Harris Tells DC Audience: ‘The Children of the Community Are the Children of the Community’

 Vice President Kamala Harris appeared to undercut her economic agenda during remarks at the Wednesday Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 47th Annual Leadership Conference. While pledging to crack down on corporations engaging in price gouging, Harris acknowledged that “very few” companies are guilty of the practice.

On Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute leadership conference in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Speaking at the event, Harris highlighted the need for her administration to lower the cost of groceries for families, especially those struggling due to extreme weather conditions, such as California wildfires, and the economic fallout of the pandemic. “Some corporations, and very few of them that do this, jack up prices to make it more difficult for desperate people just to get by,” she said. “We need to take that on.”

However, her acknowledgement that only a small number of corporations engage in price gouging appeared to weaken her argument for a broader crackdown, leaving some questioning the focus of her policy.

Harris also touched on the importance of providing families with the resources necessary to raise children in her speech. However, she did not offer specific details about those resources or how they would be delivered. “I grew up understanding the children of the community are the children of the community, and we should all have a vested interest in ensuring that children can grow up with the resources they need to achieve their God-given potential,” she said.

Harris’ economic plan includes raising the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%, a departure from her earlier support for a 35% rate during her brief 2020 presidential campaign. The Harris campaign describes this move as a “fiscally responsible” way to ensure billionaires and giant corporations pay their fair share while returning money to working families.

The proposal, however, has drawn criticism from policy experts. The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan think tank, estimates that Harris’ tax plan would increase federal revenue by $4.1 trillion between 2025 and 2034. However, it warns that this could come at a significant economic cost, including a projected 2% reduction in long-term GDP, a 1.2% decline in wages, and the potential loss of 786,000 jobs over the same period.

Harris’ remarks come as she ramps up her campaign efforts for the 2024 presidential race. However, her comments at the leadership conference, particularly on price gouging, left some observers questioning the coherence of her economic strategy at a time when inflation and corporate accountability are major voter concerns.