The Kamala handoff
When Kamala Harris proposes new policies or highlights her vision for America, detractors like to ramp up the faux outrage, crying “Why hasn’t she done this already? She’s been Vice President for nearly four years!” Such criticism, however, misses the mark entirely. First, let’s remember that Harris has been Vice President, not President. Now that she’s running for President, Harris has the opportunity to start shaping policy plans and strategies that reflect her own priorities and vision to lead the country—a natural progression from what she has achieved while supporting President Biden’s agenda.
That brings us to the second key point, which is that it’s not like Harris has been engaging in some sort of Trumpian “Executive Time.” On the contrary, the Biden-Harris administration has been energetically pursuing many of the goals she now champions as a presidential candidate. One such goal, which ranks high on voters’ minds, is reducing inflation. The two-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) just passed, and the administration was sure to point out how this landmark legislation has positively impacted the nation.
The IRA, a key achievement of the Biden-Harris administration, was designed to tackle inflation as well as address climate change and create jobs. The IRA was passed through budget reconciliation, allowing it to clear the Senate with a simple majority, with Harris’s tie-breaking vote since there was zero Republican support. In a statement, Harris highlighted that the IRA has been key to lowering costs for millions of Americans, especially in areas like healthcare and clean energy.
Biden also weighed in, praising the IRA for helping to boost the economy. He emphasized that the administration’s efforts have already brought down the costs of prescription drugs, health insurance, and energy bills for countless families, plus the IRA has led to the creation of thousands of union and clean-energy jobs. Indeed, the IRS is just one example of work that Harris and Biden have been doing together that has yielded real benefits for Americans. For more details, including a list of examples of the IRA’s achievements, check out the Fact Sheet here.
So, the next time someone questions why Harris hasn’t already implemented the policies she advocates, you can point out she’s been working on them all along. As Harris pivots from Vice President to possibly becoming President within a matter of months, she stands ready to take the reins and push these policies forward—from the Oval Office, guided by her own vision. Harris has been consistent in her efforts, and now, she’s poised to take her leadership to the next level, turning her impressive plans into action as the nation’s top executive.
Ron Leshnower is a lawyer and the author of several books, including President Trump’s Month