ANNAPOLIS – Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley will be pressing for a minimum wage hike during his final year as governor, the Washington Post reports.

During his last State of the State address, the governor talked the most about increasing the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10.10 per hour. “No person who works full-time and plays by the rules should be forced to raise their family in poverty,” he said, adding that the proposal would especially be helpful to working mothers. “Not in our state.”

He brought up Henry Ford doubling the amount his workers were paid in order for them to afford the cars they manufactured. “Raising the minimum wage in Maryland is not only good for the hundreds of thousands who will see a boost in their paychecks, it is good for every Marylander, because it is good for our entire economy,” said O’Malley.

The Democrats who are in control of Maryland’s General Assembly are interested in such a proposal, although no formal plan has been put forth yet. O’Malley expressed his hope that such a bill would be introduced soon.

Several states passed increases to their minimum wage that took effect this year, such as Connecticut ($8.70 per hour), New Jersey ($8.25), New York ($8) and Rhode Island ($8). California’s minimum wage hike to $9 per hour will start July 1.