VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS (Shutterstock).

Proposing a major attack on the cost of living for millions of Americans, Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday announced a fistful of plans for the economy if she is elected president.

Speaking in Raleigh in the swing state of North Carolina, Harris – the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate – said, “Look, the bills add up.”

“Building up the middle class will be the defining goal of my presidency,” she said. Among her proposals are a federal ban on price gouging by food producers and grocers, and $25,000 in down-payment help for certain first-time buyers and tax incentives for builders of starter homes.

She also proposed tax cuts for families, including reductions for middle- and lower-income persons and promising to increase the child tax credit to $3,600 and as high as $6000 for children up to age 6.

Such proposals depend on the approval of Congress, which is currently narrowly split between a Democratic-controlled Senate and a Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

A spokesman for the Donald Trump campaign called her proposals “a socialist and authoritarian model.”

Talks to continue on Gaza peace

Negotiations will continue on efforts to end the war in Gaza although no deal was announced on Friday. The United States, Egypt and Gaza are seeking to broker a peace in the ongoing struggle between Israel and Hamas, which has resulted in a reported 40,000 Palestinian deaths.

Those talks are aimed not only at reaching a cease-fire but also heading off a possible expansion of the conflict that might include Iran.

The proposed agreement is based on a proposal made by President Joe Biden in May and later getting an endorsement from the United Nations Security Council.

Biden said, “We are not there yet. But it’s much, much closer than it was three days ago.”

Protests expected at the DNC

A variety of protests are expected at the Democratic National Convention opening Monday in Chicago.

Among the most prominent demonstrations are expected to be from pro-Palestinian groups urging Democrats to assist in ending the Israel-Hamas struggle in Gaza. Some are calling for the U.S. to end all aid to Israel.

The Chicago area has the largest concentration of Palestinians in the U.S.

On Friday, the City of Chicago unveiled a new twin-engine helicopter expected to enhance security around the United Center where the convention will be held.

Weather:  Warmth on the way

It should be a relatively cool (f0r summer) weekend in our West Orange County area, but things will heat up as the work week begins. The forecast calls for daytime highs of 80 and 81 degrees on Saturday and Sunday, rising to 85 and 87 on Monday and Tuesday. Overnight lows will range from 64 to 67. Saturday is expected to have morning clouds followed by afternoon sun. Partly cloudy conditions will return on Sunday and Monday, but sunny skies are expected on Tuesday.

Great Thoughts

“The first and great commandment is, Don’t let them scare you.”

– Elmer Davis.