There are several bills in the Legislature to raise the state's minimum wage, but State Rep. Ron Reynolds (D-Houston) wants to go all the way, and more than double the state's current minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, to $15 an hour, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
That is the amount that labor unions have been fighting for for years, saying that is a 'living wage' in the current Texas economy.
Reynolds told News Radio 1200 WOAI the state's labor unions have endorsed his proposal.
"They fully stand behind the bill," he said. "During the interim, I talked with constituents back in my districts, and they were overwhelmingly in favor of it."
Reynolds concedes he has spoken with small business owners who are afraid that a sharply higher minimum wage might lead to job losses, or even businesses having to close their doors
."There was some concern from some small businesses that this would drive up the costs so, potentially, they would not be able to maintain the same size work force," he said.
Texas is one of about two dozen states which keep its minimum wage at the federal minimum of $7.25, which hasn't gone up for several decades. Reynolds says his bill would be an effective way of fighting growing income inequality.
No bill of any sort raising the Texas minimum wage is expected to be signed by Gov. Abbott.
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