Democrat Lawmakers Dismiss Kamala Harris’s Price-Control Plan
A series of insider revelations have surfaced indicating that multiple Democrat lawmakers are privately dismissing Vice President Kamala Harris’s controversial grocery price-control plan, which has faced substantial backlash from economists and critics alike.
Politico reports that Democrat lawmakers are quietly signaling to concerned allies that Harris’s proposal, unveiled during her first policy-focused speech on August 16, is unlikely to advance through Congress. The plan, which has been described as “Soviet-style” by critics, aims to impose central price controls on food products. According to Politico, lawmakers have expressed doubts about the plan’s feasibility and effectiveness, with one anonymous Democrat describing it as a “lofty goal” and another admitting uncertainty about its operational mechanics.
An insider close to the White House has revealed that Harris’s plan does not effectively address the inflation issues plaguing the country. The insider remarked, “If we had a good tool, we’d definitely have used it,” suggesting that the administration’s attempt to address rising grocery prices is inadequate.
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) highlights a troubling 22 percent increase in grocery prices from January 2021 — when President Joe Biden and Harris first took office — to July 2024. Despite this, the Biden-Harris administration has downplayed inflation concerns, with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre inaccurately claiming in June that prices for staple items like eggs and milk, as well as gasoline, have decreased.
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE:
“There were grocery things that were up — it has gone down!”
(Grocery prices are up 20%+ since Biden took office)
“We saw gas prices go down!”
(Gas is up 44%+ since Biden took office) pic.twitter.com/G5jB6PV7Hg
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 25, 2024
According to Politico, several lawmakers and aides interviewed under anonymity have confirmed that Congressional Democrats are privately acknowledging the impracticality of Harris’s plan. A food industry official echoed this sentiment, labeling the proposal as “not a serious policy” and suggesting it is more of a political maneuver designed to deflect blame from the administration’s handling of inflation.
Criticism of the plan has been further amplified by Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell, who penned a scathing op-ed describing the proposal as a “sweeping set of government-enforced price controls” that would undermine market dynamics. Rampell warned that such a policy would replace supply and demand with bureaucratic control, potentially allowing agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to dictate prices for basic goods.
