Leaders in Harris County, Texas, on Thursday approved changes to a guaranteed income program that had been challenged and rejected by the state Supreme Court.
“Hundreds of Harris County families were counting on $500 monthly payments in April to help them pull themselves out of poverty, but now they’re in trouble because of the political posturing of Texas leaders,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said. stated in a press release.
For legal issues The Harris County Administrative Court has ruled against the guaranteed income program, Uplift Harris, placing limits on spending for program participants.
In the new version Uplift Harris said about 1,600 households who signed up for the program in March will receive debit cards preloaded with $500 each month to be used for essential items like groceries and medicine. Participants should receive their debit cards within four months.
“While launching this new program to replace the Guaranteed Income Program is not ideal, it is the best way we can do to keep our promise to these families,” Hidalgo said.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said she was “confused by the political posturing of Texas leaders” after the guaranteed income program, Uplift Harris, was challenged by the state and struck down by the Texas Supreme Court.
Uplift Harris passed last year by a vote of 4-1. The Harris County Commission is an elected body of four policymakers and the County Judge who meets every two weeks to serve Harris County, Texas. The County Judge serves as the County’s Chief Executive Officer.
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The program was funded with $20.5 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Houston, Texas’ largest city, accounts for most of Harris County’s population.
“This is not the way to do it,” 3rd District Chairman Tom Ramsey told Fox News Digital.
“Everyone at the court wants to help the residents of Harris County, but this is not the way to do it. This court has a history of trying to rewrite boundaries, rules and laws, and this is just one example of that,” Ramsey said.
“This program will benefit a very select few, but if used properly, the same amount of money could help many more people,” he added.
The Uplift Harris Guaranteed Income program received $20.5 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Houston, Texas’ largest city, accounts for most of Harris County’s population. (iStock)
Ramsey added, “Harris County doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. If we invested $20 million in the most underserved areas of Harris County, we could change that in 50 years. Instead, we’re spending $20 million to give less than 2,000 households $500 a month for 18 months.”
“They say there will be some limitations on how much you can spend on a debit card, but why would you try to do something that’s already been said to be illegal? This is bad policy,” he added.
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The committee has been exploring the possibility of reviving the Uplift Harris initiative, which was struck down by the Texas Supreme Court last week, and Ramsey told Fox News Digital that his colleagues were trying to “avoid” a lawsuit against the initiative.
Harris County officials met to discuss reinstating the program and limiting funding to approved spending areas, a move Hidalgo said should prevent legal challenges to the program.
This initiative was supported by the Texas Supreme Court. The verdict was given In June, Harris County banned Uplift Harris from operating.
The court raised “serious questions” about the program’s constitutionality.
Uplift Harris was unable to distribute the funds due to a court order. It was set to distribute $500 per month for 18 months to selected participants. The program launched on Jan. 12, with more than 1,900 people signing up out of more than 80,000 applicants.
Citing data showing one in six Harris County residents live in poverty and two in five report they cannot afford the $400 emergency assistance payment, Hidalgo’s office said the applications show “a great need for anti-poverty programs in Harris County.”
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Harris County attorneys defended the guaranteed income program, which is the subject of a lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The Texas Supreme Court’s decision on Uplift Harris came after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit alleging that Uplift Harris was “clearly unconstitutional.” Paxton’s lawsuit was prompted by Republican state Senator Paul Bettencourt’s request for the attorney general to review the constitutionality of Uplift Harris shortly after the program was launched.
Harris County is one of many local governments and legislative bodies pushing guaranteed income programs, which are popular across the U.S. and some face legal and funding challenges.
According to some studies, pilots produced positive results, The news was reported earlier by Fox News Digital.
