Carly Fiorina vice presidential campaign, 2016/Federalism

	; ; Former presidential candidate; Carly Fiorina
	Political offices: ; Former presidential candidate; (2016); Former candidate for U.S. Senate; (2010)
	Fiorina on the issues:
	Taxes • Banking policy • Government regulations • International trade • Budgets • Federal assistance programs • Federalism • Natural resources • Healthcare • Immigration • Education • Abortion • Gay rights
	Republican candidate:
	Donald Trump
	Ballotpedia's presidential election coverage; 2028 • 2024 • 2020 • 2016

Carly Fiorina suspended her presidential campaign on February 10, 2016.^[1]

This page was current as of the 2016 election.

In 2015, conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt began asking Republican candidates on his show if they would be willing to use the Senate "nuclear option" in order to get rid of the filibuster and repeal Obamacare. Carly Fiorina is one of several candidates who said she would do so.^[2]

During an October 7, 2015, appearance on “The Federalist Radio Hour,” Carly Fiorina said “eminent domain has been abused . . . by the collusion between governments eager for revenue and businesses eager for competitive advantage. So I find the [Kelo v. City of New London] case—if ever there was a case for judicial engagement instead of judicial restraint, it's this set of issues.” Kelo was a 2005 Supreme Court interpreting what constituted “public use” for a legitimate taking of land by eminent domain. The comment was seen as directed toward Donald Trump who used the tool as a real estate developer.^[3]

According to The San Francisco Gate, Fiorina said she "probably would have voted for" Justice Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court.^[4]

See also: 2016 presidential candidates on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act

On April 1, 2015, Carly Fiorina posted the following comments on her Facebook page in response to the debate about Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act: "It is frankly sad to me that politics has become a fact-free zone. It is sad that so many people on the left were quick to turn this into a divisive and destructive debate so they could further their own brand of identity politics. It is sad that CEOs took to Twitter before checking their facts, adding to the division instead of helping build tolerance. This debate represents what so many believe is wrong with our politics. It has taken an emotional issue for people on both sides and politicians have used it to divide and to score points with their team. It has been tough for some in the media to understand my position because I refuse to join the game of name calling and vitriol. Politics shouldn't be a game, however. We must find a way to respect one another, to celebrate a culture that protects religious freedom while condemning discrimination."^[5] Click here for Fiorina's full statement.

During the sixth Republican presidential primary debate, on January 14, 2016, Carly Fiorina criticized President Obama’s executive actions on gun control: “First of all, it is yet another lawless executive order. You see, he doesn't like the fact that Congress has rejected his ideas twice on a bipartisan basis, so he's decided he just gets to override them. Sorry, Mr. President, not the way ‘The Constitution’ works. Secondly, he basically admitted in that speech that he hasn't been paying much attention to enforcing the laws we have. He said, gee, we need a few more FBI agents. That would have helped, perhaps, stop a tragedy here in South Carolina with Dylann Roof, a guy who clearly never should have been sold a gun. In other words, Mr. President, you're right, we need to enforce the laws we have. Let's enforce the laws we have. There are criminals running around with guns who shouldn't have them. We don't prosecute any of them. Less than 1 percent.”^[6]

On December 3, 2015, Fiorina said she opposed barring individuals on terror watch lists from purchasing guns. "That's kind of a red herring, honestly. If somebody is a suspected terrorist on a watch list they can be indicted at any time. And once you are indicted you cannot own a firearm. So let's enforce the laws we have. Let's start with that,” she said. Fiorina added that some people were mistakenly placed on the terror watch list: "My best friend's husband was on the watch list for years, it was a complete mistake. He also happened to be a gun owner. If I had utter faith in the competence of government I might agree with that, but do you? I don't. The government screws up all the time."^[7]

On December 2, 2015, Fiorina criticized President Obama’s and Hillary Clinton’s responses to the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. She said, “Without knowing any of the facts of what has happened there or why, President Obama and Hillary Clinton immediately came out and made a political statement for gun control. Instead of Mrs. Clinton calling for more laws, why don’t we enforce the laws that we have and, as well, enforce the Second Amendment?"^[8]

According to her 2010 Senate campaign website, "Carly is a strong proponent of protecting Americans’ Second Amendment rights. Carly believes the rights outlined in the Second Amendment are a critical part of our country’s founding principles and that it is the responsibility of our leaders in Sacramento and in Washington to uphold and defend these fundamental rights."^[9]

Carly Fiorina shared the story of her stepdaughter’s struggle with drug addiction at the Addiction Policy Forum at Southern New Hampshire University on January 5, 2016. She said, “There’s an old saying. The eyes are the window to the soul. And as Lori grew progressively sicker, the sparkle, the potential, the possibilities that had once filled her life – disappeared from behind her eyes.” Fiorina called for treatment solutions to fight drug addiction rather than imprisonment. Speaking about her stepdaughter’s time in jail, she said, “I know that experience did not help because I saw her as she came out.”^[10]

According to her 2010 Senate campaign website, "Carly supports the death penalty for our nation’s worst murderers."^[9]

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term Carly + Fiorina + Government