Kamala Harris calls for tax breaks, lowering costs for Americans at North Carolina rally

Vice President Kamala Harris was in Raleigh, North Carolina on Friday to tout her economic policy, including a proposal for a federal ban on price gouging on groceries. 

Harris’ policy also includes new tax breaks, a lower cost of living for Americans, and $25,000 in down payment help for certain first-time home buyers and tax incentives for builders of starter homes, among other things.

The Democratic presidential candidate called for tax breaks aimed at families, as well as middle- and lower-income people. She explained how she would expand the child tax credit to up to $3,600 — and $6,000 for children in their first year of life. Harris would expand the earned income tax credit to cover people in lower-income jobs without children, which the campaign estimates would cut their effective tax rate by $1,500. Harris also wants to lower health insurance premiums through the Affordable Care Act.

FILE-Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a moderated conversation with former Trump administration national security official Olivia Troye and former Republican voter Amanda Stratton on July 17, 2024 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Photo by Chris duMond/

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The AP noted that Harris’ grocery pricing initiative would advise the Federal Trade Commission to discipline companies involved in price spikes and singles out a lack of competition in the meat-packing industry for raising the cost of meat. 

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Harris has visited battleground states over the past few weeks that has broadened the number of races viewed as competitive by political experts. 

North Carolina has been a destination for visits from President Joe Biden and Harris in 2024. After Biden’s subpar debate performance against Donald Trump in June, Raleigh was the first city where he held a rally to rejuvenate Democratic voters. 

Harris also made two North Carolina stops — in Greensboro and Fayetteville — in the weeks leading up to the president’s decision to drop out of the election race.