Senator Kamala Harris, a former presidential candidate, brings a history of votes and positions as she campaigns to become the first wife of vice president.
Harris, a former prosecutor, has set a voting record as one of the most liberal members of the U.S. Senate, according to GovTrack, an independent nonpartisan website that follows legislative records. Her record, already checked when she ran for president, will surely be under the microscope once again, as she added her name to the Democratic ticket.
Health care
Harris was a co-sponsor of Senator Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All act. In January 2019, Harris said they want to eliminate private insurance. Letter, she explained that she wanted to get rid of the ‘waste’ and ‘bureaucracy’ in private insurance, but questions remained about her position on private health insurance. Harris said she would be against any policy that would deny a person health care because of her citizenship status.
Access to abortion
While in the U.S. Senate, Harris has maintained a 100% rating from the NARAL pro-abortion rights group. As attorney general in California, Harris stopped the presbytery of Hoag Memorial Hospital from delivering elective abortions when it entered into a partnership with the Catholic St. Joseph Health System. That decision drew criticism from activists for abortion rights.
Coronavirus help
Harris supported the idea of monthly checks to Americans during the pandemic – specifically $ 2,000 a month per adult and $ 2,000 a month per dependent.
Climate change
During its presidential campaign, Harris introduced a $ 10 trillion plan to tackle climate change, the goal of which was to have 2045 non-zero emissions and 20% carbon neutral electricity by 2030. Harris said she would go to big polluters and end federal subsidies for fossil fuel production. She also wanted to end all development of fossil fuels on public lands and preserve 30% of the nation’s lands and oceans by 2030.
LGBTQ + community
As a candidate, Harris opted to run members of the LGBTQ + community in their cabinet. While she’s attorney general in California, Harris refused to defend Proposition 8, California law defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
Legalization of marijuana
Harris now supports the legalization of marijuana at the federal level. But as California’s attorney general, Harris oversees hundreds of marijuana-related convictions.
Rifle control
While she was a candidate, Harris voted to take executive action on guns if elected president and Congress not act within 100 days. Harris has been a staunch supporter of stricter gun control laws. Harris supports the requirement of anyone who sells more than five rifles a year to conduct background checks. She would revoke the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms’ license of any arms dealer who breaks the law.
Grace Segers and Sarah Ewall-Wice contributed reporting.
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