Sen. Johnson Proclaims SCOTUS is Making the “Correct Decision” on Roe v. Wade

Johnson applauds move that would trigger Wisconsin’s 172-year-old criminal abortion ban with no exceptions for rape, incest, or health of pregnant person 


Tuesday, May 3, 2022

MADISON, Wis.— Today Senator Ron Johnson made his thoughts on access to safe, legal abortion very clear. While appearing on Newsmax he lauded the recently revealed draft opinion by the U.S. Supreme Court as the “correct decision,” even going so far as to say it was a “long time coming.” 6 in 10 Wisconsin residents say abortion should be legal in most or all cases, a statistic that has held true for the last decade. 


Should Roe v. Wade be overturned, Wisconsin’s 172-year-old criminal abortion ban could immediately go into effect, banning abortion at any point in pregnancy with no exceptions for rape, incest, or the health of the pregnany person—impacting nearly 1.3 million women across the Badger State. 


Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin program director:

“Access to safe, legal abortion is a basic human right—and a majority of Wisconsinites agree. Limits on our ability to make decisions about our own reproductive health have a direct impact on our economic security. Too many across the Badger State are worried about paying their bills and putting food on the table, and instead of working to bring down costs, Senator Johnson continues to be against bringing new, good-paying jobs to the state, against bringing down the costs of prescription drugs, against tax cuts for families with children, and now against our freedom to choose to have children at all. 

“It’s time for Senator Johnson to start working for the Badger State and support critical legislation like Senator Tammy Baldwin’s ‘Women’s Health Protection Act’ that would codify Roe v. Wade and ensure women across Wisconsin have the freedom to access safe abortion care.”         


Since early 2021, Opportunity Wisconsin has been working  to hold Senator Johnson accountable to his constituents and to demand he vote for policies that support Wisconsin residents. In addition to holding conversations with Wisconsin workers and families across the Badger State, Opportunity Wisconsin has spent over $5 million in TV ads urging Senator Johnson to focus his work in Washington on addressing the economic needs of his constituents and to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin.

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[ICYMI] The Capital Times: Ron Johnson Votes to Help the Rich, Not Small Businesses

Thursday, April 21, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—In case you missed it, this week The Capital Times published an op-ed from Melissa Buchholz, owner of Odd Duck restaurant and Little Duck Kitchen in Milwaukee.

KEY POINT: “...I cannot understand the great pride Johnson takes in voting against these policies while touting his support for the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, where the average tax cut amounted to $30 for the poorest Wisconsinites, less than $700 for Wisconsinites making up to $113,800 in 2020, but nearly $40,000 for the richest 1% in our state. For Johnson to stand behind these tax giveaways to the rich, pretend they are uniformly benefiting us all, then argue we can’t afford to make health care and child care more affordable and accessible for the parents on my team and the families we serve every day makes clear that his priority is not looking out for ‘Main Street,’ as he claims.”

During a closed-door meeting on April 8, Senator Johnson admitted to pushing through a loophole in the 2017 Trump tax law that benefitted his family’s business, before cashing out of the company for at least $5 million. According to the Associated Press and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, during the same meeting, Senator Johnson also acknowledged that he had doubled his wealth since taking office saying, “They said I doubled my wealth. That’s true.” Recently, Senator Johnson also called his tax loophole a “significant accomplishment” and one of his “crowning achievements.”  


Melissa Buchholz: Ron Johnson votes to help the rich, not small business
The Capital Times
April 20, 2022

For many Wisconsinites, Tax Day is just the deadline to file your taxes and avoid any penalties from the IRS.

For small business owners, Tax Day is also a reminder of all the ways in which tax policies at every level play a crucial role in either increasing the likelihood of survival for our businesses or making it harder to succeed. As the owner of Odd Duck restaurant for nearly a decade and having recently moved to our new location at 939 S. 2nd St. in Milwaukee, I have experienced all the ups and downs of operating a business. And when facing those ups and downs, you come into direct contact with those policies that will affect the course of your business for better or for worse.

I know firsthand what it means to have a tax credit that is meaningful to my business as opposed to a tax giveaway to the rich that makes competing as a small business even harder. When Sen. Ron Johnson voted against the American Rescue Plan last March, he voted against expansions to the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Both are important to the success of my restaurant and small businesses across this state.

The expanded Child Tax Credit made more Wisconsin families eligible for the credit, increased the size of the credit, and made payments to parents monthly, which was huge for my employees who are raising children. When their kids are not in school, these monthly payments made child care more affordable, making it easier on them to continue working. And as small businesses like mine can attest in Wisconsin and across the country, getting more people into the workforce is critical for our business and the economy as a whole.

Additionally, the American Rescue Plan temporarily made the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit more generous and potentially refundable up to $8,000 for two or more young children or other dependents for 2021. Combined with the temporary increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for workers without dependents in 2021, and expanded eligibility for the EITC reaching younger and older workers alike, these tax credits are putting more money into people’s pockets at a time they need it most in the face of rising costs. This boost for families is often the difference between paying the bills on time or wondering how they will make ends meet, and our elected officials should be working to make these temporary provisions permanent.

In light of this, I cannot understand the great pride Johnson takes in voting against these policies while touting his support for the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, where the average tax cut amounted to $30 for the poorest Wisconsinites, less than $700 for Wisconsinites making up to $113,800 in 2020, but nearly $40,000 for the richest 1% in our state. For Johnson to stand behind these tax giveaways to the rich, pretend they are uniformly benefiting us all, then argue we can’t afford to make health care and child care more affordable and accessible for the parents on my team and the families we serve every day makes clear that his priority is not looking out for "Main Street," as he claims.

Too often, politicians use Main Street as a shield to pass policies that favor their wealthy donors while corporate interests use small businesses as pawns to protect their power and profits. As we marked another Tax Day this week, I wanted to be sure you all heard from an actual small business that knows it does better when the families that are just getting by can get a little more breathing room, not when the rich can buy a bigger yacht.

NEW AD: Eau Claire Mom Calls Out Sen. Johnson for “Only Taking Care of Himself”

New ad comes on the heels of Senator Johnson admitting he pushed through a loophole in the 2017 Trump tax law that benefited his family’s business, before cashing out of the company for at least $5 million

Opportunity Wisconsin has run over $5 million in TV ads since early 2021 urging Senator Johnson to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin

Thursday, April 21, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—Opportunity Wisconsin has launched a new 5-figure digital ad as part of their multimillion dollar TV and digital advertising campaign calling out Senator Ron Johnson for putting his own personal profits above hardworking Wisconsinites. The new ad, “Fairness,” features Sara, an Eau Claire mother of two, calling out Senator Johnson for passing a special tax break that benefited his family’s business and for doubling his wealth since taking office. This ad is a follow-up to “Duty” and “Grocery Store,” which launched last month, and “Power” which launched earlier this year.  

[WATCH SARA'S FULL AD]

During a closed-door meeting on April 8, Senator Johnson admitted to pushing through a loophole in the 2017 Trump tax law that benefitted his family’s business, before cashing out of the company for at least $5 million. According to the Associated Press and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, during the same meeting, Senator Johnson also acknowledged that he had doubled his wealth since taking office saying, “They said I doubled my wealth. That’s true.” Recently, Senator Johnson also called his tax loophole a “significant accomplishment” and one of his “crowning achievements.”  

“My husband and I work hard and we play by the rules. We’re not looking for a handout, we just expect a level playing field. But Senator Ron Johnson’s only taking care of himself and other rich people,” said Sara, in the new ad. “He pushed through a tax law that ends up raising taxes on most working people, but gives huge tax breaks to the super rich like him. Sure enough, Ron Johnson has doubled his personal wealth since taking office. That’s not right. Tell Ron Johnson to stop voting for tax laws that benefit himself.”  

The new ad will run on CTV/OTT and premium video platforms (e.g. Hulu, YouTube, Roku). 

The new ad is Opportunity Wisconsin’s latest effort to hold Senator Johnson accountable to his constituents and to demand he vote for policies that support Wisconsin residents. In addition to holding conversations with Wisconsin workers and families across the Badger State, Opportunity Wisconsin has spent over $5 million in TV ads since early 2021 urging Senator Johnson to focus his work in Washington on addressing the economic needs of his constituents and to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin.

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[ICYMI] WQOW: Johnson Admits His Company and “Prominent Donors” Benefited From Tax Loophole He Championed


Opportunity Wisconsin has run over $5 million in TV ads since early 2021 urging Senator Johnson to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—In case you missed it, Eau Claire’s WQOW was the latest Wisconsin media outlet to cover Senator Ron Johnson’s recent admission that he pushed through a loophole that benefitted his family’s business, before cashing out of the company for at least $5 million. The comments, first reported by the Associated Press and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, also featured Senator Johnson admitting that he had doubled his wealth since taking office saying, “I’m still sitting on cash.” Senator Johnson’s comments were also covered by Green Bay’s WLUK and Wausau’s WSAW.  

[WATCH WQOW CLIP]

WQOW Full Script:
Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson told backers at a recent event in Wisconsin that his plastics company benefited from a key provision he pushed for in former President Donald Trump’s tax bill in 2017. 

That affirms a line of attacks being made against him during his reelection bid. 

Johnson made the comments in reaction to a question from an audience member at an event Friday in Medford. 

Johnson said that his company, Pacur LLC, some of his prominent donors, and many other businesses benefited from the small business tax provision. 

ProPublica reported in August that the tax break Johnson championed resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in deductions to mega-donors who funded his campaigns. 

Last week, Opportunity Wisconsin launched a new, nearly 7-figure TV ad calling out Senator Ron Johnson for putting his own personal profits above hardworking Wisconsinites. The new ad, “Duty,” features William, a U.S. Air Force veteran, and is a follow-up to “Grocery Store,” which launched last month, and “Power” which launched earlier this year.      

“Duty” is running on broadcast, cable, and digital platforms in the Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and Wausau media markets. 

The new ad is Opportunity Wisconsin’s latest effort to hold Senator Johnson accountable to his constituents and to demand he vote for policies that support Wisconsin residents. In addition to holding conversations with Wisconsin workers and families across the Badger State, Opportunity Wisconsin has spent over $5 million in TV ads since early 2021 urging Senator Johnson to focus his work in Washington on addressing the economic needs of his constituents and to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin. 

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[ICYMI] AP: Johnson acknowledges his company, others benefited from law

Opportunity Wisconsin has run over $5 million in TV ads since early 2021 urging Senator Johnson to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin

Monday, April 11, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—During a closed-door meeting on Friday, Senator Ron Johnson admitted to pushing through a loophole in the 2017 Trump tax law that benefitted his family’s business, before cashing out of the company for at least $5 million. According to the Associated Press and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, during the same meeting, Senator Johnson also acknowledged that he had doubled his wealth since taking office saying, “I’m still sitting on cash.” Last week, Senator Johnson called the Trump tax loophole a “significant accomplishment.”   

Last week, Opportunity Wisconsin launched a new, nearly 7-figure TV ad calling out Senator Ron Johnson for putting his own personal profits above hardworking Wisconsinites. The new ad, “Duty,” features William, a U.S. Air Force veteran, and is a follow-up to “Grocery Store,” which launched last month, and “Power” which launched earlier this year.      

AP: Johnson acknowledges his company, others benefited from law
April 11, 2022

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson told backers at a recent event in Wisconsin that his plastics company benefitted from a key provision he pushed for in former President Donald Trump’s tax bill in 2017, addressing a line of attack being made against him during his reelection bid.

Johnson made the comments in reaction to a question from an audience member at an event Friday in Medford, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Monday.

Johnson said that his company, Pacur LLC, some of his prominent donors and many other businesses benefitted from the small-business tax provision.

Read more from the AP

“Duty” is running on broadcast, cable, and digital platforms in the Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and Wausau media markets. 

The new ad is Opportunity Wisconsin’s latest effort to hold Senator Johnson accountable to his constituents and to demand he vote for policies that support Wisconsin residents. In addition to holding conversations with Wisconsin workers and families across the Badger State, Opportunity Wisconsin has spent over $5 million in TV ads since early 2021 urging Senator Johnson to focus his work in Washington on addressing the economic needs of his constituents and to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin. 

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SCOTUS: Senator Johnson Puts Politics Over Progress With “No” Vote

Tuesday, April 7, 2022

MADISON, Wis. —Today, Opportunity Wisconsin released the following statement after Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed by a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate to become the 116th Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Senator Tammy Baldwin voted in favor of Judge Jackson, while Senator Ron Johnson voted against this historic nominee.   

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director:
“We applaud President Biden for following through on one of his first campaign promises to put a Black woman on the nation’s highest court and are grateful to Senator Baldwin for her vote after careful consideration of Judge Jackson’s record and qualifications. Unfortunately, Senator Johnson has voted against this historic nomination, despite Judge Jackson receiving bipartisan support. While this is a day of celebration, we are going to continue to hold Senator Johnson accountable to his constituents who demand he stop putting politics over the people of Wisconsin.” 

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Sen. Johnson Doubles (Quadruples?) Down On Trump Tax Loophole As A “Significant Accomplishment”

During the WSAU interview, Johnson also griped that he “only increased [his] net worth double”

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

MADISON, Wis. —Today Senator Ron Johnson quadrupled down on his work to pass a special tax break that benefited his family business during an interview with WSAU, calling it a “significant accomplishment.” In the interview, Senator Johnson also noted that he “only” doubled his net worth, and griped that he hadn’t increased it by much more. 

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin program director:
“Senator Johnson is missing the point. Not only did he push through a loophole in the Trump tax law that benefitted his family’s business and ‘disproportionately benefits the wealthy,’ but it was done at the expense of working Wisconsinites. In fact, Senator Johnson’s ‘crowning achievement’ was projected to deliver an average of just $20 to middle-income Wisconsin families in 2019, while giving a payday of over $25,000 to the richest one percent. 
    
“Too many across the Badger State are worried about paying their bills and putting food on the table, and instead of working to bring down costs, Senator Johnson continues to be against bringing new, good-paying jobs to the state, against bringing down the costs on health care and prescription drugs, and against tax cuts for families with children. It’s time for Senator Johnson to start working for the Badger State and stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin.”         

Yesterday, Opportunity Wisconsin launched a new, nearly 7-figure TV ad calling out Senator Ron Johnson for putting his own personal profits above hardworking Wisconsinites. The new ad, “Duty,” features William, a U.S. Air Force veteran, and is a follow-up to “Grocery Store,” which launched last month, and “Power” which launched earlier this year.    

“Duty” is running on broadcast, cable, and digital platforms in the Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and Wausau media markets. 

The new ad is Opportunity Wisconsin’s latest effort to hold Senator Johnson accountable to his constituents and to demand he vote for policies that support Wisconsin residents. In addition to holding conversations with Wisconsin workers and families across the Badger State, Opportunity Wisconsin has spent over $5 million in TV ads since early 2021 urging Senator Johnson to focus his work in Washington on addressing the economic needs of his constituents and to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin.

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NEW TV AD: Air Force Veteran Calls Out Sen. Johnson for “Dereliction of Duty”

WATCH: “Ron Johnson has doubled his wealth since taking office. That’s a dereliction of duty.”

Opportunity Wisconsin has run over $5 million in TV ads since early 2021 urging Senator Johnson to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin

Monday, April 4, 2022

MADISON, Wis. —Opportunity Wisconsin today launched a new, nearly 7-figure TV ad as part of their multimillion dollar TV and digital advertising campaign calling out Senator Ron Johnson for putting his own personal profits above hardworking Wisconsinites. The new ad, “Duty,” features William, a U.S. Air Force veteran, calling out Senator Johnson for passing a special tax break that benefited his family’s business and for doubling his wealth since taking office. This ad is a follow-up to “Grocery Store,” which launched last month, and “Power” which launched earlier this year.  

[WATCH WILLIAM'S FULL AD]

“In the military, we call it dereliction of duty. Ron Johnson is supposed to serve Wisconsin. Instead, he served himself,” said William in the new ad. “An investigation found Ron Johnson pushed through a special tax loophole that benefited his own family’s business. Then he cashed out of the company for five million dollars. Ron Johnson has doubled his wealth since taking office. That’s a dereliction of duty. Tell Ron Johnson to stop passing tax laws that benefit himself.”

The new ad will run on broadcast, cable, and digital platforms in the Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and Wausau media markets. 

The new ad is Opportunity Wisconsin’s latest effort to hold Senator Johnson accountable to his constituents and to demand he vote for policies that support Wisconsin residents. In addition to holding conversations with Wisconsin workers and families across the Badger State, Opportunity Wisconsin has spent over $5 million in TV ads since early 2021 urging Senator Johnson to focus his work in Washington on addressing the economic needs of his constituents and to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin.

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