Huntsman: I Don't Support Cap and Trade Now

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, a likely candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, no longer supports the idea of cap-and-trade legislation. When he was governor, Huntsman and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger backed a regional cap-and-trade pact, Time magazine reports.

But no longer. "It hasn't worked, and our economy's in a different place than five years ago," he told Time. Until the economy rebounds, "this isn't the moment" to keep trying, Huntsman said.

Huntsman already has raised suspicions among conservatives for serving as President Barack Obama’s ambassador to China. So he might feel a need to show he’s not too far to the left on environmental issues.

Huntsman’s conversion on the issue matches that of Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, another likely GOP presidential candidate, The Hill reports. Pawlenty calls his past support of cap and trade a "clunker."