Texas Supreme Court grants Paxton bid to stay basic income program

"Uplift Harris" was supposed to send $500 monthly checks to over 2,000 residents later this week.

Published: April 23, 2024 4:15pm

The Texas Supreme Court halted Harris County's basic income program Tuesday following Attorney General Ken Paxton's request for intervention.

The appellate and district courts both previously blocked Paxton's attempts to halt "Uplift Harris," according to The Hill. Had the court not stayed the program, it would have starting to send $500 monthly checks to over 2,000 residents later this week.

The state constitution, Paxton contended, "prohibits this kind of free-money transfer absent an express constitutional exception... even for a laudable cause like poverty relief."

An attorney in Harris County told reporters he was disappointed in the decision but indicated he was not surprised by it.

Harris County has a few days to respond to Paxton's filing.