Texas lawmaker files bill to raise minimum teacher salary to $70,000

Authored by cbs7.com and submitted by monkfreedom
image for Texas lawmaker files bill to raise minimum teacher salary to $70,000

AUSTIN, Texas (KOSA) - State Representative James Talarico (D-Round Rock) has filed a bill to help support teachers across Texas.

House Bill 3580 would raise the minimum salary for teachers to $70,000 a year.

Rep. Talarico explained his reasoning for the bill in a series of Tweets.

“When I was a public school teacher, I struggled to make ends meet. My coworkers drove Ubers at night and sold their blood plasma for extra money. Today I filed a bill mandating a minimum salary of $70,000 for every teacher in Texas. #txlege”

“Our teachers have endured a global pandemic, an economic collapse, and a deadly winter storm. They held our communities together through these historic crises. Teachers had our backs. Now we must have theirs.”

Rep. Talarico says he chose $70,000 because “Research indicates a $70,000 - $75,000 salary is the baseline income needed for emotional well-being.”

When I was a public school teacher, I struggled to make ends meet.

My coworkers drove Ubers at night and sold their blood plasma for extra money.

Today I filed a bill mandating a minimum salary of $70,000 for every teacher in Texas. #txlege pic.twitter.com/Kk8NuxxVNI — James Talarico (@jamestalarico) March 11, 2021

Copyright 2021 KOSA. All rights reserved.

thewimsey on March 13rd, 2021 at 14:29 UTC »

Leaving aside the merits of the bill, it's worth noting that any legislator can introduce a bill; they mostly die without getting a hearing.

monkfreedom on March 13rd, 2021 at 13:14 UTC »

Good piece on why teachers' compensation is falling down.

https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/03/west-virginia-oklahoma-protests-teacher-pay/555434/