Kamala Harris’ Policy Positions Before Debate with Trump

As Vice President Kamala Harris prepares for her debate against former President Donald Trump, her campaign has updated its website to offer a clearer picture of her policy agenda. However, despite these updates, Harris has yet to provide many specific proposals beyond her economic plans.

The updated campaign website now features an “issues” section, breaking down her platform into four main areas: the economy, safeguarding fundamental freedoms, ensuring safety and justice, and maintaining national security and prosperity. Each section also critiques “Trump’s Project 2025 Agenda,” highlighting what Harris’ team describes as extreme policies promoted by Trump and conservative activists. Although Trump has distanced himself from this agenda, the Harris campaign continues to use it to frame him as pushing a far-right agenda.

While Harris outlined some policies during her Democratic National Convention acceptance speech, concrete proposals have been sparse. Her economic plan, discussed in an August speech, includes several key initiatives. Harris proposes expanding the child tax credit, offering up to $6,000 for newborns and $3,600 per child for middle and lower-income families. She also supports reinstating the Earned Income Tax Credit for those earning less than $63,398 and pledges not to raise taxes on individuals making under $400,000 annually. Additionally, Harris aims to tackle price gouging at grocery stores, improve housing affordability with $25,000 in assistance for first-time homebuyers, and increase tax credits for developers of affordable housing. Her plan includes a $40 billion “innovation fund” to address the housing crisis and expand small business support by increasing the startup tax deduction. She also advocates for expanding insulin cost caps and prescription drug cost limits and plans to work with states to eliminate medical debt and enhance Affordable Care Act subsidies. Harris’ platform promises to protect Social Security and Medicare by increasing taxes on high-income earners.

In her economic agenda, Harris also proposes raising taxes on the wealthy and large corporations. Her campaign outlines plans to roll back Trump-era tax cuts for the rich, introduce a “billionaire minimum tax” at 25%, and tax unrealized gains. She suggests “quadrupling” the tax on stock buybacks and implementing a 28% long-term capital gains tax for those earning over $1 million annually, though this is lower than the 39.6% rate previously proposed by Biden. Senator Bernie Sanders has urged Harris to adopt a more progressive stance.

Regarding climate change, Harris has reversed her previous position and now supports fracking, a shift from her stance before 2020. She continues to endorse climate initiatives and the Biden administration’s efforts to combat climate change, emphasizing environmental justice and resilience but providing few specific proposals. Her website highlights her commitment to protecting public lands and promoting clean energy without detailing specific policies.

On immigration, Harris has expressed support for the bipartisan border bill she blames Trump for obstructing. She has retracted her earlier support for decriminalizing border crossings, affirming that laws must be enforced with consequences for illegal entries. Her campaign calls for comprehensive immigration reform, enhancing border security, and providing a pathway to citizenship.

In foreign policy, particularly regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, Harris remains committed to Israel’s defense and advocates for a ceasefire and a two-state solution that ensures Palestinian security and self-determination. While her website does not outline specific policy changes from the Biden administration’s approach, Harris has expressed ongoing support for Ukraine and NATO allies.

Harris’ stance on abortion rights is clear; she supports restoring Roe v. Wade and opposes any abortion bans. Her campaign platform includes commitments to sign legislation legalizing abortion and opposing efforts to overturn reproductive rights protections.

On civil rights, Harris advocates for passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, which would enhance voting rights protections, implement universal early voting, and address gerrymandering. She also supports LGBTQ rights and aims to pass the Equality Act to protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Harris has called for greater protections against gun violence, supporting bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, universal background checks, and funding for proven gun violence prevention programs. Her stance is partly in response to criticisms from Trump’s campaign about her previous comments on defunding the police, which she did not explicitly endorse.

In response to controversial Supreme Court rulings, Harris supports reforms including term limits and a binding code of ethics for justices. She has expressed backing for measures to counter the Court’s rulings that provide immunity to former presidents, though specifics on whether she supports a constitutional amendment or legislative action remain unclear.

Finally, Harris emphasizes increased support for veterans, including efforts to end homelessness among them and eliminate employment barriers. Her campaign promises expanded economic opportunities for military families, though detailed proposals are not specified.

While her campaign has outlined these positions, many areas still lack detailed proposals. The Democratic Party’s platform includes more specific policy suggestions, but it remains uncertain if Harris would adjust these if elected. The debate tonight will likely be a critical moment for Harris to clarify her positions further, particularly as some of her proposals, such as taxing the ultra-wealthy, face scrutiny from major donors.

Trump’s campaign has criticized Harris’ policies as too far-left, framing her agenda as radical. As Harris prepares for the debate, her campaign continues to navigate the challenge of presenting a clear and comprehensive policy platform while addressing criticisms and refining her proposals.