Thread by @hollyshansen

Happening Now: Public meeting of the Harris County Commissioners Court- executive body of the most populous county in #Texas.

Livestream is here (clumsy website- you'll have to scroll down and click 'watch live').

harriscountytx.gov/Government/Cou…

Today's agenda includes 366 items and may be found here: agenda.harriscountytx.gov

The last meeting was "volatile" to say the least, with Harris County Judge stating on the record that she had been "groped" in that room, but there has been no further information released.

Background: thetexan.news/harris-countys…

Commissioners Court also approved the hiring of a law firm specializing in parliamentary procedure (with one co-founder serving as one of the #txlege House parliamentarians. )

Background: thetexan.news/texas-lawmaker…

Court begins with resolutions, and right now hearing speakers on a proposal from Commissioner Briones to create an LGBTQ+ advisory. Court approves resolution in celebration of Pride Month.

Court is taking up proposed "Guaranteed Basic Income" pilot program to pay chosen residents $500 a month using $20.5 million of federal taxpayer funds allocated through ARPA.

Commissioner Ramsey is asking about the high administrative costs- about 29%. Health director Robinson says they will need additional staff and advertising.

Robinson said there will be an RFP process for the third party services related to the pilot.

Commissioner Garcia is noting he has many poor in his own district and is questioning the poverty index parameters - recipients must live "below 200% of the federal poverty line" which is about $60k for a family of 4.

County Judge Hidalgo says this idea was proposed by Milton Friedman. (He advocated for a negative income tax form of this idea.)

Some background on UBI: reason.com/2019/08/01/do-…

Garcia asks if the county will be able to use general funds to continue the program once the ARPA funds are no longer available.

Hidalgo is bristling about questions about need for RFP, somehow comparing to the district attorney's increases to her staff.

Hidalgo seems very irritated with Garcia for asking about expanding the program to the poor in his own district.

Commissioner Ramsey is asking the county administrator about the math on administrative costs- says it's not just 10 percent.

Garcia says "we're setting policy and I would like the opportunity to ask questions..."

A rather tense moment there between Hidalgo and Garcia over program- Hidalgo also suggested he only interrupted female members of the commissioners court.

Court will go to executive session now to discuss legal action related to elections.

Here's some background: thetexan.news/harris-county-…

Our friends at Urban Reform posted a video clip:

https://twitter.com/urbanreformorg/status/1666129364956729345?s=20

Court is back from executive session. ICYMI, they voted 4-1 to approve the pilot program for guaranteed basic income.
Now they approve 4-1 to approve legal action against #txlege bills on elections.

Background: thetexan.news/bill-to-give-s…

Commissioners Court now discussing proposal from Commissioner Garcia to place a $2.5 billion bond for the health system's "strategic facilities plan" before voters.

Wow, Hidalgo again getting very upset with Garcia. Accuses him of being wrapped "around the little finger" of the district attorney, drops the F-bomb.

Lots of hostility from Hidalgo today... Accuses the DA of bullying.

These comments made during official session- should be available in the video the county will post after the fact. A government record and may not be edited.

Back in session now- Commissioner Ramsey says Hidalgo owes Garcia an apology. Ellis trying to change the subject as quickly as possible.

Ramsey says he is not accustomed to sitting in meetings where 4-letter words are lobbed at other members.

Ramsey walks out after Hidalgo refuses to apologize for her comments.

This is pretty amazing. The remaining four commissioners are trying very hard to pretend nothing happened. It's been an eye-popping day at Harris County Commissioners Court... #Houston

Ramsey comes back. All are back to discussing business, ignoring Hidalgo's odd outburst.

Some strange episodes this year...

At the last commissioners court meeting in May, Hidalgo also stated that she had been "groped" in the commissioners court meeting room, but there has been no follow up to the allegation.

Here's a video clip:

https://twitter.com/Texan_By_Birth/status/1666225298893930500?s=20