The San Jose Mercury News endorsed Sen. Barbara Boxer yesterday, saying that she would “best represent Silicon Valley,” and lauded her views on the environment and promoting the tech industry.
“Since taking office in 1993, she’s [Boxer] had the valley’s back on legislation on expensing stock options, H-1B visas and promoting cleantech and green jobs, among many other issues,” argued the editorial.
“Fiorina supports Proposition 23, which would suspend California’s global warming law and devastate its clean-energy sector — the only one that’s been adding jobs through the recession,” the San Jose Mercury News added. “Like many if not most valley industry leaders, Boxer strongly opposes Proposition 23. She co-authored national cap-and-trade legislation that would have complemented California policies — not to mention place this country in the mainstream of the industrialized world. Unfortunately, she was ineffective at pushing through her legislation, but at least she’s on the right side.”
The editorial also criticized Fiorina’s pro-life views and support for extending all the Bush tax cuts.
But Boxer received some criticism as well. “We wish Boxer were less strident. This trait has cost her support for some important legislation and has damaged her ability to provide leadership in the Senate … We also wish Boxer were more centrist. Business policies aside, she’s seen as an icon of the left. This country’s best hope in the next six years lies with leaders with the temperament to forge compromise on divisive issues,” the editorial advised.