MADISON, Wis. — In the revolving door of Republican nominees for Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson has emerged as the latest candidate to lead a chamber driven into chaos by GOP dysfunction and extremism. Even as Mike Gallagher publicly doubts whether Johnson can overcome the GOP’s chaos, and Tom Tiffany cheers on the disarray in the House, here’s a few things you need to know about the GOP circus’ latest ringleader.
- Mike Johnson Supports Cuts To Social Security And Medicare. Mike Johnson has attacked the hard-earned Social Security and Medicare benefits Wisconsinites depend on, arguing Congress needs to “think about long-term reforms to those programs.”
- Mike Johnson Led The Efforts To Overturn The 2020 Election. Mike Johnson led a group of House Republicans in filing a legal brief backing Texas’ infamous lawsuit seeking to invalidate the results of the 2020 election in Wisconsin, along with results in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Georgia. On January 6th, Johnson objected to counting President Biden’s electoral votes in Pennsylvania and Arizona
- Mike Johnson Is An Anti-Abortion Extremist. Mike Johnson is currently the cosponsor of at least three bills that would ban abortion nationwide and celebrated the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, calling it a “great, joyous occasion.”
- Mike Johnson Supports Nationwide Restrictions On LGBTQ+ Rights. Mike Johnson introduced a nationwide bill modeled after Florida’s discriminatory “Don’t Say Gay” law that would have banned discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity at institutions receiving federal funding. Johnson has spread misinformation about transgender youth and equated life-saving gender-affirming care for minors to child abuse.
“Yet again, Wisconsin Republicans are lining up behind an extreme candidate for House Speaker who is deeply out of step with Wisconsin values,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Communications Director Joe Oslund. “Mike Johnson has made a career out of attacking the hard-earned Social Security and Medicare benefits Wisconsinites depend on, gleefully celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and helped quarterback efforts to overturn the 2020 election. At a time when Wisconsinites are seeking bold leadership in Washington to help make child care more affordable and accessible, grow jobs, and protect the Social Security and Medicare benefits they’ve worked hard for, Wisconsin Republicans are falling in line behind a candidate for Speaker who will only deliver more gridlock, chaos and extremism.”
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