Southwest
Harris County attorney defends guaranteed income program against Texas' lawsuit: 'Attack' by GOP officials
A Harris County attorney defended a guaranteed income program that’s been targeted in a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday.
Paxton’s lawsuit claims that “Uplift Harris,” a guaranteed income program established in Harris County, is “unconstitutional.” The lawsuit seeks an “immediate ruling to block Uplift Harris from beginning to make payments under the program.”
“This lawsuit is nothing more than another attack on Harris County government by Republican state leaders looking to make headlines,” Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee, who will represent the defendants in the suit, said in a press release.
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“This program is about helping people in a real way by giving them direct cash assistance—something governments have always done. I cannot for the life of me understand why any public servant would be opposed to that,” he added.
A Harris County attorney defended a guaranteed income program that’s been targeted in a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday. (Harris County attorney general’s office)
The Uplift Harris program passed by a vote of 4-1 in Harris County Commissioners Court last year.
Uplift Harris is a guaranteed income pilot that would allow participating households to receive $500 per month for 18 months. The program began on January 12, 2024, and is available to 1,924 applicants.
The program received over 59,000 applications, a local FOX affiliate reported.
The applicants were selected “randomly” through a lottery process, according to the county website.
County officials will fund the program with the $20.5 million received through the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, which was intended to be used for COVID-19 relief initiatives. But now, those who receive the funds will receive them with “no strings attached,” according to Paxton.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit claims that “Uplift Harris,” a guaranteed income program established in Harris County, is “unconstitutional.” The lawsuit seeks an “immediate ruling to block Uplift Harris from beginning to make payments under the program.” (Dylan Hollingsworth/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The attorney general’s office said the state’s constitution forbids “any county, city, town or other political corporation or subdivision of the State…to grant public money or thing of value in aid of, or to any individual.”
“Harris County’s program to give public money away with no conditions, no control over expenditure of that money, and no guarantee of public benefit is prohibited,” Paxton’s office said in a press release.
Paxton also points out that the state’s constitution gives everyone “equal rights, and no man, or set of men, is entitled to exclusive separate public emoluments.”
Handing out the money, he added, violates the state’s constitution because the selection of recipients is inherently arbitrary.
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“This scheme is plainly unconstitutional,” Attorney General Paxton said. “Taxpayer money must be spent lawfully and used to advance the public interest, not merely redistributed with no accountability or reasonable expectation of a general benefit. I am suing to stop officials in Harris County from abusing public funds for political gain.”
Fox News Digital previously interviewed Republican State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, who sent a letter to Paxton about “Uplift Harris” leveling similar claims to Paxton.
A Texas state lawmaker believes that a universal income program pushed on the county level is unconstitutional. (Fox News Digital)
Considering that over 59,000 people applied for just over 1,900 available spots, Bettencourt asked, how does the government decide who wins and who loses?
“I don’t like the concept of what I would call lottery socialism here because it’s based on specific zip codes, and it’s no strings attached,” Bettencourt told Fox News Digital. “And that’s why I’m concerned about the gift clause of the [Texas] Constitution.”
Menefee pushed back, saying when corporations are given taxpayer dollars, it’s called “economic development” by Republican leaders in the state’s legislature and executive branch.
“When governments use federal dollars to actually help people, Republican leaders in Austin call it socialism,” Menefee said.
He went on to say, “I think the message Harris County residents have for AG Paxton is to lead in a way that’s going to help people or get out of the way. I will vigorously defend the county and this program in court.”
A hearing for the case is scheduled in the next few weeks.
Austin, Texas recently launched a guaranteed income program to address housing insecurity in the city. Other cities throughout the U.S. are considering a similar program.
Fox News’ Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
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Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
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A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
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