HOUSTON – A political match between the Texas Attorney General and Harris County over a financial program meant to provide residents in-need with monthly financial assistance has been reignited.
LIST: Houston-area nonprofits Uplift Harris applicants can still turn to
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Last Thursday, a judge heard arguments from Harris County officials on the temporary injunction requested by Ken Paxton to halt $500 a month grants to recipients of the Uplift Harris program. In a lawsuit filed, Paxton called Uplift Harris “unconstitutional” and an “illegal welfare scheme.”
Despite the judge siding with Harris County, Paxton has filed an appeal as another attempt to block the program, which he says “violates State law.”
“Harris County’s guaranteed income scheme plainly violates the Texas Constitution,” Paxton explained in a press statement. “Harris County officials cannot continue to abuse their power and the people’s money to score political points, and we will fight every step of the way to hold them accountable.”
A few minutes before 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Texas Supreme Court confirmed via X, formerly known as Twitter, that it would be honoring the Attorney General’s appeal.
“Without regard to the merits, the order prohibits the County from making payments pending further order,” the Supreme Court said in its post.
The Court requests Harris County's response to the State’s emergency motion for temporary relief by 4:30 p.m. April 29. The state's petition for writ of mandamus and emergency motion for relief remain pending before the Court. 2/2
— Supreme Court of TX (@SupremeCourt_TX) April 23, 2024
The first of 18 monthly payments, meant for residents living below the federal poverty line, are supposed to go out this Wednesday. However, Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis says also on X - minutes before the Supreme Court’s social media post, that the first $500 payments to recipients have already been sent.
NEW: We have sent out the first $500 payments to recipients of our Uplift Harris guaranteed income program. We will keep fighting to ensure we can continue making this life changing investment in the people of Harris County.
— Rodney Ellis (@RodneyEllis) April 23, 2024
In an emailed statement, Ellis did not mention what he shared on X but called the Supreme Court’s decision “disappointing.”
“I am incredibly disappointed in today’s administrative stay,” he said. “This frivolous lawsuit was a broadside attack on Harris County families struggling to make ends meet by state extremists and a hyper-partisan Texas Supreme Court. Now 1,900 working families who were expecting to have their lives changed have been robbed of a critical hand-up. We will not be deterred. We will continue to fight for those 1,900 families, and every one of the 750k people living under the crushing weight of poverty in Harris County.”
County Attorney Christian D. Menefee mirrored the Commissioner’s sentiments in the same press release, adding it was “not surprising” due to how politicized the courts have become.
“Today’s decision is disappointing but not surprising given how politicized we’ve seen the Texas Supreme Court become,” said Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee. “We’ve already seen one justice publicly disparage Harris County officials during a speech at a political event and make clear his goal of undermining the County.”
The program initially launched in 2023, and qualified recipients, who were looking forward to this financial assistance, were notified in March.
These latest, albeit sudden, moves come a day after County Judge Lina Hidalgo, told KPRC 2 about how she was unsure how to move forward with respect to this legal battle.
“We’re just as surprised as the recipients,” she admitted. “We were so excited about the program. We thought if the state had a problem with it, they had ample time to fight us on it.”
Hidalgo also expressed sympathy for residents who have inadvertently been dragged into this political fight, noting she will remain transparent throughout the process.
Paxton celebrated the ruling.
“I’m pleased the Supreme Court of Texas has blocked Harris County from disbursing these unlawful payments,” said Attorney General Paxton. “I look forward to continuing to defend our Constitution and preventing this egregious misuse of taxpayer money.”
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