Ron Johnson Said He Would Like To See Roe V. Wade Be Overturned. According to Associated Press, Johnson says he would like to see the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion overturned, but he’s not going to use Kavanaugh’s position on that as a litmus test for confirmation. Johnson says, ‘My only litmus test is someone as a judge apply the law, not alter it.’” [Associated Press, 7/10/18]
Ron Johnson Believed Abortion Rights Should Be Up To The State Instead Of “Nine Unelected Judges.” According to Beloit Daily News, “In terms of Roe v. Wade, Johnson said he would be surprised if it were overturned, but he’s hopeful ‘reasonable limits’ could be found. ‘At some point in time, I think the rights enumerated in our Declaration of Independence – the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness – ought to cover a child in the womb,’ Johnson said. He believes abortion laws should have been left for the states to decide instead of nine unelected judges. ‘This has been a wound to our body politic for decades as a result,’ Johnson said. He believes if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned, leaving abortion rights to the states also wouldn’t be a threat to women’s health.” [Beloit Daily News, 7/27/18]
Ron Johnson Said The Declaration Of Independence Protects A Child In The Womb. According to Beloit Daily News, “In terms of Roe v. Wade, Johnson said he would be surprised if it were overturned, but he’s hopeful ‘reasonable limits’ could be found. ‘At some point in time, I think the rights enumerated in our Declaration of Independence – the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness – ought to cover a child in the womb,’ Johnson said.” [Beloit Daily News, 7/27/18]
[AUDIO] Ron Johnson On Overturning Roe V. Wade: “Yeah, I Think It’s Time To Re-Examine It.” According to transcript, “Well, I think, you know, there are certainly some pretty bad Supreme Court decisions that we're glad were overturned and Supreme Court didn't, you know, support precedent. Again, I don't think if the Supreme Court rules in favor of Mississippi that abortion goes away, but that's not what's going to happen. I know that's the fear tactic used by the left. What would happen is each state would start deciding for themselves at what point are we going to protect life? I mean, some may not protect at all and allow the horrific partial birth abortions, but I think many states would be very reasonable to say, well, at what point is A is a baby viable outside the womb? Maybe that's a lot of times the bills we're talking about 20, 20 week timeframe where babies who are, you know, born early can survive. That's the debate we should have democratically through votes, as opposed to having nine unelected justices decide this for all society. And they didn't really solve the problem, did they? This has been a divisive issue since Roe v. Wade was decided. Yeah, I think it's time to re-examine it.” [Brian Kilmeade Podcast, 12/01/21]
Jan 2020: Johnson Signed Amicus Brief Asking The Supreme Court To Revisit And Overturn Roe V. Wade Calling The Standards Unworkable. According to Axios, “39 Republican senators and 168 representatives signed an amicus brief on Thursday asking the Supreme Court to revisit and potentially overturn Roe v. Wade, which protects the right for women to seek an abortion. The big picture: Roe v. Wade has, since the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in 1973, served as a barrier against Republicans who have sought to restrict reproductive rights. But with the court’s conservative majority and Trump in the Oval Office, right-leaning lawmakers have been testing the limits of the law. […] Details... The following Republican senators signed the brief, which calls Roe v. Wade’s standards unworkable:[…] Sen. Ron Johnson (Wisc.)” [Axios, 1/2/20]
January 2020: Ron Johnson Signed Onto An Amicus Brief In Support Of Louisiana’s TRAP Law To Require Abortion Providers Have Admitting Privileges At Local Hospitals. According to a press release from Steve Scalise, “House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), Senator John Kennedy (R-La.), Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Congressman Mike Johnson (R-La.) led 207 Members of Congress today in filing an amicus brief to stand up for Louisiana's pro-life law before the U.S. Supreme Court that would require all abortion providers to have admitting privileges at local hospitals when emergencies arise. The amicus brief is supported by 207 Members of Congress, including […] Ron Johnson (R-Wis.)” [Press release from Steve Scalise, 01/03/20]
2018: Ron Johnson Effectively Voted For The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, Which Banned Abortion After 20-Weeks. In January 2018, Johnson voted for legislation banning abortion after the fetus is 20-weeks old. According to Congressional Quarterly, “the bill that would prohibit abortions in cases where the probable age of the fetus is 20 weeks or later and would impose criminal penalties on doctors who violate the ban, with certain exceptions. The bill would require a second doctor trained in neonatal resuscitation to be present for abortions where the fetus has the ‘potential’ to survive outside the womb.” The vote was on a motion to invoke cloture on a motion to proceed, which required 60 affirmative votes. The Senate rejected the motion by a vote of 51 to 46. [Senate Vote 25, 1/29/18; Congressional Quarterly, 1/29/18; Congressional Actions, S. 2311]
Ron Johnson Proposed A Nationwide Ban On Abortions 20 Weeks After Fertilization. According to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Johnson has proposed a nationwide ban on abortions 20 weeks after fertilization, which would be in line with Wisconsin law. The Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalized abortion nationwide until a fetus is developed enough to survive outside a woman's uterus. Johnson said he wishes the court had never ruled on abortion.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/18/19]
2019: Ron Johnson Effectively Voted For The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. In February 2019, Johnson effectively voted for a bill that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “require health care practitioners to provide medical care to any infant that survives an abortion procedure, to the extent legally required for any infant born at the same gestational age.” The vote was on a motion to invoke cloture, which required 60 affirmative votes. The Senate rejected the motion by a vote of 53 to 44. [Senate Vote 27, 2/25/19; Congressional Quarterly, 2/25/19; Congressional Actions, S. 311]
Ron Johnson: “Planned Parenthood Could Separate Themselves Completely. I Don’t Think Any American Should Have Their Taxpayer Dollars Go Toward Something They Find Morally Wrong.” According to GrayDC, “Planned Parenthood can’t legally use the money to perform abortions, but some argue the government is providing a financial cushion for the clinics. ‘Planned Parenthood could separate themselves completely. I don’t think any American should have their taxpayer dollars go toward something they find morally wrong. And that’s basically what happens when you start funding an organization that is in the abortion business,’ said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. Republican members of Congress say their problem isn’t with Planned Parenthood, but with the abortion services the clinics provide.” [GrayDC, 1/12/17]
Ron Johnson Said He Was Sympathetic To Americans Who Do Not Want Their Tax Dollars Going To Planned Parenthood. According to Beloit Daily News, “One attendee asked about how the possibility of defunding Planned Parenthood and the overturning of Roe v. Wade – which establishes abortion rights on a federal level – will affect women’s health. Johnson said he’s sympathetic to Americans who don’t want tax dollars to fund abortions. He said women would be redirected to other available clinics, so he doesn’t see any danger to women’s health.” [Beloit Daily News, 7/27/18]
2017: Ron Johnson Voted For The So Called “Skinny Repeal” Version Of Trumpcare, Which Defunded Planned Parenthood For One Year. In July 2017, Johnson voted for the Health Care Freedom Act, also known as “skinny repeal.” According to Vox, “The Health Care Freedom Act is the Senate Republicans’ last-ditch attempt to repeal Obamacare. Released around 10 o’clock Thursday night, it is expected to come to a vote early Friday morning. […] This HCFA would repeal the Affordable Care Act’s mandate that all Americans carry coverage. It would nix the requirement that large employers provide coverage to all workers, too. The bill includes a three-year repeal of the medical device tax and a one-year defunding of Planned Parenthood.” The vote was on the amendment. The Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 49 to 51. [Senate Vote 179, 7/28/17; Vox, 7/27/17; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 667; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 267; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1628]
2018: Ron Johnson Voted To Defund Planned Parenthood. In August 2018, Johnson voted for an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “prohibit[ed] federal funds from going to Planned Parenthood.” The underlying legislation was an FY 2019 Labor, HHS, Education and Defense appropriations bill. The Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 45 to 48. [Senate Vote 191, 8/23/18; Congressional Quarterly, 8/23/18; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 3967; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 3695; Congressional Actions, H.R. 6157]