Haley highlights new economic plan ahead of second presidential debate

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) highlighted her economic plan at a speech in New Hampshire on Friday ahead of the second GOP presidential debate next week.

“Americans are tired of working for Washington. It’s time for Washington to start working for us. That’s why I’m unveiling my ‘Freedom Plan,’” Haley said in the speech at St. Anselm College, according to her campaign website. “I’ll make Washington work for you, not the other way around. The American people are the only ones who will out-compete — and ultimately defeat — Communist China.”

Haley’s plan includes getting rid of the federal gas and diesel tax, cutting “income taxes for working families” and vetoing “any spending bill that doesn’t take us back to pre-COVID spending levels.” She also said she will “protect those receiving Social Security and Medicare.”

“We’ll keep these programs the same for anyone who’s in their 40s, 50s, 60s, or older, period,” she said in her speech, according to her campaign website. And we’ll preserve Social Security and Medicare for the next generation. I’ll limit benefits for wealthy people. I’ll expand the Medicare Advantage plans that seniors love, and increase competition.”

Haley bashed President Biden’s economic plan, which has been dubbed “Bidenomics.” She called the plan “government control of everyone” in her speech.

“We hear similar foolishness from some Republicans,” Haley continued in her speech. “They want so-called ‘industrial policy’ that bails out railroad unions or promotes the misnamed ‘stakeholder capitalism.’ That’s little more than socialism lite. Republicans used to know that giving Washington more control isn’t the solution. It’s the problem. Government breaks more than it fixes.”

The former Palmetto State governor’s comments come as Biden faces down tough economic battles, like arguments in Congress over government spending as a federal shutdown looms. He’s also grappling with a strike by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union against three major automakers: Stellantis, Ford and General Motors.

Haley also took swings at China as the Biden administration tries to cool tensions between the East Asian country and the U.S.

“China is an existential threat,” Haley said. “It has spent half a century plotting to defeat us. It’s taken our manufacturing jobs. It’s taken our trade secrets. Now it’s taking control of critical industries, from medicines to advanced technology. In record time, China has gone from an economically backward country to the second-biggest economy on earth.”

“It has every intention of being the first,” Haley added. “And the Communist Party’s motives are clear. They’re building a massive, cutting-edge military, capable of threatening America and dominating Asia and beyond.”

In a statement emailed to The Hill, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee said Haley’s plan “is about shilling for special interests at the expense of America’s middle class.”

“Nikki Haley’s MAGAnomics policies left South Carolina families behind while the wealthy and corporations made millions, and that’s the same failed economic agenda she’s now trying to take nationwide,” DNC spokesperson Emily Soong said. “Let’s be clear about what she’s really proposing: gutting Social Security and Medicare — critical programs that families across the country rely on — while making Trump’s tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy and big corporations permanent.”

— Updated 4:42 p.m.