Kamala Harris pledges to tackle costs and taxes in economy

Kamala Harris outlined proposals to cut taxes for most Americans, ban "price gouging" by grocers and boost affordable housing on Friday in her first major ecomy-focused speech as Democratic presidential minee.

U.S. vice president traveled to Raleigh, rth Carolina, to discuss an nda for her first 100 days in office if she wins presidency, pledging to introduce a new child tax credit of as much as $6,000 for families with infants, cut taxes for families with kids and lower prescription drug costs.

Harris told supporters in state that U.S. ecomy was strongest in world but prices were still too high. She said she would focus on middle class from White House.

"I will be laser-focused on creating opportunities for middle class," she said. "Toger we will build what I call an opportunity ecomy."

Harris aims to draw a contrast with her v. 5 election opponent, Republican Donald Trump, on tariffs and taxes, aides say. Her nda may run into resistance from both corporations and Congress, who rejected similar proposals when y came from President Joe Biden.

Harris' ecomic nda broadly mirrors Biden's, but introduces some new homebuying incentives and attempts to control high prices of goods. Democrats are hoping to appeal to a broad segment of working public who often see Republicans as better ecomic stewards and are anxious over both higher costs and ir ecomic prospects.

Some of her policies, including ones on housing and groceries, have come under attack as ill-considered and overly liberal populism by Republicans and some industry groups.

Harris' plan includes a federal ban on price gouging on food and groceries, which her campaign says aims to stop big corporations from unfairly exploiting consumers while generating excessive corporate profits.

As president, she will direct Federal Trade Commission to impose "harsh penalties" on firms that break new limits on price gouging, campaign officials said.

Progressive ecomic ideas poll well with voters, but y have proven tough to pass into law. Most of Harris' and Trump's ecomic priorities need to secure majority support in Congress. A child tax credit bill passed House but stalled in Senate this year.

Her plan calls for 3 million new construction units, a series of tax incentives and or measures to encour building homes for first-time homebuyers and a $25,000 credit for such buyers. Harris also aims to expand rental assistance, ban rental price-fixing and stop Wall Street firms from buying homes in bulk.

Harris also is pushing to lower healthcare costs, cancel medical debt and highlight how Biden-Harris administration negotiated down prices of 10 top-selling prescription drugs used by Medicare by as much as 79%.

Harris is maintaining Biden's promise t to raise taxes on people who make $400,000 or less a year, and her campaign aims to draw a contrast on taxes with Trump, who slashed corporate tax rate to 21% from 35% and implemented or tax breaks that are set to expire next year.

Trump has promised to make tax cuts permanent and suggested new across--board tariffs on imports, an idea Harris rejects.