The day after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit to block the 'Uplift Harris' guaranteed income program, local Harris County Democrats led by Judge Lina Hidalgo, fired back.
"If Ken Paxton succeeds in getting an injunction as his lawsuit calls for, he and Texas far right Republicans will be responsible for taking $500 a month away from low income Harris County families" said Hidalgo.
The 'Uplift Harris' program is a $20.5 million investment program that provides $500 a month grants to struggling families for household needs, for 18-months. More than 82,500 people applied for the free handout, with only 1,928 being chosen based on their zip codes.
"They just happen to be primarily Democrat voters living in certain zip codes" said former Harris County GOP Chair, Jared Woodfill, "It's clearly an opportunity for Lina Hidalgo and Rodney Ellis to buy votes."
Harris County Attorney, Christian Menefee also took a shot at Paxton, “One of the main questions I’ve been getting from residents about this lawsuit is why the heck does Ken Paxton care? This is not state money, this is federal money and we are trying to help people,” he said.
But Hidalgo had the final word.
"We reject the premise that there's a legal conversation to be had here in the first place" Hidalgo said, "They've branded it the 'Harris handout', I guess they could have gone for 'Hidalgo handout' because they're making it all about me."
The next step will be an injunction hearing, with the case expected to go all the way to the Supreme Court.