Sen. Harris Focused on Policy Solutions for Working People During the Debate

Besides addressing students, the senator zeroed in on recent graduates and their struggle to find jobs.

Sen. Kamala Harris kept the emphasis on the issues during her participation in Tuesday’s debate, offering specifics on policy and how they would benefit constituents. 

The Democratic candidate and Vice President Mike Pence debated for about an hour and a half, covering more actual policy topics than the presidential debate last week.  

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Here are some of the groups Harris addressed during the debate:

Students

While discussing the economy, Harris criticized Trump’s tax bill, which she says benefits large corporations primarily. Harris said Biden will focus his policies on all Americans. For instance, she mentioned opportunities for students. “For folks who want to go to a two-year community college, it will be free,” Harris said. “If you come from a family that makes less than $125,000 [a year], you’ll go to a public university for free, and across the board, we’ll make sure that if you have student loan debt, it’s cut by $10,000.” 

First Responders

The coronavirus was one of the most prominent topics of the debate. From the start of the debate, Harris criticized President Donald Trump’s response to the pandemic, and more specifically Pence’s response as the official in charge of the coronavirus task force. She stated, “Here are the facts: 210,000 dead people in our country in just the last several months, over 7 million people who have contracted this disease, one in five businesses closed,” Harris explained. “We’re looking at front line workers who have been treated like sacrificial workers. We are looking at over 30 million people, who in the last several months had to file for unemployment.”

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People With Pre-Existing Conditions

Harris lashed out at the Trump administration for trying to get rid of the Affordable Care Act and talked about how its dissolution would affect people in need. “If you have a pre-existing condition, heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, they’re coming for you. If you love someone who has a pre-existing condition,” Harris said. “If you are under the age of 26 on your parents’ coverage, they’re coming for you.” 

Farmers and Working People 

Harris discussed President Trump’s trade war with China, saying it could bring about the loss of 300,000 manufacturing jobs. “Farmers have experienced bankruptcy because of it,” she said. “We are in a manufacturing recession because of it. And when we look at where this administration has been, there are estimates that by the end of the term of this administration, they will have lost more jobs than almost any other presidential administration.” 

Young People 

Harris addressed young people several times during the debate. Besides addressing students, the senator zeroed in on recent graduates and their struggle to find jobs. “I think about 20-year-olds […] who are coming out of high school and college right now, and you’re wondering if there is going to be a job there for me,”  Harris said.