Associated Press
Vice President Kamala Harris is out with a string of new economic proposals focused on food prices, taxes, housing and medical costs that she says will empower the middle class.
The plans constitute the first major policy proposals that Harris has released in the nearly four weeks since President Joe Biden bowed out of the race and endorsed his vice president.
A look at what Harris is proposing:
Food prices
After years of polling showing that Americans are worried about inflation, Harris is aiming to contain prices where they have often been most conspicuously felt — at the grocery store. She’s promising to, during her first 100 days in office, send Congress proposed federal limits on price increases for food producers and grocers. Harris also is seeking new authority for the Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general in states across the country to enact steeper punishments for violators. She also wants to use government regulators to crack down on mergers and acquisitions among large food industry businesses that the vice president argues have contributed to higher prices.
Housing
Harris is calling for the construction of 3 million new housing units over four years, which she says will ease a “serious housing shortage in America.” She also plans to promote legislation creating a new series of tax incentives for builders who construct “starter” homes sold to first-time homebuyers.
She also wants a $40 billion innovation fund — doubling a similar pot of money created by the Biden administration — for businesses building affordable rental housing units. Harris also wants to speed up permitting and review processes to get housing stock to the market more quickly.
Taxes and medical costs
Harris wants to speed up a Biden administration effort that has allowed Medicare and other federal programs to negotiate with drugmakers to lower the cost of prescription medications, aiming to cut the price tags of some of the most expensive and most commonly used drugs by roughly 40% to 80% starting in 2026. She’s also promised to promote competition with steps to increase transparency within pharmaceutical company pricing practices.
Harris also pledged to work with state entities to cancel $7 billion of medical debt for up to 3 million qualifying Americans.
The vice president also proposed to make permanent a $3,600 per child tax credit approved through 2025 for eligible families, while offering a new $6,000 tax credit for those with newborn children. She says a Harris administration would work to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit to cut taxes for some frontline workers by up to $1,500 and reduce taxes on healthcare plans offered on the marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act.
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Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
43 comments
Shelly Justice
August 17, 2024 at 1:41 pm
In other words, she has no idea what to do, how to do it. Not the right person for the job. She did nothing as VP. Wake up America, this is our last opportunity to save our country.
MarvinM
August 17, 2024 at 2:33 pm
While this particular article didn’t give details, there is a more detailed plan to make these things happen. I can’t provide links without going into moderation, but surely you can figure it out if you actually want to.
The way I see it, Trump “has no idea what to do, how to do it.”
Plus, he denigrates American military, mocks the disabled, stole classified and unclassified documents and then tried to hide them, encouraged a mob to swarm the Capitol on Jan. 6th and then didn’t say anything for 3 hours to quell it, perpetrated fraud, so so much fraud, Trump University, escalating his real estate values to get better loan deals while at the same time devaluating his real estate holdings to get better tax advantages.
And you think voting for that con man, that fraud, that charlatan, will save our country?
By the way, where’s Melania?
C Lewandowski
August 17, 2024 at 4:59 pm
Hey Marvin,
Melania and Ivanka have both announced they are voting for Kamala Harris. It has been reported elsewhere that Donald has dressed the Mar A Largo dining room wall with three Big Macs this afternoon,
Sincerely,
Corey Lewandowski
Day 27
August 17, 2024 at 7:11 pm
You are looking for Melanie, where has Kammy been for over 1300 day? She is partly responsible for the inflationary economy we currently live in. Now Kammy the Kammunist said Bidenomics was working. Kammy now trying to disappear and separate herself from Biden. No thanks to Kammunism
David Pakman
August 18, 2024 at 9:10 am
The Nazis also made exaggerated claims of communism to threat to stoke fear and anger, and justify violence and takeover. I don’t see anyone calling for elimination of private property or a planned economy. You’re spouting nazi propaganda. Well done..
Ocean Joe
August 19, 2024 at 7:09 am
When, in American history has any vice president done much of anything? They are seen and not heard. Sometimes, like Spiro Agnew, they get indicted, resign in shame and go to prison. Al Gore (remember, the guy who won the popular vote?) did a bit under Bill Clinton (the guy with the budget surplus), but other than that they are pretty limited.
Harris is not my first choice, but she’s not Trump. The last thing we need is more division, more crybaby failed state stuff. America is the greatest, always with room for improvement.
The Escalator Says
August 19, 2024 at 7:14 am
Let’s give Trump some credit.
One man singlehandedly destroyed half of America’s faith in our electoral system. Quite an accomplishment.
Yrral
August 17, 2024 at 1:50 pm
Why are White people insecure of Black people,maybe because Black people have no fear of you, White people has been running America since it inception,and lots of White people have psychological regress to the point that support a clinical insane person like Trump,who look down them as being trash and still support him
Day 27
August 17, 2024 at 4:31 pm
I’m sure there are plenty of red, brown, black and every other color out there not interested in turning the USA into Venezuela, Russia, and Argentina. They are the smart ones. Kammy and her clueless followers not so much. Google Econ 101.
JD
August 17, 2024 at 6:32 pm
Because Trump is a stellar business man right? He’s as shameless as Gene Simmons is about putting the Kiss name on anything, but has the business sense of the Tiger King for f@cking it up.
NOBODY wants Trumpian Econ 101, ie spend a bunch of money, not get a return and then stiff the contractors because you filed bankruptcy. Red, Brown, or Black.
Day 27
August 17, 2024 at 7:13 pm
Most people will tell you the economy was far better when Trump was President. Inflation is rampant now. I remember what fuel prices were right before “Dementia” Joe and the Kammunist took over. Don’t even get me going about the Southern Border debacle, foreign policy misses, the Afghanistan “fall of Saigon” exit.
JD
August 17, 2024 at 7:40 pm
REally? Like during the pandemic? How he completely blew the one thing he should have gotten right? Give me a break.
Fuel – supply and demand.
Inflation – Trump’s PPP “free money” printed to the hilt
Afghanistan – in the works under Trump and Mr. Bone Spurs was too much of a p@ssy to pull the trigger.
Try again Ed.
Yrral
August 17, 2024 at 7:52 pm
How many American lives and billion of dollars,have been saved since we left Afghanistan
JD
August 17, 2024 at 7:57 pm
Trump was handed a gift wrapped economy he didn’t do anything with but let it run. Obama bailed out everything after the Republicans ran it into the GROUND under Bush 2.0. And Trump did the same thing with the Pandemic that Biden bailed out. Seems like the shit hits the fan every time after the BananaRepublicans are in office and then you all want to “remember” how it really wasn’t. And you NEVER have data to back it up.
And coming Afghanistan to Siagon is like compairing a grain of sand to a mountain.
Day 27
August 17, 2024 at 8:26 pm
Spin as you like JD. Iin Jan 2021 before Joe and Kammy took over fuel was just over two dollars a gallon where I live. It has been above three at least since then. Interest rates were lower. Groceries and other consumables were lower too. Shall I bring up the Southern Border chaos? How about wars / attacks in Israel and Ukraine? The there are these Houthi rebel bastards that have been taking pot shots at us. Yet you are okay with all of this. A true Kammunist.
JD
August 17, 2024 at 8:41 pm
There’s nothing more communist than a veteran that used to (and may still) suck of the goverment teet, barking about communism.
There’s nothing more communist than getting paid with community money to defend the community. So spin that any way you like as well.
rick whitaker
August 17, 2024 at 10:08 pm
DAY 27, keep howling that garbage talk, you’re like sergeant shultz, you know nothing.
Day 29
August 19, 2024 at 4:21 pm
Hey JD I just wanted to thank you for paying your taxes if in fact you are a taxpayer in this country. The training I received and the experience as well was fabulous. Many great friends and memories from those days.After my stint in the US military my experience and training placed me into a job that easily makes me a top income earner in this country. Again thanks for paying your taxes.😜
JD
August 20, 2024 at 9:49 am
I’m for community first, even when they vote against everyone’s best interest – mostly because they need military grade cult deprogramming.
The 3 worst people for our democracy have been Mitch McConnel, Clarence Thomas, and Rupert Murdock.
Old Turtle gave them the key, Thomas removed the guardrail, and Murdock provided the propaganda.
You should give back and stop your cult worship.
Yrral
August 17, 2024 at 7:39 pm
You speak for insecure White people, Florida is already Venezuela and Cuba and a banana Republic, even Mexican avoid Florida in great numbers
Day 27
August 17, 2024 at 7:55 pm
You are clueless. Have you been to Cuba? I have. Venezuela? Been there as well, and it has gone down hill by a large margin.
Ed Slavin
August 18, 2024 at 9:13 am
That’s Latin American socialism.. not to be confused with European social democracy which has brought the greatest amount of good for the most people. You’re trying to suggest that all socialism is communism. We’ve heard it all before from you idiots and we know better.
Yrral
August 18, 2024 at 11:00 am
You do not have to go there, when you can experience it in Florida
Yrral
August 17, 2024 at 2:04 pm
He has no use for the MAGA hordes but their votes,who cannot buy a membership at his golf course and eat at his restaurant,but are willing to give their last dollar to him,you do better by buying a lottery ticket ,you would at least have a better chance of winning than him
ScienceBLVR
August 17, 2024 at 2:54 pm
Kamala will bring it! And Bey say-
How we’re smart enough to make these millions
Strong enough to bear the children
Then get back to business
See, you better not play me..
My persuasion can build a nation…
Who run the world? Girls! Girls!
Who run the world? Girls!
Day 27
August 17, 2024 at 7:14 pm
Kammy is going to bring you Kammunism. Is that what you want?
rick whitaker
August 17, 2024 at 7:21 pm
DAY 27, childish name calling, is that all you got? piiiiitifull.
Day 27
August 17, 2024 at 7:35 pm
I got you reading now dont I? Oh there’s more my Tennessee Section 8 landlord.
JD
August 17, 2024 at 8:01 pm
Funny how veterans are always the first to scream “communism,” while they’ve been practically glued to the government teat (and probably still are). I mean, let’s be real—there’s nothing more socialistic or communistic than military service. You’re literally taking money from the community to defend the community. Talk about irony!
Yrral
August 17, 2024 at 3:07 pm
That old Black MAGA,both him and Trump are insane in the Membrane, Trump double down on the crazies Google Mark Robinson Trump
Tom
August 17, 2024 at 3:25 pm
What I’ve seen looks a bit light on detail but if the trump corporate tax cuts aren’t extended in 2025, aside from not adding trillions of dollars to the national debt, that should leave some money for child tax credits and a few other initiatives.
Guess we’ll see what gets rolled out next week.
Michael S
August 17, 2024 at 3:34 pm
Some of what Harris proposes is, in fact, new policy and of course, no one knows what efficacy it will have on inflation or the average household’s benefit. However, the 3 main policies from Trump’s speeches the past week are, in fact, simply a continuation of what is already in place from his 2016 election….tariffs, drilling and tax cuts.
The problem with his 1st term tariffs is already known to be inflationary because the US buyer ended up paying it, not the foreign supplier…estimated at $250 billion by US Customs.
The problem with more US drilling is the US is already producing at record levels under Biden but it doesn’t offset the effect on prices from the Ukraine conflict nor OPEC’s price controls.
The problem with Trump’s 2017 tax cuts is that it has been shown that 50% of their benefit has gone to the top 5% of taxpayers.
The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing again and expecting different results.
Yrral
August 17, 2024 at 4:14 pm
Cutting bank fees,such mandatory minimum in account,lots of people think they are getting a privilege by being able to cash a check,when they do not have the minimum amount and are charged a fee, Google Bank Mandatory Minimum Fees
Day 27
August 17, 2024 at 4:26 pm
Google “where the hell has Kammy been for the last 1300 days’”. I mean remember when she was the tie. breaker in 2022 that put nearly 2 trillion into the economy. That’s where your inflation came from. That bill also included more than 87000 new IRS agents to come after taxes. Now Kammy is gonna copy Trump and not tax tips. Kammy and Joe brought us this inflation. One of these days she will have to defend those policies. Remember she said Bidenomics was working. She is now running away from it but Joe, KJP, Donna Rice and others aren’t going to let her completely off.
JD
August 17, 2024 at 6:38 pm
Damnn, you sure you’re not a paid shill? It’s obvious that you drank the red right mob koolaid so much, you must bust through walls going “Oh Yeah…”
Trump’s boys were in there in that inflation with the first round of “FREE Money” of the PPP that him and his ilk sucked up like it was a Hoover demo day, so STFU about “inflation” being the sole responsibility of “Kammy”. PPP is where the inflation came from and it was for “bidness”. And the IRS agents were there to go after people like Trump, who committed fraud, while the rest of us had to cover his ass and the rich’s. Nothing like privatizing the profits and socializing the losses is there? GTFO.
JD
August 17, 2024 at 6:38 pm
You sure you’re not a paid shill? It’s obvious that you drank the red right mob koolaid so much, you must bust through walls going “Oh Yeah…”
Trump’s boys were in there in that inflation with the first round of “FREE Money” of the PPP that him and his ilk sucked up like it was a Hoover demo day, so STFUA about “inflation” being the sole responsibility of “Kammy”. PPP is where the inflation came from and it was for “bidness”. And the IRS agents were there to go after people like Trump, who committed fraud, while the rest of us had to cover his ass and the rich’s. Nothing like privatizing the profits and socializing the losses is there?
cassandra was right
August 18, 2024 at 10:52 am
“87000 new IRS agents to come after taxes.”
IRS did not hire 87000 new agents. But they are coming after wealthy tax evaders!
As a result of Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022: “The IRS says it has clawed back more than $1 billion in unpaid taxes from millionaires who were skipping payment of undisputed tax bills — that is, they were skipping them until the agency started stiffening enforcement on rich households.” —-—-marketwatch.com
Harris will make sure the wealthy pay their fair share!
VOTE FOR HER!
PeterH
August 17, 2024 at 4:32 pm
Kamala should review the past mistake of Richard Nixon and his failed “wage price freeze” policies. It’s fine to increase market competition but freezing prices eventually is counterproductive.
Secondly, a $6000. child cash back should be limited to families with annual EARNED INCOME less than say $200K
Third, any first time home buyer incentive should be placed in escrow and not be interpreted by banks as buyer income to be applied to credit worthiness. Banks need to evaluate buyer income!
Forth, Relief on “tip tax” is going to be difficult to regulate. Restaurant servers for example share tips with bartenders, bus staff and sometimes kitchen staff. The tip relief should be limited to hospitality employees, ride share drivers and a select group of employees. Let’s not, for example, create an environment where home buyers are “tipping” their buyers agent $25,000. in lieu of a buyers fee or worse, wealthy investors are “tipping” their investment counselors!
Kamala and her advisers are smart enough to see through potential risks and scammers. Catching them all will be left to the IRS.
Michael S
August 17, 2024 at 4:56 pm
A whole lot depends on whether that legislation is ultimately written up as a price-gouging law vs. a blanket price control law. Price-gouging is a case by case event, by supplier, by grocery store chain, by geographic location, etc. Nixon’s controls were blanket application. The country of Panama is a good example of when selectivity and continual adjustment can make price controls work. Panama has maintained it for 15 years or so through several elections.
Day 27
August 17, 2024 at 7:02 pm
4 million people live in the country of Panama. About the same amount that live in Dade and Broward County. You think that’s a valid comparison to a country of roughly 350 million? Who is policing the gouging going on in the Panama Canal every time a ship goes through it?
MarvinM
August 17, 2024 at 9:57 pm
Why do you call it gouging? Is there something else going on I am not aware of?
Day 28
August 18, 2024 at 12:28 pm
There is no competition there. Either you pay what the Panamanian’s want or you go around South America.
Dont Say FLA
August 18, 2024 at 4:21 pm
OTOH we have Turnip Truck who says to vote for him because he’s better looking and he is going to fix everything in the whole world on Day One but never you mind quite how he plans to fix anything at all, especially given how he fixed nothing in the 4 years he already had to deliver on his same old campaign
promiseslies and nonsense. The only thing he accomplished was building a selfie station in Eagle Pass TexasComments are closed.