Tensions have escalated in Harris County as Attorney Christian Menefee urged the Texas Attorney General's Office not to intervene in a dispute over the new "Uplift Harris" guaranteed income program. Senator Paul Bettencourt has challenged the program's legality, arguing that it violates the Texas constitution which prohibits the gift of public funds.
Harris County launched the Uplift Harris program, funded by federal COVID relief money, aiming to distribute $500 in monthly cash assistance to around 1,900 low-income residents for 18 months. Since its rollout, the initiative has been met with overwhelming demand, registering over 67,000 applications, reported Houston Chronicle.
In an act of defiance, Menefee sent a brief to the Attorney General's Office suggesting the request for opinion should be ignored due to pending litigation in a related case. According to Menefee, the inquiry is unnecessary because the county's initiative is "authorized by at least three statutes" and "permitted by the Texas Constitution," reported Houston Chronicle. Meanwhile, Bettencourt's concern hinges on his belief that counties lack the authority to enact such a program and that it may equate to a gift of public funds. He shared his concern with Houston Public Media, stating, "They are not a Home Rule city. They cannot create new law themselves."
Amidst the legal debate, Harris County officials remain steadfast in their defense of the program. Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis expressed his dissatisfaction with the Republican senator's actions, lambasting them as political posturing that aims to uphold "a system of inequality." He told Houston Chronicle, "No one should be surprised that Senator Bettencourt is enlisting Attorney General Paxton to stand in the way of our efforts to help families put food on the table and make ends meet."
Bettencourt rejects the criticism and stands by his inquiry, citing his responsibility as committee chair to probe into the policy's implication. "I'm glad Menefee's doing his job, because as a committee chair, I'm doing my job by asking the questions," he commented in a response obtained by Houston Public Media. Regardless of the attorney general's impending decision, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo remains a vocal supporter of Uplift Harris, vowing to "defend it every step of the way," as success stories of similar programs across the nation suggest the initiative's potential to reduce poverty.
