Ron Johnson (U.S. politician)

This article is about the American politician. For other people with the same name, see Ron Johnson (disambiguation).
Ron Johnson
United States Senator
from Wisconsin
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Serving with Tammy Baldwin
Preceded by Russ Feingold
Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee
Assumed office
January 3, 2015
Preceded by Tom Carper
Personal details
Born Ronald Harold Johnson
(1955-04-08) April 8, 1955
Mankato, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Jane Johnson
Residence Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Alma mater University of Minnesota
Religion Lutheranism
Website Senate website

Ronald Harold "Ron" Johnson (born April 8, 1955) is the senior United States Senator for Wisconsin and a member of the Republican Party.[1][2] Prior to his election to the Senate, he was chief executive officer of PACUR, LLC, a polyester and plastics manufacturer.[2][3]

Early life and education

Johnson was born in Mankato, Minnesota, the son of Jeanette Elizabeth (née Thisius) and Dale Robert Johnson. His father was of Norwegian descent and his mother was of German ancestry.[4] While growing up, Johnson delivered newspapers, worked as a caddy at a golf course, baled hay on his uncle's dairy farm, and worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant.[5] He attended the University of Minnesota while working full-time and graduated in 1977 with a degree in business and accounting.[6] That year, he also married Jane, the daughter of the businessman Howard Curler, co-founder of Curwood Industries, now part of the multinational Bemis Company.

Business career

In 1979, Johnson moved to Wisconsin with his wife, and both started working for PACUR, a custom sheet extruder company, with his wife's brother, Patrick Curler, for whom the company is named. PACUR had been created, (a few months before Johnson arrived in Wisconsin), with the strong financial backing of Patrick and Jane's father, Howard Curler. Bemis, who was helmed by Howard Curler at the time, was PACUR's sole customer for the first several years of the company's existence.[7] For nearly one year, Johnson worked as the accountant and as a machine operator, trading 12-hour shifts with his brother-in-law, with whom he also shared a small cot. The company later expanded into the area of medical device packaging which involved hiring salespeople and exporting products to other countries. In the mid-80s Pat Curler left PACUR and Johnson became CEO. The Curler family sold PACUR to Bowater Industries in 1987 for $18 million and Bowater kept Johnson on as the company's CEO. In 1997, Johnson purchased PACUR from Bowater and remained as the company's CEO until he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010.[8]

Fellow Republican Mike McFadden praised him for working in the business sector before entering politics, saying that "we’ve created this professional class of politician, and it's killing us."[9]

U.S. Senate

Elections

2010
Johnson speaking in February 2011.

The 2010 U.S. Senate campaign was Johnson's first run for elective office. He was described as a "political blank slate" because he had no history of campaigning or holding office.[10] Johnson appeared in Madison, Wisconsin, at the Tea Party rally for Tax Day, April 15, 2010.[11] He attracted the attention of the Tea Party movement when he gave two emotional speeches at Tea Party rallies. According to The New York Times, he said he "did kind of spring out of the Tea Party" and is glad to be associated with it.[12] In the September 14, 2010, Republican primary, Johnson, running a largely self-financed campaign,[13] defeated Watertown businessman Dave Westlake, taking 85% of the vote, with 10% going to Westlake and the remaining 5% going to Stephen Finn.[14][15] In the November 2, 2010, general election, he defeated Democratic incumbent Russ Feingold.[16]

As of November 1, 2010, Johnson had contributed more than $8.2 million to his own campaign, representing 64% of total campaign contributions.[17] In June 2011, Johnson's financial disclosures showed Pacur, where he was CEO for 13 years until elected to the Senate, had paid him $10 million in deferred compensation in early 2011. The compensation covered the period from 1997–2011, during which he took no salary from PACUR. Johnson said that he, as CEO, had personally determined the dollar amount and that the amount was unrelated to the almost $9 million he had given to his campaign.[18][19]

Johnson opposed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a candidate. He launched his campaign by telling the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that, "We would have been far better off not spending any of the money and let the recovery happen as it was going to happen." The newspaper later reported that the education council Johnson led considered applying for stimulus money in 2009, but ultimately elected not to do so. The Johnson campaign stated that non-profits consider "many possibilities," but that the council "made no application."[20]

After being elected to the Senate, Johnson "sold every liquid asset so there would be absolutely no chance for conflict of interest." Johnson was not required to sell these holdings.[21]

2016

Johnson has announced that he will seek re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2016. In November 2014, he was endorsed by the fiscally conservative Club for Growth.[22] Johnson has said he will not self-finance his re-election bid.[23] The Washington Post rated Johnson the most vulnerable incumbent U.S. Senator entering the 2016 election cycle.[24]

Tenure

Regulatory reform

Johnson introduced S. 1438, the Regulation Moratorium and Job Preservation Act. The bill would impose a moratorium on significant new federal regulations until the national unemployment level falls to 7.7 percent – just below where it was when President Obama took office.[25] Johnson cites the EPA ‘Boiler MACT’ rule as one example of a new regulation which would be blocked [26]

Debt ceiling

Johnson stated that the debate over whether to increase the US debt ceiling presented an opportunity to establish hard caps on federal spending.[27] He argued that Congress could not keep raising the debt limit, and needed to prioritize spending. He urged the Obama administration to calm the markets – rather than scare them – as a debt ceiling vote approached.[28] Johnson called for open negotiations over the debt ceiling, saying that the closed-door talks were ‘outrageous’ and ‘disgusting.’ He further noted that default should not have been a concern, given that the government had plenty of funding to pay interest on debt, Social Security benefits, and salary for soldiers.[29]

Benghazi Affair

On January 23, 2013, following the attacks on the American Diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified to Congress about the attacks and how the Obama administration handled the situation. Johnson argued with Clinton, saying that the American public was led to believe that the attacks sprang from protests while it was truly an organized terrorist attack. Speaking to Clinton he said, "We were misled that there were supposedly protests and then something sprang out of that, an assault sprang out of that." Clinton replied, "But with all due respect, the fact is that we had four dead Americans. What difference, at this point, does it make? It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, senator."[30]

Health care

In 2013, Johnson co-sponsored legislation that would have allowed people at risk of losing their healthcare coverage due to Obamacare to keep their current healthcare plans. Later, in an editorial for the Wall Street Journal on April 13, 2015, Johnson stated that he would propose legislation to allow current Obamacare enrollees to keep their healthcare plans through August 2017 and to continue to receive existing subsidies. New enrollees would not receive subsidies. However, the individual and employer mandates would end. Mandated coverages would also be terminated to enable less expensive policies.[31][32]

In early 2014, Johnson attacked the ability of Congress to continue using pre-tax employer contributions to help pay for their medical care, rather than being subject to the full text of the Affordable Care Act that the rest of the nation must follow.[33] The new "protection" given to the US Congress was due to the Obama Administration offering exemptions to members of Congress and their staff from the full imposition of the ACA.[33] Johnson showed his discontent with the Obamacare exemptions by initiating a lawsuit against the measures taken by the Executive branch.[33] "I really do believe that the American people expect, and they have every right to expect, that members of Congress, the political class here in Washington, should be fully subject to all of the rules, all the laws that Congress imposes on the rest of America...", stated Johnson.[33] The court ruled that the Senator did not have standing and dismissed the case. The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago said Johnson also lacked legal standing by a unanimous three-judge panel in April 2015.[34][35]

Johnson has declined to support efforts to tie funding the federal government with defunding Obamacare, stating: "Even if we were to not pass the continuing resolution [to fund the federal government], you're not going to be able to defund Obamacare, absent of President Obama signing a law, which I think is highly unlikely."[36]

Border control

As chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Johnson introduced the Secure the Border First Act of 2015.[37]

Committee assignments

Political positions

Statute of limitations for sex crimes

In January 2010, Johnson opposed a Wisconsin bill that would have eliminated the time limit for future child sex abuse victims to bring lawsuits while allowing an additional three years for past victims to sue.[38] Johnson testified before the Wisconsin Senate that "punishment for the actual perpetrators should be severe," but questioned whether it would be just for employers of perpetrators to be severely financially damaged or destroyed by lawsuits.[39] He added that the bill, if enacted, might actually reduce the reporting of child sex abuse.[10][38] At the time of his testimony, Johnson was on the Finance Council of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay.[10][38] In June 2010 he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "I can't think of a penalty that would be too harsh for these guys"[40] and in late September 2010, Johnson indicated that the legislation would have financially crippled organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs and that the punishment for child sex abuse should be, "severe and swift."[38] He also sought to address reports about his testimony, saying “I sought to warn legislators of those consequences in order to correct legislative language so that any bills that passed would punish the perpetrators and those that protect them, not honorable organizations that do so much good for our communities. We must rid our society of people who prey on children.”[41]

Fiscal issues

Johnson has opposed increased government spending and the federal stimulus. He has supported broad reduction in federal tax rates, simplifying regulations on business and free-market health care options.[42]

When asked if Johnson would get rid of home mortgage interest deductions (claiming mortgage interest as a tax-deductible expense), he said he "wouldn’t rule it out" as part of an effort to lower taxes and simplify the tax code.[43]

Global warming

Johnson has called scientists who attribute global warming to man-made causes "crazy" and has said the theory is "lunacy." He has said the source of the climate change is "sunspot activity or just something in the geologic eons of time."[44] Johnson believes that Cap and Trade legislation “could cost an average Wisconsin family as much as $1,600 per year and would put Wisconsin businesses at a huge competitive disadvantage, damaging our economy for many years.”[45] Johnson is a cosponsor of the Energy Tax Prevention Act, to block the EPA from imposing new rules on carbon emissions.[46]

Health care

Johnson is opposed to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In an op-ed article written for the Wall Street Journal, Johnson spoke of his personal experience with his daughter, who was born with a congenital heart defect and suggested that the life-saving treatment she received was only possible because of the United States' free-market health care system.[47] Johnson says the PPACA “will lead to rationed care, lower the quality of care, increase medical costs and severely limit medical innovation… this law will add trillions of dollars to our nation’s debt and deficit…”[48] He is a cosponsor of legislation to suspend implementation of PPACA while legal challenges to the bill are decided.[49]

Offshore drilling

When asked about allowing offshore drilling for oil in the Great Lakes if oil was to be found there, Johnson responded, "We have to get the oil where it is, but we need to do it responsibly. We need to utilize American ingenuity and American technology to make sure we do it environmentally sensitively and safely." After facing criticism from the Feingold campaign, Johnson said that his answer did not mean he supports drilling in the Great Lakes.[50] Johnson argues that America’s dependence on imported oil creates “both security and economic threats to the nation”[45] Johnson is a cosponsor of legislation to encourage job growth, reduce energy costs, and increase tax revenue by expanding domestic oil production.[51]

During a debate, Johnson stated that he is "disappointed that the Obama administration is launching an assault on BP" after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.[52]

Social issues

He is "definitely pro-life" and opposes abortion but would allow it in cases of incest, rape, or when the mother's life is in danger.[53][54] He opposes the funding of research that uses embryonic stem cells. Johnson has stated he disagrees with it morally and also has said that eliminating the funding of the research would help balance the federal budget.[55]

In March 2015, Johnson voted for an amendment to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to allow employees to earn paid sick time.[56]

Gun Control/Rights

Johnson is a strong supporter of gun rights. He is cosponsor of S.570, a bill that, if passed, would prohibit the Department of Justice from tracking and cataloging the purchases of multiple rifles and shotguns.[57] In April 2013 Ron Johnson was one of 12 Republican senators who signed a letter threatening to filibuster any newly introduced gun control legislation.[58] On April 17, 2013, Johnson joined 45 other senators in defeating the Manchin-Toomey Amendment which would have required background checks on all commercial sales of guns.[59]

Electoral history

Wisconsin U.S. Senate Republican Primary 2010[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ron Johnson 500,925 85
Republican Dave Westlake 61,303 10
Republican Stephen Finn 29,005 5
Wisconsin U.S. Senate Election 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ron Johnson 1,125,999 51.86
Democratic Russ Feingold (incumbent) 1,020,958 47.02
Republican gain from Democratic

Personal life

Johnson and his wife, Jane, have three children, all of whom are graduates of the University of Wisconsin.[8] He is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.[60]

References

  1. ↑ Jeremy Pelofsky and Frances Kerry (November 2, 2010). "Wisconsin's Feingold loses Senate re-election bid, NBC projects". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Catanese, David (July 6, 2010). "Johnson balances GOP, tea party". Politico. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  3. ↑ "The Polyester and Lenticular Plastic Specialists". PACUR. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  4. ↑ Ancestry.com genealogy
  5. ↑ Almanac of American Politics 2014, p. 1822.
  6. ↑ "Ron Johson Biography". Ron Johnson Senate. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  7. ↑ Bollier, Jeff (October 5, 2010). "Johnson’s Pacur LLC began as Curler family enterprise". The Oshkosh Northwestern. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  8. 1 2 "Meet Ron Johnson". Ron Johnson for Senate. June 10, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  9. ↑ Pappas, Alex (14 September 2014). "Al Franken Opponent: ‘He’s Been Invisible As A Senator’". Daily Caller. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 Daniel Bice (June 10, 2010). "Ron Johnson's record includes opposition to victims' bill". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  11. ↑ David Schaper (September 28, 2010). "Democrat Feingold Faces Tough Battle In Wisconsin". National Public Radio. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  12. ↑ Zernike, Kate (October 14, 2010). "Where Tea Party Candidates Are Running – Interactive Feature". The New York Times. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  13. ↑ 2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Wisconsin
  14. ↑ "Wisconsin Senate – Feingold vs. Johnson – Final Result". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  15. 1 2 "Wisconsin Primary Results". The New York Times. September 14, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Election 2010 Wisconsin Results". The New York Times. November 3, 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  17. ↑ 2010 Race: Wisconsin Senate, OpenSecrets.org
  18. ↑ Daniel Bice (June 23, 2011). "Johnson proves to be a big spender – and taker: Firm pays him $10 million". Journal Sentinel.
  19. ↑ Sarlin, Benjy; Crabtree, Susan (June 28, 2011). "Ron Johnson Ducks TPM Questions On His $10 Million Payday: ‘It’s A Private Company’". Talking Points Memo. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  20. ↑ Don Walker (October 30, 2010). "Johnson's PIE inquired about federal funds". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Sen. Ron Johnson of Oshkosh cleans up stock holdings". Appleton Post Crescent. June 16, 2011. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  22. ↑ Cahn, Emily (November 12, 2014). "Club for Growth Endorses 6 Senators for 2016". Roll Call. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  23. ↑ Camia, Catalina (November 19, 2014). "Wisconsin Sen. Johnson won't self-finance 2016 race". USA Today. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  24. ↑ Cillizza, Chris; Blake, Aaron; Sullivan, Sean (November 7, 2014). "Why Republicans’ Senate majority could be very short-lived". Washington Post. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  25. ↑ "Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Wants a Regulatory Moratorium Pegged to Unemployment". The Weekly Standard. August 5, 2011. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Press Releases: Johnson Introduces Regulation Moratorium and Job Preservation Act". Ronjohnson.senate.gov. July 28, 2011. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  27. ↑ Korbe, Tina (April 13, 2011). "Sen. Ron Johnson: Debt Ceiling Debate Should Net Spending Cap". Blog.heritage.org. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  28. ↑ Johnson, Ron (June 20, 2011). "Congress can't keep raising the debt limit". Ronjohnson.senate.gov. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  29. ↑ McCormack, John (July 7, 2011). "Sen. Ron Johnson: Closed Door Debt Ceiling Negotiations "Outrageous," "Disgusting"". The Weekly Standard. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  30. ↑ Johnson, Ron (January 23, 2012). "Hillary Clinton defends handling of Benghazi attack". BBC News.
  31. ↑ Strong, Johnathan (October 28, 2013). "The Corner: The one and only. Ron Johnson’s Bill to Protect Existing Plans". National Review. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  32. ↑ Johnson, Ron (April 13, 2015). "A Make-or-Break ObamaCare Moment". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  33. 1 2 3 4 "Senator Sues Obama Administration To Block His Own Health Care". Huffington Post. January 6, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Appeals Court Rejects GOP Senator's Obamacare Challenge". Huffington Post. April 14, 2015.
  35. ↑ http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2014/07/23/implementing-health-reform-senator-rebuffed-in-challenge-to-congressional-participation-in-aca-exchanges/
  36. ↑ Blake, Aaron (14 August 2013). "Sen. Ron Johnson opposes Obamacare defunding effort". Washington Post. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  37. ↑ Coren, Courtney (January 21, 2015). "Sen. Ron Johnson: Border Security Bill Is 'First Step' in Reform". Newsmax. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  38. 1 2 3 4 Patty Murray (September 30, 2010). "Senate candidate Johnson defends position on child sex crimes". Wisconsin Public Radio (Fox21). Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  39. ↑ "Ron Johnson Testifies Against child Abuse Victims, Opposed Child Victims Act in wisconsin". YouTube. September 24, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  40. ↑ Bice, Daniel (June 6, 2010). "Ron Johnson's record includes opposition to victims' bill". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  41. ↑ Stiles, Andrew (September 29, 2010). "Wisc Sen Race Takes An Ugly Turn". National Review Online. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  42. ↑ "Real Reforms for Health Care". Ron Johnson for Senate website. June 10, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  43. ↑ Bob Schaper (August 20, 2010). "Johnson willing to 'horse trade' mortgage interest deduction". Madison, WI: WKOW. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  44. ↑ Steve Schultze (August 16, 2010). "Sunspots are behind climate change, Johnson says". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  45. 1 2 "EnergySolutions". Ronjohnsonforsenate.com. 2010-06-10. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  46. ↑ "Energy". Ronjohnsonforsenate.com. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  47. ↑ Johnson, Ron (March 23, 2011). "ObamaCare and Carey's Heart". The Wall Street Journal.
  48. ↑ "Press Releases – Newsroom – Ron Johnson, United States Senator for Wisconsin". Ronjohnson.senate.gov. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  49. ↑ "Press Releases – Newsroom – Ron Johnson, United States Senator for Wisconsin". Ronjohnson.senate.gov. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  50. ↑ Dave Umhoefer (July 15, 2010). "Feingold, Johnson spar over oil drilling". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  51. ↑ "S.706: 3-D, Domestic Jobs, Domestic Energy, and Deficit Reduction Act of 2011 – U.S. Congress". OpenCongress. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  52. ↑ "The troubles with GOP’s Ron Johnson". Madison, WI: The Capitol Times. June 30, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  53. ↑ "Ron Johnson – The Jerry Bader Show – WTAQ News Talk 97.5FM and 1360AM". Wtaq.com. June 7, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  54. ↑ "Wisconsin Right to Life toes GOP line". Madison, WI: The Capitol Times. July 5, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  55. ↑ "Johnson opposes funding for embryonic stem cells". Manitowoc, WI: The Herald Times Reporter. October 2, 2010.
  56. ↑ Sullivan, Sean (March 27, 2015). "Senate passes budget after lengthy, politically charged ‘Vote-a-rama’". Washington Post. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  57. ↑ "S.570: A bill to prohibit the Department of Justice from tracking and cataloguing the purchases of multiple... OpenCongress". OpenCongress. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  58. ↑ "12 GOP senators back Rand Paul on gun-control filibuster". Politico. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  59. ↑ "U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 113th Congress – 1st Session". Legislation & Records. United States Senate. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
  60. ↑ http://metrolutheran.org/2011/02/112th-congress-opens-with-new-and-returning-lutheran-representation/

External links

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Party political offices
Preceded by
Tim Michels		 Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Wisconsin
(Class 3)
2010 		Most recent
United States Senate
Preceded by
Russ Feingold		 United States Senator (Class 3) from Wisconsin
2011–present
Served alongside: Herb Kohl, Tammy Baldwin		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Tom Carper		 Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee
2015–present
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Marco Rubio		 United States Senators by seniority
66th 		Succeeded by
Rand Paul
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