Huntsman Focuses on Tax and Regulatory Reform

Boeing’s new North Charleston plant played the role of yard ornament once again Monday as presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman shifted the primary debate from debt levels and spending cuts to tax and regulatory reform.

Boeing is in the throws of a fight with the National Labor Review Board over its new Dreamliner facility in South Carolina. After the company brass complemented the Palmetto State for its union-adverse ways, the NLRB claimed Boeing was locating in South Carolina to scare off future union strikes in Washington and other union-friendly states.

Their proposed solution is to require the company to build an operation in Washington that matches the investment made in South Carolina. With the large facility sitting behind him, Huntsman made the same call made by several other candidates: Mr. President, don’t bully Boeing.

“The president has talked about job creation as his number one priority,” Huntsman said. “If the president believed in job creation, he would tell the NLRB to stand down.”

A former Utah governor and ambassador to China, Huntsman tired to make it clear Monday that jobs were his number one priority. Offered bait by the press on the recent debt debate and strict calls from the Tea Party for spending cuts, Huntsman focused on what he believes is holding back job creation.

He pointed to a complicated tax structure and a regulatory environment that has birthed this NLRB/Boeing dispute. Debt and spending cuts are part of the solution, he said, but jobs will come with a simpler tax code and less government meddling. “We need to create an environment that speaks to competitiveness, an environment that speaks to job creation,” Huntsman said.

With little effort in the Iowa caucus, the first challenge in the primary season, Huntsman’s energy seems focused on New Hampshire and South Carolina. A little poking by the press on the strategy prompted a quick job description from Huntsman: “I’m not into campaign strategy. I have a vision for this country. I’m the candidate.”