Carly Fiorina gladly accepted the endorsement of the anti-tax Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association today, noting she has signed a pledge never to raise taxes if she becomes U.S. senator.
But the Republican who seeks to unseat Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer didn't endorse the Jarvis group's big cause on this November's ballot, passage of Proposition 23, the initiative to suspend California's law to curtail greenhouse gases. The Jarvis organization talks about the initiative here.
The former Hewlett-Packard chief executive officer made clear that she is no fan of AB 32, the 2006 law embraced by many Silicon Valley venture capitalists who believe the measure could help transform California's economy by encouraging growth in green technology.
Fiorina doesn't seem to share that optimism. Stopping at the Sacramento offices of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Fiorina said in answer to a reporter's question about Proposition 23:
"AB 32--studies that have been done certainly suggest that in the short term, it will destroy jobs. I think that is worth taking into account in the middle of a deep recession where we have 21 counties with unemployment above 15 percent."
Will she vote for Proposition 23? the reporter pressed.
"I haven't yet taken a formal position on Proposition 23. But I think common sense would tell us that you don't rush forward with AB 32 when you know it is destroying jobs in the short term."
But will she take a position before the November election? the reporter persisted.
"Do we have other questions?"
With that, Fiorina proceeded to answer other a few other questions from the small gathering of reporters.
Jon Coupal, the organization's president, said after Fiorina left that he hopes she will take a stand in favor of the Proposition 23 before election day.
That almost surely will depend on polls as the election nears. CalBuzz last month summed up the political dilemma Republicans are facing in this item.
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