AFT’s Weingarten on Vice President Harris’ Plan to Cut Costs for American Families

WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement after Vice President Kamala Harris announced a comprehensive economic plan to lower costs for workers and consumers in her first 100 days in office:

“People feel squeezed right now because, while inflation is easing, prices are still stubbornly high. Vice President Kamala Harris today confronted this head on with a multifaceted plan to ease the burden on American families.

“Some bad corporate actors have used inflation as a cover to hike prices far beyond increased expenses, reaping record profits and lining their pockets while working families struggle to make ends meet. Similarly, housing costs have put the American Dream of home ownership out of reach. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz want to help consumers by combating greed, stabilizing prices and providing real economic relief so working Americans can thrive, not just get by.

“Today’s comprehensive set of actions and tools creates real economic relief to help workers get ahead and hold bad actors accountable. They tackle price gouging on food and groceries; cut taxes for middle-class families with a $6,000-per-child tax credit; provide down payment support to first-time homeowners; further reduce the costs of prescription drugs by speeding up negotiations with Medicare; and cancel medical debt for millions who have been facing long-term health crises.

“The plan builds on yesterday’s announcement of lower drug prices for millions of Medicare enrollees and underscores the Biden-Harris administration’s proud affordability record that includes capping insulin costs and eliminating junk fees.

“While Donald Trump wants to slash taxes for billionaires and raise them on middle class, Kamala Harris is committed to building an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top.”