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Kamala Harris on Budget & Economy
Democratic candidate for President (withdrawn); California Senator
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Economic numbers conceal more than reveal
This president walks around flouting his great economy. You ask him, how are you measuring this greatness? He talks about the stock market. That's fine if you own stocks; many families do not. You ask him, how are you measuring the greatness of this
economy? They point to the jobless numbers and the unemployment numbers. People in America are working. They're working two and three jobs. No one should have to work more than one job to have a roof over their head and food on the table.
Source: June Democratic Primary debate (second night in Miami)
, Jun 27, 2019
Prosecuted fewer foreclosure fraud cases than smaller states
Harris was a firm proponent of civil asset forfeiture, sponsoring a bill to allow prosecutors to seize profits before charges were even filed. Years before that, she opposed AB 639, a bill that aimed to reform asset forfeiture.
The bill easily cleared the state assembly but was soon scuttled by a united wall of opposition from law enforcement, with whom Harris was united.
Her Mortgage Fraud Strike Force opened in 2011, employing twenty-five lawyers and investigators with a budget of more than $2 million to go after foreclosure fraud. The strike force managed to prosecute just ten cases in three years, an
East Bay Express investigation in 2014 found. It had filed fewer lawsuits than attorneys general in smaller states with fewer victims, and even fewer than some county district attorneys. Yet California led the country in terms of such scam operations.
Source: Jacobin Magazine on 2018 California Senate race
, Aug 10, 2017
$20B for struggling homeowners during mortgage crisis
Following the national mortgage crisis, Attorney General Harris secured more than $20 billion for struggling
California homeowners from the nation's banks and wrote the nation's most comprehensive package of foreclosure reforms.
Source: 2016 Senate campaign website, KamalaHarris.org
, Apr 1, 2015
Provide protections for homeowners in bank dealings
The bills provide first of their kind protections for homeowners and reforms to the mortgage and foreclosure process. The bills were approved 53 to 25 in the Assembly and 25 to 13 in the Senate. Said Attorney General Harris, "These common-sense
reforms will require banks to treat California homeowners more fairly and bring more transparency and accountability to their practices in our state. Responsible homeowners will have a better shot to keep their homes."
Source: 2012 California A.G./gubernatorial press release
, Jul 2, 2012
Provide protections for homeowners in bank dealings
The bills provide first of their kind protections for homeowners and reforms to the mortgage and foreclosure process. The bills were approved 53 to 25 in the Assembly and 25 to 13 in the Senate. Said Attorney General Harris, "These common-sense
reforms will require banks to treat California homeowners more fairly and bring more transparency and accountability to their practices in our state. Responsible homeowners will have a better shot to keep their homes."
Source: 2012 California A.G./gubernatorial press release
, Jul 2, 2012
Voted YES on $900 billion COVID relief package.
Harris voted YEA Consolidated Appropriations Act (COVID Relief bill)
NPR summary of HR133:
- $600 checks for every adult and child earning up to $75,000, and smaller checks if earning up to $99,000.
- Unemployment: extend enhanced benefits for jobless workers, $300 per week through March.
- Rental assistance: $25 billion to help pay rent; extends eviction moratorium until Jan. 31.
- SNAP assistance: $13 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
- PPP loans: $284 billion for Paycheck Protection Program loans, expanding eligibility to include nonprofits, news/TV/radio media, broadband access, and movie theaters & cultural institutions
- Child care centers: $10 billion to help providers safely reopen.
- $68 billion to distribute COVID-19 vaccines and tests at no cost.
- $45 billion in transportation-related assistance, including airlines and Amtrak.
- $82 billion in funding for schools and universities to assist with reopening
- $13 billion for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for growers and
livestock producers.
Argument in opposition: Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV-2) said after voting against H.R. 133: "Congress voted to spend another $2.3 trillion [$900 billion for COVID relief], which will grow our national debt to about $29 trillion. The federal government will again have to borrow money from nations like China. This massive debt is being passed on to our children and grandchildren. With multiple vaccines on the way thanks to President Trump and Operation Warp Speed, we do not need to pile on so much additional debt. Now is the time to safely reopen our schools and our economy. HR133 was another 5593-page bill put together behind closed doors and released moments prior to the vote."
Legislative outcome: Passed House 327-85-18, Roll #250, on Dec. 21. 2020; Passed Senate 92-6-2, Roll #289, on Dec. 21; signed by President Trump on Dec 27 [after asking for an increase from $600 to $2,000 per person, which was introduced as a separate vote].
Source: Congressional vote 20-HR133 on Jan 15, 2020
Page last updated: Mar 20, 2021