Johnson Claims He is a Fisherman, But Records Show He Does Not Have a Fishing License,
Follows Revelations He Tried to Mislead Voters About Taking $4 Million in Government-Subsidized Loans
MADISON — Republican Senate candidate Ron Johnson will remember the “single greatest assault on the freedom” of American citizens in generations — the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, by shooting trap and attending a Republican Party of Wisconsin fund-raiser in Eau Claire.
The fund-raiser takes place in the Saturday morning at the EC Rod and Gun Club. Johnson was listed as confirmed at the event according to the Republican Party of Eau Claire County’s registration information for the event. http://candidatetrapshoot.com/uploads/Shoot_to_Win_full_brochure.pdf
Though he says he’s not a hunter, Johnson previously claimed that he supported the Second Amendment because he is an outdoorsman and a fisherman. [Jerry Bader Show interview, 6/7/10] But the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reports that Johnson does not have a fishing license.
“Ron Johnson claims that he is a fisherman but doesn’t have a license, just like he claims government doesn’t create jobs, but he takes government-subsidized loans to build his business,” said Mike Tate, Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. “When he was exposed taking government-subsidized loans for his business, Ron Johnson has been lying about the central premise of his campaign. Apparently he’ll lie about almost anything.”
Ron Johnson’s own Web sites says:
“Government doesn’t create jobs – the private sector creates jobs.” [Ronjohnsonforsenate.com]
Johnson even told a TV station, “When you subsidize things, it doesn’t work through the free market system very well.” (WKOW, 8/20/10).
News reports have revealed that Johnson has taken a federal government grant to start his business and $4 million in government-subsidized bonds after the GOP candidate said he had never taken any government assistance.
Johnson has tried to claim that government grants and loans for his business do not constitute “government subsidies,” but as the Associated Press reported, Johnson’s loans we’re subsidized at below market rate. An independent expert interviewed by the Associated Press concluded:
“Tax-free bonds allow a borrower to borrow at a lower rate,” said Andrew Reschovsky, a professor of applied economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“That’s a subsidy from normal borrowing.” (Associated Press, 8/26/10)
