US Polls 2024: Harris unveils ‘New Way Forward’ policy platform, challenges Trump’s agenda

Harris contrasts this with Trump’s "Project 2025," which she argues benefits the wealthiest Americans and corporations. She plans to implement a billionaire minimum tax, roll back Trump’s tax cuts for the affluent, and increase the tax on stock buybacks. Harris criticises Trump's policies for potentially raising costs for the middle class through measures like a Trump sales tax on imports, estimating it could add $3,900 annually to household expenses.

Healthcare

Harris's "New Way Forward" focuses on lowering costs for families, including healthcare. She intends to expand the Affordable Care Act (ACA), make its tax credit enhancements permanent, and cap insulin costs at $35 for all Americans. Her plan includes negotiating prescription drug prices through Medicare, continuing efforts from the Inflation Reduction Act. In contrast, Trump’s agenda aims to dismantle the ACA, risking millions of Americans losing affordable coverage. Trump’s plans to weaken Social Security and Medicare further diverge from Harris’s commitment to protect and expand these programmes.

Support for Small Businesses

Harris underscores the importance of small businesses within her Opportunity Economy. Her strategy includes expanding access to capital, increasing Small Business Administration lending to Black-owned businesses, and targeting 25 million new business applications by the end of her first term. She seeks to reduce red tape and increase the startup expense tax deduction. Harris argues that Trump’s agenda has historically favoured large corporations and neglected small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Corporate Regulation and Consumer Costs

To address rising consumer costs, Harris proposes cracking down on corporate price gouging and anti-competitive practices. She advocates for a federal ban on corporate price gouging on essentials like food and groceries, aiming to create a competitive economy that benefits consumers.

Climate Action

Building on her role in passing the Inflation Reduction Act, Harris’s climate agenda focuses on continued investments in clean energy and environmental justice. She aims to lower household energy costs and create millions of clean energy jobs. Harris plans to hold polluters accountable and promote global climate cooperation, contrasting with Trump’s downplaying of climate change and support for fossil fuel industries. She criticises Trump’s deregulation policies that, she argues, prioritised profits over environmental protections.

Civil Rights and Voting Rights

Harris’s commitment to civil rights is evident in her platform, which includes passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. These measures aim to expand early voting and vote-by-mail options while protecting against voter suppression. Harris also supports LGBTQ+ rights through the Equality Act. She claims that Trump’s "Project 2025" threatens civil rights and voting protections, citing his post-2020 election actions as undermining democracy.

Gun Violence Prevention

Harris has prioritised gun violence prevention, building on her previous work to pass major gun safety legislation. Her plan includes banning assault weapons, expanding background checks, and implementing red flag laws. She contrasts this with Trump’s alignment with the gun lobby, his calls for arming teachers, and a lack of comprehensive gun control support.

Immigration Reform

Harris’s immigration policy combines enhanced border security with a humane approach to immigration. She proposes a bipartisan border security bill to tackle drug trafficking and supports an earned pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Her plan reflects a belief in a broken but fixable immigration system, differing from Trump’s stance.