Harris Downplays Inflation Crisis Origins, Says It’s ‘Not a Partisan Issue’

In a recent CBS News interview, Vice President Kamala Harris claimed that inflation, which has hit Americans hard since her administration came into office, is “not a partisan issue.” Harris argued that the burden of rising costs affects all Americans and that solutions should come from bipartisan cooperation even as her own policies are widely viewed as responsible for the crisis.

During her interview, host Norah O’Donnell pressed Harris on how she could address economic challenges, particularly with a potentially divided Congress. Harris responded that issues like the high cost of groceries and housing transcend party lines, affecting everyone, regardless of their political views. “Democrats, Republicans, independents deal with these issues equally,” Harris claimed, implying that inflation and other economic problems are common-ground issues.

However, many economists and policy experts point to the administration’s early decisions, particularly the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, as the main driver behind the historic inflation spikes Americans have endured. The spending package, signed into law in March 2021 after Harris cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate, passed without a single Republican vote in either the House or the Senate. Almost immediately, prices began to rise, as The Washington Post reported that inflation rates jumped sharply within days of the bill’s passage.

• Unprecedented inflation spike: The month following the American Rescue Plan’s passage, inflation jumped from 2.6% to 4.2% and continued to climb, reaching 9.1% by June 2022.

• Widespread price hikes: From gas and groceries to housing and utilities, American families have felt the financial strain as prices surged across virtually every category.

• Political divide on economic solutions: Despite Harris’s call for bipartisan solutions, her administration’s policies continue to draw criticism for their impact on the economy.

The passage of the American Rescue Plan marked the beginning of the country’s steepest inflation in over 40 years, creating widespread economic challenges that show no signs of immediate relief. By early 2022, inflation had soared to over 8% on a monthly basis, culminating at a staggering 9.1% by the summer. Many households have had to make painful cuts to their budgets, with everyday essentials becoming alarmingly expensive.

Despite her statements on bipartisanship, Harris’s economic policy record suggests a starkly partisan approach. When she cast the deciding vote in favor of the American Rescue Plan, Republicans warned that the $1.9 trillion package would create a heavy debt burden and increase inflationary pressure. Today, the effects of that spending package are undeniable, with prices on everything from food to energy significantly higher than they were pre-2021.

Vice President Harris’s attempt to frame inflation as a universal issue without partisan causes may ring hollow for Americans facing the harsh reality of her policies. If inflation wasn’t a partisan problem before, the current administration’s approach has made it one, and Americans from all political backgrounds are bearing the costs.

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