Socialists are not happy with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ lack of response to the much-needed economic relief to Americans during the pandemic.
This issue was brought up on the socialist website Jacobin, with the headline: “Where in the World is Kamala Harris?”
The subject was addressed several days after Congress passed a $900 billion COVID relief bill. Americans making up to $75,000 a year will receive a check for $600 – only half the amount provided in the previous coronavirus legislation passed months ago.
The article criticized Harris for not speaking up to demand a higher amount for Americans suffering during the pandemic.
Jacobin pointed out that months earlier before Joe Biden had picked Harris as his running mate, she had introduced coronavirus relief legislation to provide most Americans with recurring $2,000 monthly payments during the pandemic.
At the time Harris and the bills co-sponsors Senators Bernie Sanders and Ed Markey said the one-time payment of $1,200 provided in the CARES Act would not be enough to help families suffering from health and financial crisis.
Harris said, “The CARES Act gave Americans an important one-time payment, but it’s clear that wasn’t enough to meet the needs of this historic crisis. Bills will continue to come in every single month during the pandemic and so should help from the government.”
The original proposal was considered radical and seen as an attempt for Harris to validate her progressive credentials. The author of the Jacobin article suggested that Harris’ silence could mean that the progressive causes she defended on the campaign trail could have all been all talk.
The author called on the Vice President-elect to take more aggressive action by writing, “This is her chance to lead Democrats to a big win over McConnell in support of a policy that will help millions of people.”
They added, “Let’s hope she seizes the moment and doesn’t decide to just disappear.”
