Mike Johnson (Louisiana politician)

James Michael Johnson, known as Mike Johnson (born January 1972),^[1] is a constitutional attorney from Benton, Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 8 in northern Bossier Parish.

Johnson was unopposed in the special election called for February 21, 2015 to select a successor to Jeff R. Thompson, a Republican who resigned the legislative seat to become a judge of the Louisiana 26th Judicial District Court for Bossier and Webster parishes. The election was cancelled when only Johnson filed for the seat.^[2]

Background

Johnson is the oldest son of Jeanne and Patrick Johnson, a firefighter who was critically burned and disabled in the line of duty. He was reared in Shreveport, where he graduated from Captain Shreve High School. He received an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, at which he was a member of the Order of Omega honor society and Kappa Alpha Order fraternity. He holds a Juris Doctor from Louisiana State University Law Center. A former talk radio host and conservative columnist, Johnson has debated on The O’Reilly Factor, Fox and Friends, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and National Public Radio.^[3]

Johnson and his wife, the former Kelly Lary (born October 1973), have two sons and two daughters. She is a teacher and like her husband a public lecturer on family-related issues.^[3] Johnson has formerly resided in Sibley in Webster Parish, and in Allen in Collin County, Texas, dates unavailable.^[4]

Political life

Johnson is a trustee of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission within the Southern Baptist Convention. A partner in the Kitchens Law Firm in Benton, Johnson has been involved in the effort to construct a law school in Shreveport for Louisiana College, the Baptist-affiliated institution based in Pineville in Rapides Parish in Central Louisiana. If constructed, the law institute will be named for Paul Pressler, a conservative retired judge from Houston, Texas, long active in family-values issues.^[3] He is a member of the Council for National Policy, the National Rifle Association, the American Bar Association, and the Louisiana Family Forum.^[3]

Johnson is senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, which defines itself as “a non-profit legal defense and advocacy organization dedicated to religious liberty, traditional family values, and the value and sanctity of life.”^[2] He is also chief counsel of the non-profit Freedom Guard, which defends religious liberties and traditional American values.^[5]

He is co-counsel for the defendants in the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Louisiana state ban on same-sex marriage. He was driving home from a hearing on the matter before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans when he learned from a radio broadcast that he would run unopposed in his bid to succeed Thompson.^[2]

Before it was learned that he had no opponent, Johnson was endorsed for the state House by U.S. Senator David Vitter, a gubernatorial candidate in 2015, and U.S. Representative John Fleming of Louisiana's 4th congressional district. Fleming described Johnson as having "integrity and thoughtfulness to the key issues facing our state, and [will] work to place the taxpayer above all other interests. Though a first-time office seeker, Mike is a proven Christian conservative through his many years of legal work for Louisiana values."^[6] Johnson also picked up the endorsement of the political action committee of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Johnson opposes the Common Core State Standards Initiative but has promised to act as an honest broker on the issue.^[7]

Johnson's said that his lack of an opponent was "really a blessing and honor. We're humbled by having been given this opportunity."^[5] Barely into his unexpired term, Johnson is seeking election in the October nonpartisan blanket primary. On his website, Johnson described his goals as:

The next few years in the history of our state and its public policy will be critical, and Louisiana stands on the verge of a unique opportunity. With the right leadership and vision, we can be a standard bearer for the rest of the nation--and the world--by advancing the timeless, conservative principles that secure life, liberty and economic prosperity for all people. But to take that stand and seize that moment, we must have leaders in Baton Rouge who understand the issues and can articulate and skillfully defend the ideals of individual freedom, limited government, lower taxes and sound stewardship. ...^[2]

Louisiana Marriage and Conscience Act

In April 2015, Johnson announced the filing of his proposed Marriage and Conscience Act to protect the freedom of individuals and businesses in regard to religious convictions. Johnson defined his goal as "protecting individuals and entities against the state's ability to discriminate against them based on their views on marriage or other controversial issues." He denied that his legislation is based on a similar law passed a few days earlier in Indiana.^[8]

Johnson said the Marriage and Conscience Act is:

a call for freedom, civility and tolerance. The truth is, I have been giving the subject a great deal of thought (partly because that’s what a guy who has been defending the cause of religious liberty in federal courts for almost two decades naturally does). And, after much deliberation, I have decided to introduce a bill today that aims to help defuse a growing cultural conflict, promote a balanced approach to this important question, and safeguard the sacred right of conscience for every single citizen.

In spite of the speculation that you may have heard in advance, this legislation — the Louisiana Marriage and Conscience Act - is actually a very simple proposal. It is a bill that seeks to do just one important thing: prevent adverse treatment by the State of any person or entity on the basis of the views they may hold with regard to marriage. Under this law, the State would be specifically prohibited from denying or withholding from a person or entity such things that they would otherwise be entitled to — like a state license, certification, accreditation, employment, state contracts, state benefits, or tax deductions — solely because of that person or entity's views about the institution of marriage.^[9]

Governor Bobby Jindal has pledged to sign Johnson's bill into law if it passes both houses of the legislature. In a guest editorial in The New York Times, Jindal said that he has been contacted by several corporations who oppose the bill: "They are free to voice their opinions, but they will not deter me."^[10]

References