Supports Initiative to Suspend AB 32 Until Jobs Crisis Ends

Republican candidate for governor Steve Poizner released the following statement today expressing his support for The California Jobs Initiative.  Sponsored by Assemblyman Dan Logue, U.S. Representative Tom McClintock, and CEO of Peoples Advocate Ted Costa, the initiative would suspend AB 32 until Californias unemployment rate returns to the level it was when AB 32 was adopted.

California is in the midst of the greatest jobs crisis since the Great Depression.  Over 20 percent of our workforcesome four million Californiansare now unemployed or underemployed.  As governor, I will do what it takes to create jobs.  Although I believe in the importance of protecting our states environment and natural resources, our state is not an economic or environmental island.  AB 32 has placed us completely out of sync with both federal standards and those of our neighboring states.  At a time when we are already hemorrhaging jobs and our once vibrant economy has faltered, California should not continue to implement a law that will make these problems worse.

In 2006, when AB 32 was passed, our state had an unemployment rate roughly the same as the national unemployment rate.  In the time since AB 32 was adopted, our economy has collapsed and our unemployment rate has more than doubled.  AB 32 sent a message to every business and every manufacturer that its going to cost you more to do business in the state of California.  Dramatic change is needed to get our economy moving again and that is why I support this initiative.

I encourage Californians to learn more about this critical issue and support the California Jobs Initiative by signing the petition to get it on the ballot.