Harris tells ’60 Minutes’ that Congress will work with her
WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said in an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes” that aired Monday that she believes Congress will work with her on economic and tax policy if she is elected.
She also criticized Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for refusing to be interviewed by news programs, but noted that voters interested in his national goals should listen to one of his rallies.
“You’re going to hear a conversation about himself and all of his personal grievances, and you’re not going to hear anything about you, the audience,” Harris said. “You’re not going to hear how he’s going to try to bring the country together, Find common ground. That’s why I believe in my soul and heart that the American people are ready to turn the page.
In the interview, Harris emphasized her support for Ukraine and said she would not sit down for bilateral talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the conflict.
“Ukraine must have a say in Ukraine’s future,” Harris said, though she declined to say whether her administration supports Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Harris believes that if Trump had been president when Russia invaded Ukraine, “Putin would be sitting in Kiev right now,” referring to the Ukrainian capital.
“He said, ‘Oh, he could end this on day one.'” You know what that is? This is about surrender,” Harris said of Trump.
Trump and immigration
Many of Harris’ answers to questions about immigration and border security focused on Trump, criticizing him for working behind the scenes to undermine legislation that took months of bipartisan negotiations.
She has also pointed out more than once that Congress is responsible for enacting laws governing immigration policy and questioned why lawmakers have not approved legislation proposed by President Biden on his first day in office.
Harris said she believed Americans would vote for her over Trump in part because they hoped the president wouldn’t make comments about immigration like Trump often did on the campaign trail.
“I believe the American people want a leader who won’t try to divide us and belittle us,” Harris said. “I believe the American people realize that the true measure of a leader’s strength is not based on who you defeat, but who you lift up.”
If she is elected president, Harris said she is confident members of Congress will work with her to implement some of her core policy proposals, including expanding the child tax credit and establishing a tax credit for first-time homebuyers.
Paying for the proposals can be accomplished by “making sure the wealthiest among us who can afford it pay their fair share of taxes,” she said.
“It’s not right that teachers, nurses and firefighters pay higher taxes than billionaires and the largest corporations, and I plan to make that fair,” she said.
“Trump’s tax cuts increase our federal deficit”
She said when Harris spoke to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, many of them understood the points she was making about the tax law.
“There are many leaders in Congress who understand and know that Trump’s tax cuts contributed to our federal deficit,” Harris said. “None of us, certainly including me, can be shortsighted on how to strengthen the American economy.”
Harris provided more details about her gun ownership during the interview, revealing that she owned a Glock and fired it at a shooting range.
“I have a Glock and I’ve had it for a long time,” Harris said. “I mean, Bill, my background is in law enforcement. That’s it.
