Judge denies attempt to pause Harris County’s guaranteed income program

A district judge upheld Harris County's new guaranteed income program Thursday, denying Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's request to pause it.

The big picture: Paxton's office sued Harris County over Uplift Harris, which promises $500 monthly cash payments to more than 1,900 low-income households over 18 months.

• The lawsuit , filed this month, called the program a "socialist experiment" and argued the assistance was unconstitutional and violated a Texas statute prohibiting gifts of public funds.
• Last summer, the county allocated $20.5 million of federal COVID funds to fund it.
• Uplift Harris received more than 82,500 applications. The nearly 2,000 families were randomly selected and notified in February.

Reality check: County officials expect Paxton will appeal the decision to the Texas Supreme Court.

• "Given what we've seen from that court and Republican politics, I am skeptical that we will get a fair shake. But I plan to do everything I can to protect this program," Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said in a statement.

What they're saying: Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said he was "grateful" for the ruling, calling it a "victory."

• Menefee said the 165th District Court's decision was a "big win for Harris County residents …. Families in Harris County are being attacked by Republican state officials. Plain and simple. It's shameful."

Between the lines: Other cities and counties, including Austin , San Antonio and El Paso County, have implemented guaranteed income programs, yet Paxton didn't sue them, per Houston Landing .

What's next: Harris County will send out payments on April 24 unless there's another update, per Ellis's office.

Sign up for Axios Houston for free.