‘Might Actually Not Do Anything’: Harris Insiders Reportedly Walk Back Claim That Price Control Plan Will Cut Prices

Insiders in Vice President Kamala Harris’ orbit are reportedly walking back her suggestion that her proposed grocery “price gouging” ban would lower prices for consumers, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

Harris debuted the “price gouging” ban proposal during a Friday speech in North Carolina, and she was roundly lambasted for what many criticize as essentially price controls. However, anonymous sources familiar with Harris’ thinking clarified the policy to the NYT, saying that the “price gouging” ban would only actually take effect in emergency situations and thus would not be likely to bring prices down right away.

The Harris proposal would be specifically focused on the food and grocery industries, and it would not be determined by any specific numerical targets or barometers, sources familiar with Harris’ thinking told the NYT. It would also apparently only kick into effect in circumstances like the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster or in the event of another pandemic, and since the U.S. is not facing such conditions at the moment, the plan “might actually not do anything to bring down grocery prices right now.”