Washington Post Criticizes Harris’s Economic Plan as “Populist Gimmicks”

The Washington Post Editorial Board criticized Vice President Kamala Harris’s newly-announced economic agenda, calling it “populist gimmicks.” In a Friday editorial, the board stated, “Instead of delivering a substantial plan, she squandered the moment on populist gimmicks.”

Harris revealed her economic plan at a rally in North Carolina, proposing policies like child and homeowner tax credits and a federal ban on grocery price gouging. While aimed at addressing key economic concerns for the 2024 election, the editorial board felt Harris missed an opportunity to address inflation effectively, accusing her of scapegoating big businesses.

The board did commend aspects of her plan, including the goal to build three million homes to combat the housing crisis and increases in the child tax credit. However, they expressed concern over the plan’s cost, citing an estimated $1.7 trillion addition to the deficit over a decade.

The editorial concluded, “Even adjusted for the pandering standards of campaign economics, Ms. Harris’s speech Friday ranks as a disappointment.”