Mike Johnson (Louisiana politician)
James Michael Johnson (born January 30, 1972) is an American attorney, politician, and former talk radio host serving as the U.S. representative for Louisiana's 4th congressional district. First elected in 2016, he is also the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference. He previously served as chairman of the House Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus of conservatives in Congress, and a coalition of socially- and fiscally-conservative members of the larger House Republican Conference. From 2015 to 2017, Johnson served as a representative in the Louisiana House of Representatives for the 8th district in  Bossier Parish. Early life and education. Johnson was born in Shreveport, the oldest of four children of Jeanne Johnson and the late James Patrick Johnson, a firefighter who founded the nonprofit organization, the Percy R. Johnson Burn Foundation, named after his partner Percy R. Johnson, the city's first African-American Fire Instructor and Captain who died in the line of duty. Johnson was also critically burned and disabled in the line of duty during the fire. Johnson has two brothers, Chris and Josh, and a sister, Laura. During Johnson's high school time, he was a member of Louisiana  Boys State. Johnson graduated from Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport. He received an undergraduate degree in business administration from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He holds a Juris Doctor from Louisiana State University Law Center, and worked as constitutional attorney in Benton, in Bossier Parish seat of government located north of Bossier City, Louisiana. Legal career. Prior to his election to Congress, Johnson was also a partner in the Kitchens Law Firm and a senior attorney and national media spokesman for the Alliance Defense Fund, now known as Alliance Defending Freedom, which describes itself as "a non-profit  legal defense and advocacy organization dedicated to religious liberty, traditional family values, and the value and sanctity of life." Johnson was also formerly chief counsel of the non-profit law firm Freedom Guard. Johnson served as co-counsel for the state defendants in the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Louisiana state ban on same-sex marriage in both 2004 and again in 2015. He was driving home from a hearing on the matter before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans when he learned from a radio broadcast that he would run unopposed  in his bid to succeed Thompson. Johnson served as a trustee of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission within the Southern Baptist Convention from 2004 to 2012. Louisiana House of Representatives. Johnson ran unopposed in the special election called for February 21, 2015 to select a successor to Jeff R. Thompson, a Republican who had resigned to become a judge in Louisiana's 26th Judicial District Court. The election was cancelled when only Johnson filed for the seat. Johnson was re-elected on October 24, 2015, again running without opposition. Johnson was endorsed by United States Senator David Vitter and  United States Representative John Fleming, as well as the political action committee of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Louisiana Marriage and Conscience Act. In April 2015, Johnson proposed a bill titled the Marriage and Conscience Act, similar in content to Indiana's controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act passed a few days earlier, though Johnson denied that his legislation was based on the Indiana law. Johnson's Marriage and Conscience Act would have eliminated the state of Louisiana's ability to withhold a "state license, certification, accreditation, employment, state contracts, state benefits, or tax deductions" from a person or  entity based on their views on the institution of marriage. Critics denounced the bill as an attempt to protect people who discriminate against same-sex married couples. Then-Governor Bobby Jindal pledged to sign Johnson's bill into law if it passed both houses of the legislature. IBM and other employers in the region expressed their opposition to the bill, including concerns about the hiring difficulties it would likely produce. Other politicians also objected, including fellow Republican, Baton Rouge Metro Councilman John Delgado, who described Johnson as a "despicable bigot of the highest order" for proposing the bill. On May  19, 2015, the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee voted 10–2 to table the bill, effectively ending its chances to become law. Both Republicans and Democrats voted against the bill; other than Johnson, only Republican Ray Garofalo voted for it. After the bill was tabled, Governor Jindal said that he would issue an executive order to enforce its intent. Johnson planned to reintroduce his own bill in 2016. Other. In March 2016, Johnson opposed a one-penny increase in the state sales tax proposed to help address Louisiana's $940 million budget deficit. The one-penny increase was approved  by a vote of 76 to 27, with one vacancy. A House and Senate conference committee subsequently changed the duration of the tax from five years, as recommended by the state Senate to twenty-seven months, effective from April 1, 2016, to June 30, 2018. In 2015 and 2016 Johnson led an anti-abortion "Life March" in Shreveport-Bossier City. Johnson opposed the Common Core State Standards Initiative. U.S House of Representatives. Elections. 2016. On February 10, 2016, Johnson announced his candidacy for the 4th congressional district seat held for eight years by John Fleming, who was running, ultimately unsuccessfully , for the United States Senate seat vacated by David Vitter. In a runoff election held on December 10, 2016, Johnson defeated Shreveport Democratic attorney Marshall Jones, 87,369 votes (65 percent) to 46,578 (35 percent). He won all fifteen parishes in the district, with 78 percent in Bossier Parish but only 52 percent in his native neighboring Caddo Parish, also the home of opponent Jones. Eliminated in the November 8 primary election were Republicans Trey Baucum, a Shreveport cardiologist, former State Senator Elbert Guillory of Opelousas, Shreveport attorney Rick John, Oliver Geoffrey Jenkins (born July 1966), a member of the Shreveport  City Council. 2018. In 2018, Johnson won his second term in the U.S. House, having led a three-candidate field with 139,307 votes (64 percent). Democrat Ryan Trundle trailed with 72,923 votes (34 percent). 2020. In 2020, Johnson won his third term to the U.S. House, with 185,265 votes (60 percent) to Democratic opponent Kenny Houston's 78,157 votes (25 percent). Tenure. Johnson was sworn into office on January 3, 2017. He is Vice Chairman of the Republican Conference, an Assistant Whip for House Republicans, a member of the Judiciary Committee, the Armed Services Committee, and a member and former  Chairman of the Republican Study Committee. Johnson voted in favor of the American Health Care Act of 2017. In December 2017, Johnson voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. After voting for the act, Johnson described the economy as "stunted" and as a "burden" on Americans. Additionally, "The importance of this moment cannot be overstated. With the first comprehensive tax reform in 31 years, we will dramatically strengthen the U.S. economy and restore economic mobility and opportunity for hardworking individuals and families all across this country." On May 19, 2021, Johnson and all the other seven  Republican House leaders in the 117th Congress voted against establishing a National Commission to Investigate the January 6, 2021 storming of the United States Capitol. Thirty-five Republican House members and all 217 Democrats present voted to establish such a commission. Political positions. Immigration. Johnson supported President Donald Trump's 2017 executive order to prohibit immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries, stating "This is not an effort to ban any religion, but rather an effort to adequately protect our homeland. We live in a dangerous world, and this important measure will help us balance freedom and security." Abortion. Johnson opposes  abortion and supports legislation to prohibit abortions after week 20 of a pregnancy. Cannabis. Johnson believes medical marijuana is a "gateway drug" for other drugs. Donald Trump. In 2019, Johnson claimed, "President Trump cooperated fully with the [Special Counsel Mueller] investigation." Johnson served as a member of President Trump's legal defense team during both the 2019 and 2020 Senate impeachment trials, which ultimately resulted in acquittals by the U.S. Senate. In December 2020, Johnson was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives who signed an amicus brief in support of "Texas v. Pennsylvania", a lawsuit filed  at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden prevailed over incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of the election held by another state. LGBT rights. Johnson opposed the results of "Obergefell vs. Hodges", which legalized same-sex marriage across the US. He believes the decision should be state by state, not made by the Supreme Court. School prayer. In April 2018, Johnson joined Republican state Attorney General Jeff  Landry and Christian actor Kirk Cameron to argue under the First Amendment for student-led prayer and religious expression in public schools. Johnson and Landry appeared, with Cameron who spoke on a promotional video, at prayer rallies at the First Baptist Church of Minden and Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City. The gatherings were organized by area pastors, including Brad Jurkovich of First Baptist Bossier, in response to a lawsuit filed in February against the Bossier Parish School Board and the superintendent, Scott Smith. The board and the superintendent are accused of permitting teachers to incorporate various aspects of  Christianity in their class presentations. Personal life. Johnson is married to the former Kelly Lary (born October 1973). Kelly Johnson is a Licensed Pastoral Counselor, a lecturer on family-related issues, and a former school teacher. They have two sons and two daughters. Johnson has formerly resided in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and in Allen in Collin County, Texas.