MADISON, Wis. – Ron Johnson continues to try to outrun his long history of supporting federal abortion bans, including legislation that makes no exceptions for rape and incest. Now, in a new interview, Ron Johnson is claiming: “If you said something in the past, you better defend it. Or you better have a pretty reasonable explanation of why your position has shifted other than just for political expediency.” 

“Ron Johnson will say anything to stay in power so he can continue trying to take away Wisconsintes’ freedom to make their own medical decisions, cut Social Security and Medicare funding, and carve out massive tax breaks for himself and his biggest donors,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Senate Communications Advisor Philip Shulman.

Additional Background

  • July 2021: Johnson Joined Forty-Three Of His Senate Republican Colleagues And Signed On To An Amicus Brief In Dobbs V. Jackson Women’s Health Organization That Urged The Court To Uphold Mississippi’s Law That Banned Abortion After 15 Weeks Of Pregnancy. “U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and 41 Senate colleagues today filed an amicus brief in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization urging the court to uphold Mississippi’s law to protect unborn babies after 15 weeks of pregnancy.  ‘All life is sacred. Mississippi’s law protecting the lives of unborn children must be upheld,’ said Dr. Cassidy. ‘This brief lends our support as the Supreme Court considers this case.’  ‘In taking up Mississippi’s pro-life law, the Supreme Court has a chance to reconsider the current misguided abortion jurisprudence. As a Senator, as a woman, and as a mother, I think this case offers us a chance to overturn Roe and return the abortion issue to the political process and away from activist judges,’ said Senator Hyde-Smith. ‘I am thankful so many of my colleagues are standing with Mississippi and against unlimited abortion on demand in this case.’ […] Other senators signed on to the brief include Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Richard Shelby, (R-AL), James Inhofe (R-OK), Mike Crapo (R-ID), John Cornyn (R-TX), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Richard Burr (R-NC), John Thune (R-SD), John Barrasso (R-WY), James Risch (R-ID), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Rob Portman (R-OH), John Boozman (R-AR), Pat Toomey (R-PA), John Hoeven (R-ND), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ron Johnson (R-WI) […].” [Senator Bill Cassidy, Press Release, 7/29/21]
  • Johnson Co-Sponsored A Bill To Amend The Constitution To Extend The 14th Amendment To The Unborn. In November 2011, Johnson co-sponsored “a bill to implement equal protection under the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution for the right to life of each born and unborn human person.” [CQ, 4/20/12; S. 91, Co-Sponsored 11/3/11, Introduced 1/25/11]
  • The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would implement a twenty-week abortion ban and criminalize performing an abortion, has been introduced six times since 2012. Ron Johnson cosponsored every bill. 
    • [S. 1670, 113th Congress, Introduced 11/7/13, Cosponsored 11/7/13; S. 1553, 114th Congress, Introduced 6/11/15, Cosponsored 6/11/15; S. 1922, 115th Congress, Introduced 10/5/17, Cosponsored 10/5/17; S. 2311, 115th Congress, Introduced 1/16/18, Cosponsored1/16/18; S. 160, 116th Congress, Introduced 1/16/19, Cosponsored 1/16/19; S. 61, 117th Congress, Introduced 1/17/21, Cosponsored,1/17/21]
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