1 of 2 | Vice President Kamala Harris outlined her economic policy in a speech at Wake Tech Community College in Raleigh, N.C., on Friday, promising a federal ban on ‘corporate price gouging,’ as well as new tax breaks for families. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA-EFE
Aug. 16 (UPI) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday unveiled key parts of her economic agenda focusing on lowering consumer costs for groceries, drugs and housing during a campaign speech in Raleigh, N.C.
Appearing in a small venue at Wake Tech Community College rather than in an arena-size setting to deliver her first remarks on economic policy as the Democratic presidential nominee, Harris focused on pocketbook issues that many voters say will be the determining factor in deciding whether to vote for her or for Republican opponent Donald Trump.
Her outlined proposals included banning price gouging on staple food items, restoring middle-class tax credits, lowering costs for prescription drugs and housing, and relieving medical debt.
In Raleigh, she called for building 3 million new housing units to end the housing supply shortage and lower housing costs. She also called for accelerating Medicare prescription drug price negotiations, and cutting middle-class taxes for 100 million Americans through child tax credits of up to $6,000 per child.
“As president, I will take on the high costs that matter most to most Americans, like the cost of food,” Harris said. “We all know that prices went up during the pandemic when the supply chains shut down and failed. But our supply chains have improved and prices are still too high.”
As examples, she said, “a loaf of bread costs 50 percent more today than it did before the pandemic. Ground beef is up almost 50 percent.”
The Harris campaign said she will propose the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general investigate corporations taking advantage of inflation to price gouge consumers.
Her comments came a day after Trump held a news conference at the his New Jersey country club standing near an array of grocery items while attacking the Biden administration’s record on inflation since the pandemic.
Earlier this week in a North Carolina campaign stop, the Republican nominee blamed Biden, Harris and “liberal extremism” for raising energy, food, housing and other living costs.
On Friday, Harris countered by warning of what she called a “Trump tax” on groceries and other consumer items, a reference to the former president’s plans to impose a 60% tariff on all Chinese goods and a 10% tariff on nearly all U.S. imports.
“What Donald Trump plans to do, he wants to impose what is in effect a national sales tax on everyday products,” she said. “It will mean higher prices on just about every one of your daily needs — a Trump tax on gas, a Trump tax on food, a Trump tax on clothing, a Trump tax on over-the-counter medication.”
She also took aim at Trump’s campaign promises to billionaires and corporations.
“I think if you want to know who someone cares about, look who they fight for,” the vice president said. “Donald Trump fights for billionaires and large corporations. I will fight to give money back to working- and middle-class Americans.”