By John Celock
The former chief executive of technology giant Hewlett-Packard said she’s going to Kansas next week because she believes Gov. Sam Brownback’s (R) tax plan is “working”.
Carly Fiorina told the “Joseph Ashby Show” on KQAM radio in Wichita Friday morning that she believes in Brownback’s tax cuts and that they are a good example of conservative economic plans. Fiorina, the unsuccessful 2010 Republican U.S. Senate nominee in California, has been campaigning for Republican candidates nationwide this year and has been mentioned as a potential 2016 presidential candidate. Brownback is locked in a competitive race with Democratic nominee Paul Davis.
“What’s going on in Kansas thanks to Brownback’s leadership is a great example of our conservative policies being put in place to lift everyone up,” Fiorina said Friday morning on the radio.
Fiorina is slated to headline Women for Brownback rallies next Tuesday in both Wichita and Overland Park, along with fundraisers for state House Republicans in both cities. The Kansas stops are the latest in a series of political events Fiorina has been holding around the country. Since her 2010 loss to U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Fiorina has emerged as a top Republican campaign speaker nationally and is a former vice chairwoman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Fiorina was ousted by HP’s board in 2005 for management differences.
Brownback’s tax cuts, which have included steep cuts for corporate income taxes, have become a centerpiece of the gubernatorial race. Davis and his allies have said the tax cuts will bankrupt the state, citing data from a nonpartisan legislative research office. Brownback and his allies have defended the cuts as an economic stimulus, citing data that has shown an increase in small business incorporations in the state. Among the cuts were zero income taxes for LLCs in the state. Brownback has pointed to the growth in private sector jobs during his tenure, while Davis points to overall job loss, including public sector job numbers in the total.
Fiorina said that she believes that the Brownback cuts, which have been closely watched by Republicans nationwide, have helped small business in Kansas. She said “it’s working” when asked about the impact by Ashby. Fiorina has long backed changes to the federal tax code in order to boost small business growth, including the proposal in a speech about small business policy to the National Press Club in 2013.
September revenue numbers were $21 million below estimates, with Brownback administration officials saying changes to the federal capital gains tax were to blame for the shortfall. Davis was quick to blame the shortfall on the tax cuts.
Davis has said that he’ll halt further tax cuts if elected, while Brownback said that he’ll continue to cut taxes.
Fiorina noted that she wants to keep Brownback in office and help the GOP defend their supermajority in the state House.
“I want to come out and help him and all the state House Republicans,” she said.