The Texas Supreme Court on April 24 blocked Harris County’s relief program that offered $500 guaranteed income to certain individuals, following an emergency motion filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who sought to intervene and halt what he termed an illegal payment plan.
The Texas Supreme Court announced its support for Paxton’s appeal.
In a post on X, the Supreme Court stated, “Regardless of the merits, the order prevents the county from making payments pending further order.” “The Court ordered Harris County to respond to the emergency motion filed by the state government by 4:30 p.m. on April 29.”
The Attorney General’s Office (OAG) initially sought a temporary injunction against the relief program, but the lower court denied their emergency request, prompting the OAG to appeal to the Texas Supreme Court.
Paxton argued that the guaranteed income program violated the Texas Constitution, which prohibits “any county, city, town, or other political corporation or subdivision of the state… from providing public funds or things of value to any individual for support.”
“The guaranteed income program in Harris County blatantly violates the Texas Constitution,” Paxton said in a prepared statement. “Harris County officials cannot continue to abuse power and people’s money for political gain, and we will do everything we can to hold them accountable.”
Harris County’s Uplift Harris guaranteed income pilot program was set to begin on Wednesday, lasting for 18 months, distributing $500 monthly to 1,928 low-income residents. Eligible households’ income must be below 200% of the federal poverty line.
However, according to Harris County website, being a U.S. citizen is not a requirement to receive guaranteed income.
Non-citizens also qualify for the program under certain conditions, such as holding a green card, being asylum seekers, refugees, coming from Cuba or Haiti and having approved residency in the U.S., among others.
Furthermore, according to the program’s description, “individuals who have experienced severe abuse or violence and have received certain protections under U.S. immigration laws” are also eligible for guaranteed income.
“The Uplift Harris guaranteed income pilot program aims to reduce income inequality, enhance self-sufficiency, and create a framework for future anti-poverty initiatives in the county,” stated the Uplift Harris website.
Harris County utilized $20.5 million in COVID-19 funds obtained from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act to implement the program. These funds were allocated for COVID-19 relief efforts.
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee expressed dismay at the court’s decision in a prepared statement, stating, “Today’s decision is disappointing, but given the politicization of the Texas Supreme Court, it is not surprising.” “We have witnessed a judge publicly denounce Harris County officials during a political event and explicitly state that he is undermining the county’s objectives.”
Menefee affirmed that he would continue to protect the guaranteed income program.
“Unfortunately, the court has taken such extraordinary measures to block a program aimed at helping the people of Harris County – even if temporarily. The court knows that the first payment is scheduled for tomorrow. I will continue to fight to protect this project, and I look forward to continuing to prove that Uplift Harris is both legally and morally sound.”
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis also issued a statement expressing “deep disappointment” with the court’s injunction.
“This baseless lawsuit is a full-scale assault by the Texas Supreme Court, an extreme partisan body, on the hardworking families in Harris County trying to make ends meet. Now, 1,900 working families who were hoping for a life change have been deprived of critical assistance,” Ellis said. “We will not be deterred. We will continue to fight for these 1,900 families and the 750,000 residents of Harris County living in extreme poverty.”