Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer defended Vice President Kamala Harris' price gouging plan on “Meet the Press” Sunday, dismissing critics who say they're “reading too much into” Harris' policy proposals.
Since Friday, experts have questioned Governor Harris' economic plan, which addressed housing, inflation and tax cuts, announced during her State of North Carolina address. Governor Whitmer has supported Governor Harris' proposal to impose a federal ban on “corporate price gouging” at food and grocery stores, emphasizing Governor Harris's advocacy of “corporate responsibility.” (Related: 'Disgusting' Larry Kudlow Says 'No One Knows' What Harris Means When She Blames 'Price Gouging' for Inflation)
“Well, I think people are reading too much into what's being put out there. We know Kamala Harris is going to be focused on creating more affordable housing. We know Kamala Harris has already worked hard to make health care more accessible and affordable for the American people and protect Obamacare. Right now there are a million people in Michigan who are receiving health care that Donald Trump is trying to take away,” Whitmer said.
“This is just going to put more strain on the American people. That's why I think this opportunity economy that Vice President Harris has talked about and outlined is so important. She looks at every American, she understands what people are struggling with, and she wants to help keep more money in your pocket,” Whitmer continued. “Money goes to housing, health care, basics, and she's got to put a plan in place on every front to put more Americans on the path to prosperity.”
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But NBC host Kristen Welker continued to press the Michigan governor for emphasizing her criticism of the price gouging proposal, later pressing Whitmer again whether the plan was “just a sham.”
“I think it speaks to Kamala Harris' values, that she wants to keep more money in consumers' pockets and allow Americans to get ahead. She wants to ensure corporate responsibility. We know that in this country, we need small businesses to grow, we need big businesses to grow for good-paying jobs,” Whitmer responded. “We also know that we can't exploit and hurt the American consumer just to increase our profits. I think there's a balance there, and I think that's what it's all about.”
Since the beginning of the year, voters have expressed concern about the economy, with just 23% seeing the situation as very good or good, 36% seeing it as poor and about 41% seeing the outcome as “fair.” According to According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in May.
Ahead of Harris' speech, Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell wrote in the paper that she criticized the vice president's plan, saying it's “hard to overstate how terrible” the policy is. Fox Business host Larry Kudlow and former Obama economist Jason Furman also criticized the price gouging plan's unrealistic goals, warning that targeting companies on price could lead to higher costs for Americans and a potential black market.
“The good news is that price gouging is a message, not a reality. The bad news is that it's a real proposal,” Furman told The Washington Post.
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