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Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled her “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men” this week, but according to top analysts, some proposals may face legal challenges.
The plan includes 1 million forgivable loans of up to $20,000 for Black entrepreneurs and others facing business barriers, along with vocational training funding to expand Black men’s job opportunities. However, similar race-based programs have been challenged in court, such as a nonprofit offering grants exclusively to Black female business owners and a federal relief program favoring minority and female farmers.
“A Harris administration would face a significant constitutional challenge in granting these loans on the basis of race,” George Washington law professor Jonathan Turley said.
“It is unconstitutional because eligibility for the money would be determined by race,” added Fox News legal analyst Gregory Jarrett. “Harris’ proposal smacks of blatant vote-buying.”
Kamala Harris has released a policy plan for Black Men in America. It consists of:
– a fully forgivable $20k loan to start a business
– protect crypto investments
– legalize recreational marijuana
– education and mentorship
– national health initiative pic.twitter.com/LF8qmUgglN— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) October 15, 2024
Dan Fee, an attorney and president of the Philadelphia-based Echo Group, a crisis communications firm representing high-profile clients like former Gov. Ed Rendell, defended Harris’ policies. He argued that it would “stun” him if these proposals weren’t thoroughly vetted beforehand, calling the plan an intelligent approach to tackling poverty at its root.
Harris’ five-point plan for Black men includes federal marijuana legalization and a “National Health Equity Initiative” to address health challenges disproportionately affecting Black men. However, race-based services like this have faced scrutiny, with the Office of Civil Rights investigating potential discrimination.
Similar Biden administration programs providing relief based on race and gender have been challenged in court. For example, a judge blocked an Agriculture Department aid program favoring minority and female farmers, and a COVID-19 relief program for restaurant owners with similar preferences faced the same fate.
Jarrett called the agriculture program “clearly discriminatory against white farmers,” and argued that Harris “surely knows” her proposals will meet the same fate. “But her immediate interest appears to be pandering for minority votes,” he added.
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