Ron Johnson (Wisconsin politician)

Ron Johnson
United States Senator from Wisconsin
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2011 Serving with Herb Kohl
Preceded by	Russ Feingold
Personal details
Born	Ronald Harold Johnson (1955-04-08) April 8, 1955 Mankato, Minnesota
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Jane Johnson
Residence	Oshkosh, Wisconsin, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Minnesota (B.A.)
Occupation	Businessman, Politician
Religion	Lutheran
Website	ronjohnson.senate.gov

Ronald Harold "Ron" Johnson (born April 8, 1955) is the junior United States Senator for Wisconsin and a member of the Republican Party. He is associated with the Tea party movement. Prior to his election to the Senate, he was chief executive officer of PACUR, LLC, a polyester and plastics manufacturer.

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. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, he married Jane, the daughter of the businessman Howard Curler, co-founder of Curwod Industries, now part of the multinational Bemis Company. Her brother, Jeff Curler, is Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Bemis.

Johnson worked as an accountant for Jostens, a high school- and college class ring supplier, as well a sports-championship ring supplier, including for the Super Bowl, while attending night school for an MBA. He completed his classes, but did not receive his degree because he did not finish his thesis.

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, Harold Curler. For the first several years, PACUR got 100% of their business as a "captive supplier" to one of Harold Curler's Bemis subsidiaries, which is located across the street from PACUR. For nearly one year, Johnson worked as the accountant and as a machine operator, trading 12-hour shifts with his brother-in-law. The company later expanded into the area of medical device packaging which involved hiring salespeople and exporting products to other countries. Johnson managed the sales as well as the financial aspects of the business, and ultimately purchased the company outright in 1995.

U.S. Senate

2010 election

Main article: United States Senate election in Wisconsin, 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 taking a position as an elected official. In the September 14, 2010, Republican primary, Johnson, running a largely self-financed campaign, defeated Watertown businessman Dave Westlake, taking 85% of the vote, with 10% going to Westlake and the remaining 5% going to Stephen Finn. In the November 2, 2010, general election, he defeated Democratic incumbent Russ Feingold.

As of November 1, 2010, Johnson had contributed more than $8.2 million to his own campaign, representing 64% of total campaign contributions. 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, which was "totally unrelated" to the almost $9 million that he had given to his campaign. Johnson has said that he and PACUR "fully disclosed" and "complied with the spirit and the letter of the law."

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.

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. Johnson cites the EPA ‘Boiler MACT’ rule as one example of a new regulation which would be blocked

Debt ceiling

Months before Congress voted on whether to increase the US debt ceiling, Johnson stated that the debate presented an opportunity to establish hard caps on federal spending. 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. 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.

Child Victims Act

Johnson opposed a Wisconsin bill that would have eliminated the time limit for future child, sex abuse victims to bring lawsuits and allowed an additional three years for past victims to sue. Johnson testified before the Wisconsin Senate, in January 2010. He said that "punishment for the actual perpetrators should be severe," but he questioned whether it would be just for employers of perpetrators to be severely financially damaged or destroyed by such lawsuits. He added that the bill, if enacted, might actually reduce the reporting of child sex abuse. At the time of his testimony, Johnson was on the Finance Council of the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay. In June 2010 he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Actually, had I not been put on the clock (in the state Senate), I would have made another statement," and, "I can't think of a penalty that would be too harsh for these guys."

In late September 2010, Johnson indicated that the legislation would have financially crippled organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs. Though he said the punishment for child sex abuse should be, "severe and swift." 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.” He was criticized by victims' rights groups such as the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, and by his opponent, Feingold.

Recovery Act

Ron Johnson has strongly 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."

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 solutions.

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.

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." 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.” Johnson is a cosponsor of the Energy Tax Prevention Act, to block the EPA from imposing new rules on carbon emissions.

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. 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…” He is a cosponsor of legislation to suspend implementation of PPACA while legal challenges to the bill are decided.

Offshore drilling

When asked about allowing offshore drilling for oil in the Great Lakes, 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. Johnson argues that America’s dependence on imported oil creates “both security and economic threats to the nation” Johnson is a cosponsor of legislation to encourage job growth, reduce energy costs, and increase tax revenue by expanding domestic oil production.

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. Johnson disclosed that he once owned more than $100,000 worth of stock in BP, which has since been sold.

Social issues

Johnson is opposed to same-sex marriage and the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell". 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. 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.

Tea Party

Johnson appeared in Madison, Wisconsin, at the Tea Party rally for Tax Day, April 15, 2010. 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.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
  • Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
• Committee on the Budget
• Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information and International Security
  • Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery and Intergovernmental Affairs
• Special Committee on Aging

Electoral history

Wisconsin U.S. Senate Republican Primary 2010
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	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	Percentage
	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.

External links

• Senator Ron Johnson official U.S. Senate website
• Ron Johnson for Senate official campaign site
• 2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Wisconsin
• Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Issue positions and quotes at On the Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs
• Collected news and commentary at The New York Times
• Curwood website
• Bemis website

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	Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by Marco Rubio R-Florida	United States Senators by seniority 96th	Succeeded by Rand Paul R-Kentucky