Report: Poverty, Income Inequality Remain High in Texas

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Texas is “worse” than most states in poverty, health insurance coverage, and income equality, according to a new report.

The report, from the Center for American Progress Action Fund, tracked 15 poverty indicators, for which Texas ranked in the bottom half of the country for 11 indicators.

For example, 17.5% of Texans had incomes below the poverty line ($23,834 annually for a family of four) in 2013, ranking the state 38th in the nation.

Texas also ranked:

• 50th in the nation for health care coverage among low-income people.
• 49th in the nation for hunger and food insecurity (meaning that they experienced difficulty providing enough food due to a lack of money or resources during some point of the year).
• 42nd in the nation for higher education attainment rate.
• 43rd in the nation for unemployment insurance coverage.
• 38th in the nation for child poverty rate.

The report recommends several policies to reduce the poverty rate in Texas, which is 38% Latino, including raising the minimum wage and expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

“Even though our economy is growing again, far too many families are not seeing any benefits,” said Melissa Boteach of the Center for American Progress Action Fund in a statement. “Through common-sense policies such as raising the minimum wage and expanding Medicaid, Texas lawmakers have the power to reduce poverty and provide economic security and opportunity to more Texans.”