St. Louis Basic Income Program Halted
Judge Stops Monthly $500 Payments Amid Legal Concerns
A St. Louis judge has stopped the city’s guaranteed basic income program for 15 days. This program was supposed to give $500 monthly payments to 500 households. The judge’s decision came after Fred Hale and Greg Tumlin argued that the program might break state and city rules. Now, the city has to take back any money that hasn’t been spent yet stopping $220,000 from being given out on July 21, according to the report of Just The News.
(photo: The Business Journals)
Legal Dispute Over Basic Income Program in St. Louis
Hale and Tumlin, supported by the Holy Joe Society, believe the program, which was approved by the city aldermen and signed by Mayor Tishaura Jones is against the law. The program was supposed to use $52 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to help families for 18 months. The judge decided to pause the program because there is a strong public interest in checking if it is legal before letting it continue.
Mayor Jones said the city will follow the judge’s order and is looking for ways to keep helping St. Louis families. The program was meant for parents or legal guardians with children in St. Louis Public Schools, with incomes not more than 170% of the federal poverty level. This legal issue and pause show ongoing debates about basic income programs in the U.S.
