Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to deliver a speech Friday to introduce her economic portfolio in Raleigh, North Carolina, marking the first time Harris has released a major policy initiative since President Biden has dropped out of the race last month.
Harris is expected to announce that she will make fighting inflation a “day one” priority, as well as lay out a plan to cut costs for middle-class families, tackle corporate price gouging and focus overall on reducing costs for Americans, according to details shared by Harris-Walz campaign officials.
According to most recent CBS News pollOnly 9% of registered voters rated the state of the national economy as “very good,” with the economy and inflation consistently ranked as the top concern in 2024 polls. Inflation has slowed since its peak in June 2022, but many voters still feel financial strain. Prices are still 20% higher overall than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Friday’s economic policy remarks come after Harris pledged to eliminate taxes on tips and raising the minimum wage at his Las Vegas rally on Saturday, his only two economic policy proposals so far.
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“When I am president, we will continue our fight for working families, including raising the minimum wage and eliminating tip taxes for service and hospitality workers,” Harris said, addressing rally attendees, who included members of the Nevada Culinary Union.
A Harris-Walz campaign official added that her promise would require legislation.
It was the first time Harris has proposed eliminating taxes on tips for service workers, an idea similar to one first floated by former President Donald Trump in June at a rally also in Las Vegas.
In 2025, lawmakers are expected to have a major opening on tax legislation given the expiration of some tax changes made during Trump’s presidency in 2017. Congressional control will be key on this issue given that Republicans held the House, Senate and White House when Trump’s 2017 tax cuts became law.
Since becoming a presidential candidate, Harris has emphasized her pledge to serve the middle class as she campaigns in key states.
“When I’m president, I’ll continue to work to lower prices,” Harris said at a campaign rally in Glendale, Arizona, on Friday. “I’ll take on big corporations that are price gouging. I’ll take on landlords who are unfairly raising rents on working families. I’ll take on big pharmaceutical companies and cap prescription drug prices for all Americans.”
Harris promised the more than 15,000 attendees, adding: “Unlike Donald Trump, I will always put middle class and working families first.”
In key states, voters often tell CBS News that the economy remains a top issue when they go to the polls.
“Workforce development, creating job opportunities, making sure that everyone can advance in different career fields,” Abraham Camejo said in Las Vegas before Harris’ rally Saturday, when asked about his economic priorities. “The policies that benefit big business and the middle class are different.”
According to a CBS News PollWhen it comes to policies that will improve people’s finances, Harris lags behind Trump, with 45% of registered voters saying they would be better off financially under the former president, compared to 25% for Harris.
Before becoming a presidential candidate, Harris embarked on an economic opportunity tour throughout 2024 to address voters’ top concerns about the economy and promote the Biden-Harris administration’s economic accomplishments. Harris was then campaigning as Biden’s running mate.
