Additional Coverage:
On August 16, in Raleigh, North Carolina, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a speech at Wake Tech Community College where she outlined crucial elements of her economic policy. Amid a smaller, more intimate gathering as opposed to a large, arena-style event, Harris introduced her plans that aim to reduce daily expenses for Americans, including grocery, prescription drug, and housing costs.
In her speech, Harris proposed a federal prohibition against the “corporate price gouging” of essential food products, advocated for the reinstatement of middle-class tax credits, and emphasized the need for more affordable housing and healthcare. She highlighted her goal to construct three million new housing units to address the shortage and reduce costs. Additionally, Harris plans to hasten Medicare’s negotiation of drug prices and offer substantial tax relief for middle-class families, potentially providing child tax credits up to $6,000 per child to benefit 100 million Americans.
Addressing the economic strains felt by many due to the pandemic, Harris spoke of the persistent high costs, noting significant price increases in basic items like bread and ground beef. She blamed insufficient action in regulating markets where consumers still face inflated prices despite improved supply chains. Her campaign intends for her policies as president to boost the middle-class by ensuring essential goods are affordable.
Responding to recent comments from Donald Trump, who critiqued the Biden administration’s handling of inflation and proposed wide-reaching tariffs, Harris warned that Trump’s plans would effectively impose a “national sales tax” on various consumer products, dramatically increasing everyday living costs—a so-called “Trump tax.”
Harris argued that unlike Trump, who she claimed prioritizes the ultra-wealthy and large corporations, her focus as president would be to support working and middle-class Americans. This commitment is aimed at contrasting her vision distinctly from Trump’s policies and rhetoric, emphasizing a direct benefit to common American families from her proposed economic initiatives.