HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A day after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Harris County over its guaranteed income program, county leaders discussed their plan to fight back.
The program is designed to provide eligible families in 10 targeted ZIP codes with $500 a month for 18 months.
Paxton made the announcement Tuesday morning calling the program “unlawful.” He said it “redistributes public money in a manner that violates the Texas Constitution.”
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee gathered Wednesday to offer a response to the lawsuit.
Leaders are accusing the state of playing politics at the expense of people in need of help.
“The lawsuit attacking Uplift Harris Guaranteed Income Program is an attack on the people of Harris County. It reads more like a MAGA manifesto than a legal document," Ellis said.
Many opposed to this program believe funding comes from taxpayer dollars. This was Menfee's response.
"This is fully funded by federal dollars. One of the main questions I've been getting from residents about this lawsuit is 'why the heck does Ken Paxton care?' This is not state money, it's federal money, and we're trying to help people," he said.
Uplift Harris is funded with $20.5 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which was passed to help struggling Americans recover after the pandemic caused an economic crisis.
Recent data shows that programs like the Uplift Harris program increase employment rates, help strengthen families, help improve health and mental health outcomes, according to Hidalgo.
The lawsuit was filed before checks were supposed to start going out on April 24.
"If Paxton succeeds in getting an injunction as his lawsuit calls for, he and Texas far-right republicans will be responsible for taking $500 a month away from the 1,928 low-income Harris County families," Hidalgo said.
Hidalgo claims the lawsuit is a "branding campaign" and offers "no argument."
"We're fighting this. I have full trust in our county attorney and his office to fight this," she said.
Menfee said families expecting payment were notified.
"We want to be responsible towards public dollars. Until the courts weigh in, we're going to continue to proceed as planned. I expect the Texas Supreme Court to weigh in on this," Menfee said.
Menfee said to his knowledge, the case was assigned to Judge Ursula Hall in the 165th civil court. The next step in this process will be the setting of a temporary injunction hearing. This hearing is to decide what happens during the pendency of the case.
"The county has my commandment that my office is going to vigorously defend this program. We'll see what the courts say," Menfee said.