Texas Supreme Court orders Harris County to not make payments under guaranteed income program

The Supreme Court of Texas issued a ruling Tuesday that prohibits Harris County from launching a guaranteed income programme which is presently being disputed by Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The determination comes conscionable days aft Houston County Judge Ursula Hall struck down Paxton’s arguments that the Uplift Harris program, which distributes monthly stipends to implicit 1,900 low-income residents, is unconstitutional.

"If the programme does see a nationalist benefit, it does not interruption the constitution," the Houston Landing reported Hall arsenic saying.

Paxton’s attorneys argued that payer wealth indispensable beryllium utilized successful the nationalist involvement for a wide benefit.

TEXAS LAWMAKER CHALLENGES ‘LOTTERY SOCIALISM,’ URGES STATE AG TO RULE ON THE UNIVERSAL INCOME PROGRAM

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a suit against Harris County, claiming the county's guaranteed income programme was unconstitutional. (Dylan Hollingsworth/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The Harris County Commissioners Court passed Uplift Harris past twelvemonth by a ballot of 4-1.

The guaranteed income aviator would let participating households to person $500 per period for 18 months. The programme began connected Jan. 12, and presently has 1,924 applicants enrolled.

Paxton filed a lawsuit seeking an contiguous ruling to artifact Uplift Harris from making payments nether the program, which the Texas Supreme Court granted.

"Without respect to the merits, the tribunal grants an administrative enactment arsenic follows: Real parties successful involvement and their agents are prohibited from making payments nether the Uplift Harris programme pending further bid of this Court," the ruling read.

JUDGE SHOOTS DOWN TEXAS AG PAXTON'S ATTEMPT TO BLOCK GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM

Paxton filed a suit seeking an contiguous ruling to artifact Uplift Harris from making payments nether the program, which the Texas Supreme Court granted. (Getty Images )

UpTogether, an enactment with a ngo of investing successful radical successful historically undervalued communities by influencing policies and mobilizing systems for change, responded to the court’s ruling connected Tuesday, calling the determination "shameful."

"Today’s shameful determination means thousands of Texas residents facing fiscal hardship volition beryllium denied an accidental for fiscal stableness and upward mobility for the unforeseeable future," UpTogether CEO Jesús Gerena said. "By blocking Uplift Harris, the authorities Supreme Court has tossed speech immoderate conception of judicial restraint and joined Ken Paxton’s ongoing circus show, successful which helium continues to usage people’s day-to-day endurance arsenic a governmental football."

Gerena added that what Paxton was doing "is cruel, it is deceitful, and it is opportunistic."

Still, Paxton continues to combat against what helium says is unconstitutional.

TEXAS SCHOOLS WARNED OF FINANCIAL PENALTIES IF THEY SKIRT DEI BAN: 'STRONGEST BILL IN THE NATION'

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he's pleased with the Supreme Court of Texas' decision. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

"I’m pleased the Supreme Court of Texas has blocked Harris County from disbursing these unlawful payments," Paxton said. "I look guardant to continuing to support our Constitution and preventing this egregious misuse of payer money."

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said successful February that migrants are surviving successful poverty, "supporting them helps each of america and has bully downstream effects connected each of us."

After proceeding the quality that payments would not beryllium capable to spell retired immediately, she said her bosom "breaks" for the families.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"This is the authorities erstwhile again trying to bully Harris County, and these families are getting caught successful the middle," Hidalgo said successful a connection to Fox News Digital. "The Attorney General has known for a twelvemonth that we had this programme coming, truthful we truly were amazed to spot them effort to artifact it erstwhile we had already selected and notified the recipients. I’ve already heard stories of radical who were expecting these funds and I hatred having to springiness them contradictory accusation each day, but I tin accidental that we are going to support fighting."

Harris County has until April 29 to respond to the exigency question for alleviation to the Texas Supreme Court.

Joshua Q. Nelson of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.