AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Harris County, which includes Houston, to put on hold a guaranteed income program that would provide $500 monthly cash payments to roughly 2,000 residents.
The program has become a target of Republican Texas Attorney General Paxton, who has accused local Democratic leaders of trying to “score political points” through the initiative and filed a lawsuit this month in an effort to block its implementation. The program is the latest rift between state and local leaders in the Houston area, where Democrats in recent years have gained political ground.
The Texas high court — which is made up entirely of Republican justices — made no ruling on the merits of the program, known as Uplift Harris. Still, the nine justices ordered the county to put the program on pause while the justices weigh its legality.
If implemented, Harris County would become one of the largest counties in the country with guaranteed income programs that have been replicated since the pandemic. Other major Texas cities, including Austin and San Antonio, have previously offered guaranteed income programs but did not face a lawsuit by the state.
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said Tuesday that he was not optimistic the county would “get a fair shake” from the Texas Supreme Court, which could permanently shut down the program.
“What we are seeing is the attorney general selectively enforcing the Texas Constitution against the county that he thinks he can make the most headlines off of,” Menefee said, adding that the lawsuit appeared to be a political move against an area with rising Democratic political power.
The program would provide cash payments to more than 1,900 qualifying county residents for 1 1/2 years. Eligible recipients must reside in an area identified with a high poverty rate and have a household income below 200% of the federal poverty line, which is about $30,000 for a single-person household.
It is funded by $20.5 million from President Joe Biden's 2021 pandemic relief package and follows in the footsteps of dozens of cities and counties across the country that have implemented guaranteed income programs to reduce poverty and inequality.
Paxton argued that the program, which he calls the “Harris Handout,” violates a line in the state constitution that prohibits local governments, political corporations or state entities from granting “public money or thing of value in aid of, or to any individual.”
“Harris County officials cannot continue to abuse their power and the people’s money to score political points, and we will fight every step of the way to hold them accountable," Paxton said in a statement Tuesday following his appeal to the state's highest civil court.
Meanwhile, Harris County officials continued to push back, arguing that the decision was politicized and pointed to orders by two lower courts, which did not pause the program.
According to Harris County officials, the county received more than 82,000 applications for the program by the February 2 deadline and distribution of the funds was set to begin tomorrow.
The lawsuit comes as the county has remained at odds with state Republican leaders for years, leading to multiple legal battles.
In 2021, state lawmakers passed voting legislation which targeted programs — implemented by the county the previous year — to facilitate voting during the COVID-19 pandemic for the county's more than 2 million voters.
During the state's next legislative session in 2023, GOP lawmakers passed new laws seeking more influence over Harris County elections.
Last year, state education leaders took over the Houston school district, the state’s largest, after years of complaints over student performance.
FILE - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton makes a statement at his office, May 26, 2023, in Austin, Texas. The Supreme Court of Texas on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, ordered Harris County, which includes Houston, to put on hold for now a guaranteed income program that would provide $500 monthly cash payments to roughly 2,000 residents in one of the largest counties in the U.S. The program has become a target of Paxton. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nolan Arenado drove in three runs, Sonny Gray gave up three hits in seven innings and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago White Sox 3-0 on Friday night.
Gray (4-1) walked one and struck out five in his longest outing of the season as the Cardinals snapped a two-game losing streak. Gray retired the last eight and 13 of the final 14 batters he faced.
Gray said he needed to reset after pitching out of a two-out jam in the third inning.
“I’ve done this before, but I just came in here (the locker room) after the third, took all my clothes off and got redressed with new cleats, socks, underwear, pants, belt, jersey, hat,” Gray said. “It’s kind of like, you’re a new guy, let’s get started here.”
Gray lowered his ERA to 0.89 this season. He is the first pitcher in St. Louis franchise history to have a sub-1.00 ERA through his first five starts with the team since 1910.
“Can’t say enough about the way he prepares and his ability to execute,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “Just does a phenomenal job … he has a purpose behind every single pitch.”
The White Sox lost their fourth game in a row. It was the ninth time they were shut out this season.
JoJo Romero pitched a perfect eighth and Ryan Helsley retired all three batters he faced in the ninth to earn his 11th save in 12 opportunities.
Arenado’s two-run double gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead in the first inning. It was Arenado’s first multi-RBI game since April 21.
He doubled again in the fifth to score Willson Contreras and make it 3-0. The hit knocked White Sox starter Brad Keller from the game.
“He’s starting to feel a lot better about his swing,” Marmol said. “That was a really good one there (in the first), drove in another one later in the game for insurance.”
Contreras had three hits, walked, stole a base and scored twice. But Gray said it was his work behind the plate that stood out.
“I felt I was getting a little open, a little pulley, and he kept giving me the cues that I needed,” Gray said. “And I was just working hard to fix it and make an adjustment. I would say after the third inning, I felt significantly better.”
Contreras called Gray’s stuff nasty.
“That’s what I’m here for, to be better for the guys and the pitching staff and I’m glad that what I said helped him,” Contreras said.
Keller (0-1) allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings. He gave up five hits, walked two and struck out five.
“I battled the whole night,” Keller said. “I felt like I always had someone on base, which sucked, want to clean that up, but all in all felt good. One to build on.”
Jared Shuster pitched 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the White Sox.
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: INF Danny Mendick was scratched from the lineup due to lower back tightness.
Cardinals: LHP Steven Matz (lower back strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to May 1 and RHP Kyle Leahy was recalled from Triple-A Memphis.
UP NEXT
RHP Lance Lynn (1-0, 2.64 ERA) will start for the Cardinals against RHP Erick Fedde (2-0, 2.60 ERA) on Saturday. Lynn, who pitched for the White Sox from 2001-03, is making his 10th career start against Chicago but first since 2019 as a member of the Texas Rangers. Fedde is coming off a career-high 8 1/3 innings in his last outing against Tampa Bay on Sunday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
St. Louis Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar makes a catch against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Brad Keller delivers against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray delivers against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado (28) run the bases after hitting a two-run double against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
St. Louis Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar makes a catch against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Brad Keller delivers against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray delivers against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado (28) run the bases after hitting a two-run double against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
