Dialogues on Key Issues as Harris Steps into the Race
A week after Kamala Harris’s announcement of her presidential candidacy, the Vice President appears to prepare a platform similar to that of President Joe Biden, whom she has ardently supported for the past four years. However, Harris is expected to imprint her unique perspective and style on critical matters, from abortion to economy to immigration, while adroitly navigating the political landscape to affirm the administration’s successes and steer clear from its deficiencies. The complexities and potential subtleties of her views are slowly emerging.
Abortion and Reproductive Rights
Prior to launching her presidential bid, Harris has epitomized a leading advocate for abortion rights within the administration, especially following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022. She championed a “reproductive freedoms tour” across several states, with a historic visit to an abortion clinic in Minnesota. In her zeal to impede the Hyde Amendment, which bars federal funds from securing most abortions, Harris surfaces as a more resilient advocate for abortion and reproductive rights than Biden.
Economy and Income Inequality
As inflation woes tarnish much of the common citizens’ trust in the Biden administration’s economic measures, Harris seeks to provide an alternate narrative. Her aspirations feature a stark focus on strengthening the middle and working class. Harris’s 2020 campaign included a proposal for a refundable tax credit of $6,000 per year for such families, enabling them to grapple with soaring living expenses. Her advocacy for raising the corporate income tax rate to 35%, higher than Biden’s proposition of 28% further exemplifies her more liberal economic policies. Equally committed to solving housing and student loan crises, Harris urges for greater controls on the corporate sector and an expansion of social safety nets for the average citizen.
Health Care
Harris exhibits support for a transition to a Medicare-for-All-type government-backed health insurance system while also vouching for the continued presence of private insurance companies. She seeks to fund the coverage expansion by taxing Wall Street trades and transactions and altering the taxation of offshore corporate income. Additionally, she aims to reduce drug costs by allowing the federal government to set a fair price for drugs and to resort to import or license redistribution of patents if manufacturers are found guilty of price manipulation.
Climate Change
Harris’s dedication to tackling climate change and promoting environmental justice dates back to her tenure as California’s attorney general, wherein she took legal action against oil companies. As a proponent of the Green New Deal resolution and ardent climate advocate, Harris draws sharp contrasts with Donald Trump’s fossil fuel-centred approach and presents an impressive candidate to uphold Biden’s climate legacy.
Immigration
In her role as overseer of diplomatic efforts in Central America for the Biden administration, Harris sought to rectify the situation at the US-Mexico border. She has notably ventured into establishing partnerships between the private sector and the US government to create jobs in the region and alleviate the long-term immigration issues.
Israel-Gaza Tensions
After conversing with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, she delivered a powerful speech recognizing Israel’s right to self-defense while expressing profound empathy towards the Palestinian suffering and plight. Her actions contrast with Biden’s less forceful stance and indicate a potentially different approach to the situation if she enters office.
Ukrainian Conflict
Affirming unwavering support for Ukraine against Russian aggression, Harris has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky multiple times and recently announced $1.5 billion in aid for Ukraine’s energy needs and humanitarian support. She underlines her commitment to NATO and global security while ensuring consequence measures against any violations.
As the presidential race progresses, the nation eagerly anticipates Harris’s distinct approach to these critical issues and awaits more intricate details of her plans.
