Union leaders say they are moving full speed ahead with their legislative agenda this year, despite recent comments from Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk that many issues on their wish list will not pass this session.

The bill, which supporters are calling the Family Economic Stability Act, was introduced in both chambers on Wednesday. In addition to raising the minimum wage, the bill would fund childcare assistance programs and provide per-child tax credits for families.

The Minnesota AFL-CIO wants to boost the minimum wage to $10.55 an hour and index it to inflation moving forward. That would be an increase of nearly 50 percent over the current rate of $7.25 an hour.

Senate Democrats have dropped nearly the first 20 bills of the session, showing a focus on tax policy, early education and setting up a health insurance marketplace for 2013.

The state has an adjustable minimum wage, and it could be the first in the nation to drop along with the cost of living.