With the elections here, voters are paying special attention to both candidates’ proposals regarding Social Security and health services. Kamala Harris has not yet opened up on the matter, but her career leaves no doubt about the ground she treads on these two issues on the political agenda.
Harris took the baton of the Democratic presidential candidacy just a few weeks ago, after the retirement of President Joe Biden. For the last four years, Harris served as Biden’s vice president and right-hand person, and during this time, her actions aligned with the president’s.
However, her record also has notable divergences regarding President Biden’s policies, especially regarding the Medicare program. On the contrary, her platform for Social Security and retirement programs will not have any large deviations from what was done in the last four years by President Biden.
Kamala Harris and Social Security
One of the main issues the next US president will have to deal with is the rapid depletion of Social Security funds. According to estimates by the Social Security trustees, the program could run out of funds in 2036. Although this seems like a long time, immediate action must be taken to ensure the continuity of the program.
In this regard, Harris has made her position very clear, supporting Biden’s initiative to raise taxes on those earning more than $400,000 a year to fund health programs.
Similarly, in 2019, she supported Senator Bernie Sanders’ proposal to increase social security coverage, implementing payroll taxes for salaries over $250,000 from the current limit of $168,000. Although she later took a step back in favor of Joe Biden’s plan, this proposal may re-emerge in her platform on the road to November 5.
What has Harris said about Medicare?
The Democratic candidate’s position on this issue is not so clear. Over the years, she has flirted with seemingly contradictory positions between leaving things as they are or implementing the controversial Medicare for All.
Harris is not immune to pressure from the political environment. On the contrary, in 2019, the then-senator gave up on promoting a plan that would expand Medicare coverage in exchange for raising the relevant taxes. Pressure from union leaders caused Harris to abandon her proposal.
Later, Harris designed a new proposal that would avoid raising taxes but would still expand health services, allowing any citizen to buy into Medicare, in addition to combining private insurance plans with greater government spending on Medicare.
Although Harris has not officially declared her proposals regarding Social Security and Medicare, analysts consider it difficult for her to deviate much from the foundations laid by Biden or from the guidelines of the Democratic Party.
With the November 5 election looming, Harris had better make her position clear to reassure those who already support her cause and win the trust of the undecided.
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