A judge has halted St. Louis’ Guaranteed Basic Income program, which was giving $500 a month to over 500 families, due to legal challenges claiming it violates state and city laws.
St. Louis Guaranteed Basic Income Program on Hold Due to Legal Dispute Over State Laws
According to the report of Fox News, a judge in St. Louis has stopped the city’s Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) program from giving $500 a month to over 500 families. The judge’s decision follows a lawsuit that argues the program breaks Missouri’s state laws and the city’s rules. The lawsuit claims using public money to give direct payments to people is against the law in Missouri.
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones is unhappy with the judge’s decision and said the city is looking for other ways to help families. The Guaranteed Basic Income program started in December 2022 with funds from COVID relief and a donation from tech billionaire Jack Dorsey. It was designed to help low-income families with children.
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500+ Families Impacted: St. Louis Judge Halts Guaranteed Basic Income Program – Sparking Debate on Legality and Efficacy! (PHOTO: St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Challenges for U.S. Guaranteed Basic Income Programs Highlighted by St. Louis Legal Dispute
This legal issue is part of a bigger problem faced by many guaranteed income programs across the U.S. Even though over 100 of these programs have started since 2018 and some have shown good results, many face funding and legal challenges. The St. Louis case shows the difficulties these programs can encounter.
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