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Abortion, Israel, crime: Where does Kamala Harris stand on key issues?
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Abortion, Israel, crime: Where does Kamala Harris stand on key issues?

Vice President Kamala Harris has run a presidential campaign with policies designed to appeal to a broad range of Americans, particularly those seeking an alternative to Donald Trump.

Although Harris has spent the last four years in the White House, her role as vice president has largely been focused on supporting the Biden administration's initiatives. Having only entered the race in July following the ouster of President Joe Biden, Harris has had just a few months to clarify her own agenda.

Harris, once known for his progressive liberal politics, has adopted more moderate ideas to appeal to a broader group of Americans. These include taking a tougher stance on immigration and supporting the Second Amendment, while continuing to support gun control legislation.

Here's where she stands on the issues.

abortion

Vice President Kamala Harris is underscoring her position as the Democrats' leading abortion rights advocate in this year's election
Vice President Kamala Harris is underscoring her position as the Democrats' leading abortion rights advocate in this year's election (AP)

Harris has been a strong advocate for all reproductive rights throughout her career. A cornerstone of her presidential campaign is a promise to restore federal rights to abortion and to veto any law that imposes a national ban.

As a senator in 2019, Harris introduced a plan that would require states to coordinate all reproductive health laws with the Justice Department to ensure they do not violate federal abortion rights.

When the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade In 2022, she became a vocal opponent of the decision and embarked on a “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour across the country, becoming the Biden administration's unofficial ambassador for the issue.

She called state abortion bans a “health crisis” and emphasized their negative impact on maternal mortality during her campaign.

Harris said she would make no concessions on the issue if Congress passed federal legislation, including for religious exemptions.

The economy

Harris released a comprehensive economic plan in September that primarily benefits the middle class.

Her tax plan aims to help small businesses and individuals earning less than $400,000. The measures include expanding small business tax deductions, restoring the earned income tax credit, pledging not to increase taxes on those making less than $400,000 and creating a $6,000 child tax credit US dollars. She has also proposed providing $25,000 in assistance to qualified first-time homebuyers.

Similar to Biden, Harris wants to increase taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals and increase the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent. However, she diverges from Biden on the capital gains tax rate, favoring a tax rate of 28 percent compared to Biden's 44.6 percent.

Harris supports Biden's student loan forgiveness plan.

immigration

Kamala Harris, pictured in 2019, visits the exterior of a detention center for migrant children in Homestead, Florida
Kamala Harris, pictured in 2019, visits the exterior of a detention center for migrant children in Homestead, Florida (Getty Images)

Harris, once an immigrant rights advocate and strong opponent of most of Trump's U.S.-Mexico policies, has recently taken a tougher stance on border security.

As anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies become increasingly popular with voters, Harris has moved to support the bipartisan border bill that Congress failed to pass earlier this year due to Trump's interference.

Her immigration policies came under scrutiny from Republicans who blamed Harris for the influx of migrants and border crossings. Trump gave her the nickname “Border Czar,” even though Harris never held a leadership position that would allow her to control the border.

Tasked with analyzing the root causes of migration from Central America in 2021, she visited the border before the end of Title 42 – the Covid-era emergency policy that allowed the US to turn away migrants. At the time, she advocated for the implementation of “considered and effective” policies

Foreign policy

Harris' position on foreign policy has not deviated far from Biden's. She said she was “committed to global engagement” and to defending democratic values ​​at home and abroad.

In October, she declared Iran the United States' “greatest adversary” and claimed that the Iranians should never acquire nuclear power.

She supports U.S. involvement in NATO and said in 2019 that she would rejoin the Paris Agreement if elected. She supports Ukraine and promised to support them in their war against Russia.

Israel and Gaza

The Biden-Harris administration has been criticized by some Democrats for not taking a tougher line on Israel
The Biden-Harris administration has been criticized by some Democrats for not taking a tougher line on Israel (AP)

After the October 7 attack, Harris expressed strong support for Israel and insisted that hostages should be brought home. But in recent months she has hinted that she might take a tougher stance on Israel than her predecessor.

In December, the vice president said she and Biden had made it “clear” to the Israeli government that “it depends on how” Israel defends itself, while she pushed for a ceasefire in March.

Harris declined to preside over the Senate chamber when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress in July.

In the past she had spoken out in favor of a two-state solution.

crime

A former prosecutor and attorney general of California, Harris described herself as a “progressive prosecutor” who was ahead of her time in pursuing criminal justice reforms.

She opposed the death penalty, introduced racial bias training for parts of law enforcement and, among other incentives as attorney general, introduced a re-entry program to help low-level offenders.

When Harris ran for president in 2019, her platform emphasized the fight for racial justice. She said she would expand investigations into police misconduct, establish a national police misconduct registry, set a national use-of-force standard and require states to report use-of-force incidents.

Critics are skeptical of Harris' promises because of some contradictions in her record.

She fought to keep prisoners in prison even after California prisons were found to be overcrowded. Critics also point out that she prosecuted marijuana crimes more often than her predecessor.

Harris, a gun owner, believes in protecting Second Amendment rights when passing gun safety laws. She advocates for an assault weapons ban, universal background checks and red flag laws.

Healthcare

The Biden administration has taken steps to reduce the cost of commonly used prescription drugs for seniors – something estimated to save the government $98 billion.

With the money saved, Harris has proposed expanding Medicare coverage to support home health care — something that will address the country's growing long-term care crisis for older adults.

The proposed plan would expand Medicare benefits to include vision and hearing.

Harris also supports the Affordable Care Act — known as Obamacare, access to in vitro fertilization treatments and expanding Medicaid coverage to postpartum mothers.

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