politicians picking their constituents.''
He says he's looking forward to working with Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma.
Republican leaders preside over supermajorities in both legislative chambers.
