Vice President Kamala Harris found herself stumbling through a familiar talking point during an interview with MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle, where she struggled to explain how she would fund her ambitious government programs if Republicans take control of the Senate. The interview, which wasn’t exactly a grilling session, still left Harris grappling with the financial realities of her plans and repeating her well-worn “fair share” rhetoric.
When Ruhle asked what Harris would do if raising corporate taxes became impossible under a Republican-controlled Senate, the Vice President fell back on a familiar refrain.
“We’re going to have to raise corporate taxes,” Harris insisted. “We’re going to have to make sure that the biggest corporations and billionaires pay their fair share.” But this answer felt incomplete, especially given that the U.S. top 1% of earners already pay 46% of the taxes—a fact often overlooked in the “fair share” mantra. Teachers and firefighters, Harris claimed, are paying more in taxes than the wealthiest Americans, an assertion that is flatly contradicted by available data.
Asked what she’ll do if Republicans don’t agree w/ her plan to raise taxes on American consumers, Harris appears confused & repeatedly says they “have to pay their fair share.” pic.twitter.com/MUstGTUPTJ
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) September 25, 2024
Ruhle pressed further, asking how Harris would prevent corporations from fleeing the country if they were saddled with higher taxes. In response, Harris tried to paint a picture of cooperation between business leaders and her administration, claiming that CEOs support the idea of paying more to help the economy.
“I have spent a lot of time with CEOs,” she said, suggesting that business leaders agree with her proposals to invest in the middle class and small businesses.
Yet, what was missing from Harris’ responses was any clear plan for how to keep corporations from outsourcing jobs or raising prices if corporate tax hikes became a reality.
Instead, she leaned heavily on the idea that investments in small businesses and middle-class families would automatically result in a stronger economy. While it’s a nice sentiment, the reality is far more complex. The potential for increased taxes to discourage business investment and hurt economic growth wasn’t addressed.
For Harris, who has made the economy a key focus of her recent public remarks, these evasive answers are becoming increasingly problematic. At a time when voters are anxious about inflation, rising interest rates, and the future of their own financial stability, the lack of detailed policy explanations doesn’t inspire much confidence.
