
Vice President Kamala Harris’ involvement in economic legislation is drawing new scrutiny as inflation continues to rise across the country. In her time as vice president, Harris played a critical role in passing both the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act, two bills that many believe have contributed to the nation’s ongoing inflation problems.
The latest economic report shows the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increasing by 0.2%, while core inflation saw a more troubling jump of 0.3%. Bloomberg’s Michael McKee pointed out that these increases were larger than expected, with year-over-year inflation standing at 2.4% for the headline figure and 3.3% for core inflation. Jobless claims have also surged, rising to 258,000 from 225,000.
Harris has faced questions about her ability to manage the economic challenges she helped create. Her defense, echoed by President Joe Biden, has been to highlight her involvement in nearly every major policy decision during their time in office. Biden has called Harris an essential part of his team, but voters are now questioning whether that involvement has been more of a liability than a benefit.
As inflation remains a top concern for Americans, Harris’ role in these policies could undermine her bid for the presidency. Voters are grappling with the question of whether she can be trusted to lead the country out of an economic crisis she helped exacerbate.