In a sweeping action against Harris County's "guaranteed income" program, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is pushing for the Supreme Court of Texas to put the brakes on what he deems an unlawful distribution of state funds. Following a rebuff from a lower court, Paxton immediately filed an emergency motion with the state's highest legal authority, asserting the urgency of the matter.

Earlier this month, the Attorney General’s Office filed suit against the county's initiative which plans to provide certain residents with $500 monthly cash payments over the course of 18 months. In direct opposition to the Texas Constitution, which explicitly prohibits the state's political bodies from the allocation of public funds for individual aid, this program sets no criteria for the selection of its beneficiaries, nor does it require them to be U.S. citizens. Instead, a mix of citizens and noncitizens stands to benefit from the county’s purse, according to the Texas Attorney General's news release.

"Harris County’s guaranteed income scheme plainly violates the Texas Constitution," Paxton was quoted in the release, claiming the county officials are overstepping their boundaries for political gain. The state's top prosecutor has promised to staunchly counteract what he frames as a misuse of taxpayers' funds, maintaining his stance that the program is a constitutional misstep.

The contentious debate around the "guaranteed income" program reflects broader national conversations on welfare and social support initiatives. Paxton argues that the program is not just a violation of state laws, but a departure from responsible governance, with allegations that Harris County is, in essence, squandering the people's money.