Kamala's 2024 Platform: Just Political Copy-Paste?
Special Edition 007
Kamala Harris and her campaign finally unveiled their long-awaited policy positions for the 2024 election. This means Republicans will have to retire the “she has no policies” line, but does she have good policy? I must admit there are commendable aspects of her plan, and policies that align her with the Republican portrayal of her as a “far-left, progressive,” her positioning seems to stray from these points. Instead, she continues to advance policies that will alienate historically pro-Democratic Party voting blocs.
On the campaign trail, Harris has heralded “we’re not going back,” and I hoped that meant not just to Donald Trump but to Joe Biden as well—that hope was severely misplaced. Ahead of the debate, and the first time Harris and Trump will go head-to-head, here’s what I think you need to know about Harris’s policy platform.
An Opportunity Economy for Families
Tax Cuts for the Middle Class
🔍 The Diabolical Details:
Restore Child Tax Credit: Increase newborn credit from $2K to $6K
Reinstate Earned Income Tax Credit
No Tax Increase for Those Making Under $400K
Roll Back Trump Tax Cuts for the Wealthy
Implement a Billionaire Minimum Tax
Quadruple Tax on Stock Buybacks
Raise Long-Term Capital Gains Tax for Earners Over $1M: From 20% to 28%
This economic policy isn’t new; it’s part of the package released a few weeks ago, which I reviewed in depth. The policies are promising and well-intentioned, but some still miss the mark. Many are simply extensions of Biden’s policies and lack a clear path forward. While it’s good to see progressive economic policies, it’s frustrating that we seem to only make strides through tax cuts.
Affordable Rent & Home Ownership
🔍 The Diabolical Details:
Build 3 Million New Homes
Penalties for Firms Hoarding Homes to Inflate Prices
Outlaw Price-Fixing Apps Used by Landlords
Up to $25K for New Home Buyers’ Down Payments
Much of this was included in the previously revealed economic package. While many of these proposals sound promising at first glance, there are more effective ways to boost opportunities for first-time homebuyers. The policy falls short—it helps those who can already afford homes but doesn’t do enough for those who can’t. However, the idea of outlawing price-fixing apps used by landlords is truly exciting. This step could significantly improve housing affordability for both buyers and renters and make becoming a landlord less profitable.
Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs
🔍 The Diabolical Details:
25 Million New Business Applications
Increase Startup Expense Tax Deduction from $5K to $50K
I don't have strong feelings about this part. There's not much to react to here. The policy doesn't seem to offer anything substantial that would help small businesses compete with big corporations. Overall, this section falls flat and is unlikely to make a significant impact.
Bring Down Costs
🔍 The Diabolical Details:
Ban Corporate Price Gouging on Food and Groceries
Review Corporate Mergers for Compliance
Cap Insulin Costs for Everyone, Not Just Seniors
Bold and promising policies—but will they follow through? There isn’t a lot to react to here, but what’s proposed is encouraging. Framing it as price gouging is a smart move. These are popular stances that she should definitely emphasize more.
Strengthening Healthcare
🔍 The Diabolical Details:
Make Affordable Care Act Tax Credit Enhancements Permanent
Cap Out-of-Pocket Costs for Seniors at $2K
Negotiate Lower Prices for More Drugs
Extend Medicaid Postpartum Coverage from 2 to 12 Months
It’s not universal healthcare, but it’s a step in the right direction. This policy is much more progressive than Trump’s, or rather, his lack of a plan. I’m excited to see these progressive moves. The Affordable Care Act was a major success and remains popular, so it makes sense for her to champion its expansion while Trump aims to dismantle it. This is one of her strongest policy areas, and I hope she continues to build on and promote it.
Social Security & Medicare
🔍 The Diabolical Details:
Increase Contributions from the Wealthy
Harris plans to “make millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share in taxes,” but the specifics are unclear. My guess is she might increase the cap on Social Security contributions. Currently, workers pay a 6.2% tax on wages up to $168,600, rising to $174,900 in 2025. Raising this cap further would boost Social Security funding without placing additional financial strain on those earning below this threshold.
American Innovation
🔍 The Diabolical Details:
Sign the PRO Act
Raise the Minimum Wage
End the Sub-Minimum Wage
Create National Paid Family and Medical Leave
Eliminate Taxes on Tips for Lower-Income Service and Hospitality Workers
I love seeing the pro-union sentiment here. Kamala Harris is clearly focused on workers' rights and job creation. And we need a president who truly supports workers, not just corporate billionaires. The standout for me is the elimination of taxes on tips. It’s worth noting that Trump also proposed this in June, but I doubt he’s sincere about it.
Affordable Education and Long-Term Care
🔍 The Diabolical Details:
Ensure Access to Child Care and Preschool
Increase Public Education Funding and Teacher Training
Address Student Loan Debt and Make Higher Education More Affordable
Expand High-Quality Home Care for Seniors and the Disabled
Increase Pay for Care Workers
This section of her platform contains strong, valuable ideas, but lacks the detail and policy support to back them up. It feels a bit like a middle school class president promising pizza Fridays for the entire school—great in theory, but without a clear plan for how to make it happen.
The Climate Crisis and Energy
🔍 The Diabolical Details:
Protect Public Lands
General Commitments to Clean Air and Water
Another area that lacks concrete policy details. My guess is her campaign is focused on winning Pennsylvania and addressing the criticism over her wish-washy stance on fracking, which might be why there’s no in-depth policy here.
Safeguard Our Fundamental Freedoms
Reproductive and Civil Freedoms
🔍 The Diabolical Details:
Restore Reproductive Freedom for All
Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act
Pass the Freedom to Vote Act
Expand Vote-by-Mail and Early Voting
Pass the Equality Act
I don’t hate this section, but it feels like a copy-paste from Joe Biden’s 2020 platform. That’s both good and bad. It’s good because these policies were popular then and might be even more so now, giving Harris and Walz a significant edge over Trump. The downside is that Harris, along with Biden, hasn’t made much progress on these issues in the past four years, which could pose problems if she's challenged in interviews or debates.
Safety and Justice For All
American Safety
🔍 The Diabolical Details:
Ban Assault Weapons
Ban High-Capacity Magazines
Require Universal Background Checks and Red Flag Laws
Hire and Train More Officers and Support Personnel
Support a Bipartisan Border Security Bill
Advocate for Immigration Reform and Pathway to Citizenship
Sign Law to Remove Presidential Immunity
Support SCOTUS Reform (Term Limits, Expansion)
This section is a mixed bag of policy. On the plus side, Harris continues to push for comprehensive gun reform, commits to ensuring no president is above the law, and supports reforming the Supreme Court. However, it also includes her right-leaning approach to the border. Her stance on border issues is only marginally better than Trump’s, differing mainly in rhetoric. It’s disheartening to see her advocate for a reformed pathway to citizenship immediately after such a concerning stance on border policy.
“Safe, Secure, and Prosperous”
America’s Military
🔍 The Diabolical Details:
Support Israel’s Right to Defend Itself and Pursue a Ceasefire
Generic Anti-China Measures
For Veterans: End Homelessness, Expand Mental Health Services, and Improve Job Opportunities
For me, this was the weakest section of the policy plan. After reading it, I found myself asking, “Is this what neoliberalism has brought us?” Aside from addressing veteran support, this part of the campaign’s policy page makes it clear why Dick Cheney has endorsed Kamala Harris—she is essentially promising never ending conflict. Fortunately, the lack of detailed policy here gives me hope that Harris might reconsider and refine her stance on foreign policy.