Ron Johnson Must Do What’s Right and Support Bipartisan Gun Reform Compromise

Johnson votes to block bipartisan deal, despite an overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites supporting common sense reforms

Thursday, June 23, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—On Tuesday evening, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson voted to block a bipartisan, common sense compromise that would reform our nation’s gun laws and save countless lives in the Badger State and across the country. The U.S. Senate is expected to take a final vote on the bipartisan compromise today. 

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin program director:
“Wisconsin has some of the weakest gun laws in the country, an average of 641 Wisconsinites die by guns each year. Despite this, and the Badger State’s overwhelming support for common sense reforms, Senator Johnson has indicated he opposed the recent bipartisan compromise to address the epidemic of gun violence. 

“Senator Johnson has once again shown that his unwavering loyalty to powerful special interests is more important than his duty to represent the people of Wisconsin. We’re calling on Senator Johnson to join his Republican colleagues in voting for the final passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.” 

Senator Johnson’s vote comes the same week as a new Marquette Law School poll showed an overwhelming majority of Wisconsin residents support taking action on new gun policy:

Eighty-one percent support “red-flag laws,” which allow police to take guns away from people found by a judge to be a danger to themselves or others, while 13% oppose such laws. Support is unchanged since August 2019, when this question was last asked and 12% were opposed.

Mandatory background checks on people making gun purchases at gun shows or through private sales are supported by 79%, with 16% opposed. In August 2019, 80% supported such background checks and 16% were opposed.

A smaller majority, 56%, support raising the minimum age for gun purchases to 21, while 38% would keep the minimum age at 18. This is the first time this question has been asked in the Marquette Law School Poll.

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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January 6th Committee Reveals Ron Johnson’s Leading Role in Insurrection

Revelation comes the same day Senator Johnson proclaims “government is stupid.”

June 21, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—Today the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol revealed Senator Ron Johnson’s leading role in the violent plot to change the rules of America’s elections and override the votes of the people of Wisconsin. On January 6, 2021, just as the Joint Session of Congress was about to begin, Senator Johnson’s now-Chief of Staff texted an aide to Vice President Mike Pence stating that Senator Johnson wished to hand-deliver to the Vice President the fake electors' votes from Michigan and Wisconsin. The Vice President’s aide emphatically replied, “Do not give that to him.” This revelation comes on the same day Senator Johnson proclaimed during an interview that “government is stupid.”  

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin program director:
“It’s par for the course for Senator Johnson to put politics over the people of Wisconsin. However, today’s revelation from the January 6th Committee reveals just how far Senator Johnson is willing to go in order to cling to power and maintain his status quo of self-enrichment. 

“Despite publicly admitting that former President Trump was indeed defeated in the Badger State, Senator Johnson was working to hand-deliver false statements to former Vice President Pence in order to stop the certification of a legitimate election. Actions speak louder than words and Senator Johnson must be held accountable for these incredibly serious actions.“  

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: Senator Johnson Calls for Dismantling ACA Protections for Pre-Existing Conditions

June 17, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—In case you missed it, this week Senator Ron Johnson once again advocated for repealing Affordable Care Act protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and replacing them with high risk pool coverage — potentially throwing millions off their health care plans and pricing them out of insurance. This comes after Senator Johnson’s recent comments stating that repealing the lifesaving law should be a top priority. Earlier this year, Opportunity Wisconsin launched a radio ad highlighting Senator Johnson’s long track record of working to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. 

“There’s no question that everything is more expensive these days. But instead of helping bring down costs, Senator Ron Johnson is at it again–championing the demise of the Affordable Care Act and its life saving provisions. And that would mean higher costs for folks across the Badger State,” said Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director. “Hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites would lose health coverage. Insurance companies could increase premiums on women and people over 50. And prescription drugs would get even more expensive. Senator Johnson is helping himself, while hurting us, and it’s time for him to lower our health care costs, not increase them.”

Last week, President Joe Biden called out Senator Johnson’s attacks on the Affordable Care Act during a national gathering of the AFL-CIO in Philadelphia, “The gentleman from Wisconsin, Senator Ron Johnson, is back at it again, trying to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, including its protections for pre-existing conditions. Hundred million people have pre-existing conditions. The only reason the insurance company has to cover it is because of that law and they’re never going to stop going after it.” 

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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Senator Johnson Faces Potential Ethics Investigation Over Taxpayer-Funded Travel from Florida Mansion

Wisconsin constituent files ethics complaint with the U.S. Senate after it was revealed Johnson used taxpayer dollars to fund travel between his vacation home in Florida and Washington, D.C.

Thursday, June 2, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—Senator Ron Johnson may soon have to answer to ethics officials in the U.S. Senate after one of his constituents filed a complaint yesterday in the wake of a devastating report detailing how Senator Johnson has been using taxpayer dollars to fly between his vacation home in Florida and Washington, D.C. Federal records show that taxpayers footed the bill for 19 flights from Fort Myers, Florida — where Johnson purchased a home for $1.6 million in 2013 — to Washington between 2013 and May 2021. On Tuesday, Opportunity Wisconsin called for Senator Johnson to reimburse Wisconsin taxpayers for his vacation junkets.  

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin program director:
“After using Wisconsinites’ hard earned tax dollars to help pay for his vacation travel, ‘Florida Man’ Ron Johnson now potentially finds himself under investigation for once again using his position as a Senator to further line his own pockets. Wisconsin’s working families have paid enough from Senator Johnson’s policies that have pulled the rug out from under us, while giving special tax breaks to millionaires like himself. Now he’s asking us to help pay for his vacation to his mansion in Florida. 

“Our country has more important priorities than helping fund a millionaire politician's vacation travel. Senator Johnson should immediately reimburse taxpayers for this egregious abuse of his office. It’s time for Senator Johnson to stop serving himself and start supporting policies that help Wisconsin workers and families.”

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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Opportunity Wisconsin Demands “Florida Man” Ron Johnson Reimburse Taxpayers for Vacation Junkets

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—Last week, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published a devastating report detailing how Senator Ron Johnson has been using taxpayer dollars to fly between his vacation home in Florida and Washington, D.C. Federal records show that taxpayers footed the bill for 19 flights from Fort Myers, Florida — where Johnson purchased a home for $1.6 million in 2013 — to Washington between 2013 and May 2021. 

The facts speak for themselves – Johnson broke ethics rules to fund his vacation travel at taxpayers’ expense. In light of this blatant abuse of tax dollars, Opportunity Wisconsin is demanding Johnson reimburse taxpayers for the money spent to fund his vacation travel.

“While Wisconsin families are struggling to make ends meet, one of the richest members of Congress, ‘Florida Man’ Ron Johnson, is asking us to foot the bill for his vacation travel,” said Miranda Stark, Opportunity Wisconsin deputy program director. “Senator Johnson has doubled his wealth while in office, yet he has the audacity to think Wisconsinites should be paying for his vacation travel. If Senator Johnson wants to visit his mansion in Florida, he should pay for his own travel. He must immediately reimburse taxpayers for every dollar he’s wasted on his vacation travel.”

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, including bringing new, good-paying jobs to the state, lowering the costs of health care and prescription drugs, and supporting tax cuts for families with children. 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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Opportunity Wisconsin Statement on Senator Johnson’s Use of Taxpayer Dollars for Vacation Travel

Friday, May 27, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—Today, Opportunity Wisconsin released the following statement after an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel  detailed how Senator Ron Johnson has been using taxpayer dollars to fly between his vacation home in Florida and Washington, D.C. Federal records show that taxpayers footed the bill for 19 flights from Fort Myers, Florida — where Johnson purchased a home for $1.6 million in 2013 — to Washington between 2013 and May 2021. 

Miranda Stark, Opportunity Wisconsin Deputy Program Director:

“Senator Johnson using taxpayer money to fund travel from his vacation home in Florida is disturbing but not the least bit surprising. In fact, it’s totally in line with his long record of serving himself while in office — a record that includes opening a massive loophole in the tax code that benefitted his own business, and doubling his wealth while in office. Senator Johnson should focus on using taxpayer dollars to help Wisconsinites, not passing tax breaks that benefit his company or bankrolling flights from his vacation home.“

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, including bringing new, good-paying jobs to the state, lowering the costs of health care and prescription drugs, and supporting tax cuts for families with children. 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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Senator “Not That Fond of Restaurants” Johnson Blocks Critical Support for Hard-Hit Industry

Johnson blocks refilling the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, just one week after proclaiming he’s “not that fond of restaurants”

The future of Wisconsin’s nearly 13,000 restaurants and bars depend on this critical relief

Thursday, May 19, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—Today, Senator Ron Johnson blocked a bill to refill the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), a critical resource that has allowed many Wisconsin restaurants and small businesses to keep their doors open during the pandemic. However, not all Badger State businesses were able to access those funds and are now in danger of closing. Senator Johnson’s obstruction comes one week after he stated he was “not that fond of restaurants” after he was asked who in history he would like to dine with and where he would take them to eat.    

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin program director:
“Senator Johnson loves to talk about his support for Wisconsin small businesses and today he had the opportunity to quite literally put his money where his mouth is. Instead, Senator Johnson chose to block a bill that would have helped protect over 288,000 jobs and nearly 13,000 small businesses across the Badger State. This, unfortunately, does not come as a surprise to anyone who has been paying attention. Just last week, Senator Johnson even proclaimed he was ‘not that fond of restaurants.’ We know Senator Johnson has constantly stood in the way of bringing good-paying jobs to the Badger State, but now he’s even refusing to protect the jobs that are already here. It’s time for Senator Johnson to stop putting politics over the people of Wisconsin and start supporting policies that help Wisconsin workers and families.”

President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act established the RRF, which allocated funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. The original $28.6 billion was exhausted within three weeks of the launch; during the first three weeks that the RRF application portal was open, more than 372,000 businesses applied, requesting more than $76 billion in funds. 

The Restaurant Revitalization Fund Replenishment Act would allocate an additional $40 billion in direct relief for restaurants. The bill would have enough funding to provide grants of up to $10 million to the 177,000 restaurants, roughly two-thirds of applicants, who didn't receive any grant money under the initial program due to insufficient funds. The Independent Restaurant Coalition authored a letter to Senators, signed by various industry groups, noting that nearly four out of five of those nearly 200,000 businesses who were unable to access funding are now in danger of closing.

[Learn more about how refilling the RRF will benefit Wisconsin’s economy.]

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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NEW: Opportunity Wisconsin Launches Billboard Highlighting Sen. Johnson’s Obstruction of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

The billboard is located on I-94 E near the Pettit National Ice Center and is part of Opportunity Wisconsin’s “Paving the Way” statewide tour, which kicked off yesterday in Madison with Mayor Rhodes-Conway

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

MILWAUKEE, Wis.—Today Opportunity Wisconsin launched a new billboard celebrating the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and holding Senator Ron Johnson accountable for his vote against it. The billboard, which is located on I-94 East near the Pettit National Ice Center, is part of Opportunity Wisconsin’s “Paving the Way” statewide tour, which kicked off yesterday in Madison with Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. The tour is highlighting how the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is benefitting the Badger State and will make additional stops with elected officials and community leaders in Milwaukee, Eau Claire, Green Bay, and La Crosse.    

“Not only did Senator Johnson vote against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, but he admitted that he didn’t even bother to read the bill. Time and time again, Senator Johnson has stood in the way of bringing new, good-paying jobs to the state and instead, has stood on the side of the wealthy and well-connected,” said Miranda Stark, Opportunity Wisconsin deputy program director, during yesterday’s tour kickoff. “Not only did Senator Johnson push through a loophole in the Trump tax law that benefited his family’s business, but it also has disproportionately benefited the wealthy. 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….So as we criss-cross the state over the next few weeks, celebrating this historic investment in Wisconsin, we must also remember who worked for us and who worked against us. We are demanding that Senator Johnson vote for policies that support Wisconsin workers and families.”

Read more about yesterday’s “Paving the Way” statewide tour kickoff in:

In March, President Joe Biden visited Superior a day after delivering his State of the Union address to highlight the ways in which the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law would benefit Wisconsin, including:

  • Providing Wisconsin with $5.2 billion for highways and $225 million for bridges over 5 years; in Wisconsin there are 979 bridges and nearly 2,000 miles of highway in poor condition, costing the average Wisconsin driver $547 per year

  • Providing $592 million over 5 years to improve public transportation

  • Providing internet access to Wisconsinites who currently lack it, and establishing the Affordability Connectivity Program (ACP) to help low-income families (22% of Wisconsinites) afford internet access

  • Providing Wisconsin with $841 million over 5 years to improve water infrastructure to ensure clean, safe drinking water in all communities, including through the elimination of lead service lines and pipes and the dangerous chemical PFAS.

 

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