Texas AG Ken Paxton Files Another Lawsuit Against Harris County Over Guaranteed Income Program

Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, has once again taken legal action against Harris County, this time over its revised guaranteed income program. This move comes after the Texas Supreme Court halted the program earlier this year, just as the first payments were about to be distributed.

The guaranteed income program aims to provide $500 a month on preloaded debit cards to 1,900 families living below 200% of the federal poverty line. The revised version includes spending restrictions based on state Supreme Court guidance, as explained by Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee.

The program was introduced following the freezing of another Harris County initiative, Uplift Harris, which sought to offer $500 a month to underserved residents with fewer spending restrictions. The guidelines for both programs limited the use of funds to essential needs such as housing, utilities, transportation, groceries, and medical care.

Paxton has once again challenged the program as unconstitutional, accusing Harris County of disregarding legal processes and violating state laws. In response, Menefee accused Paxton of politicizing the issue and using people living in poverty to make a political statement.

Despite the legal challenges, Menefee emphasized the importance of providing support to those in need, noting that over 82,000 people applied for the Uplift Harris Program. Harris County leaders are committed to fighting Paxton’s lawsuit in court to ensure that essential support reaches those who require it.