In a recent interview, CNN anchor Dana Bash pressed Vice President Kamala Harris on why the Biden administration has not yet implemented key aspects of its economic agenda, despite Harris having served as vice president for three and a half years.
Bash began by acknowledging the struggles many Americans face, particularly with the rising cost of living. She questioned Harris on her campaign theme of “We’re not going back,” and asked, “What do you say to voters who do want to go back when it comes to the economy, specifically, because their groceries were less expensive, housing was more affordable when Donald Trump was president?”
Harris responded by pointing to the challenges the Biden administration inherited, saying, “Well, let’s start with the fact that when Joe Biden and I came in office during the height of a pandemic, we saw over 10 million jobs were lost.” She emphasized the dire situation they faced, citing the economic collapse and the daily loss of lives due to COVID-19, attributing much of this to the previous administration’s mismanagement.
She continued, “When we came in, our highest priority was to do what we could to rescue America, and today, we know that we have inflation at under 3%, a lot of our policies have led to the reality that America recovered faster than any wealthy nation around the world.” However, she acknowledged that prices, particularly for groceries, remain high, adding, “The American people know it, I know it, which is why my agenda includes what we need to do to bring down the price of groceries.”
Harris outlined her plans to address the ongoing economic challenges, mentioning efforts to combat price gouging, extend the child tax credit, and reduce housing costs. She highlighted a proposed $25,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers to help Americans achieve the dream of homeownership.
Bash, however, did not let the conversation end there, pointedly asking, “So, you have been vice president for three-and-a-half years… The steps that you’re talking about now, why haven’t you done them already?”
Harris defended the administration’s progress, stating, “Well, first of all, we had to recover as an economy and we have done that. I’m very proud of the work that we have done that has brought inflation down to less than 3%.” She also noted the administration’s accomplishments, such as capping insulin costs for seniors at $35 per month and enabling Medicare to negotiate drug prices—actions she contrasted with unfulfilled promises from the Trump administration.
Concluding her remarks, Harris reiterated her pride in the administration’s achievements, stating, “I’ll say that that’s good work.” Despite this, the interview underscored ongoing public concerns about the pace and effectiveness of the administration’s economic strategies.