Download a PDF of this report here.
How does your legislator stack up? What is their grade?
Here is the bad news about your State Senator, Jack Johnson.
First elected to the State Senate in 2006, Johnson has never had an opponent in
the Republican primary, and his extremely low score of 62 reflects that lack of challengers. Johnson is the fourth lowest scoring Republican in the Senate.
Johnson previously voted to raise the gas tax by 25%,
driving fuel costs higher than necessary in Tennessee.
And this year, corporate welfare defined the legislative session. We believe public risk for private benefit is wrong. Our state government should not be giving taxpayer money to private entities. Sadly, Senator Johnson refused to defend taxpayers and small business owners, and gave their money to billion dollar corporations by voting YES on three major corporate welfare bills:
- He voted YES to provide over $1 billion dollars for an electric vehicle plant in West Tennessee
- He voted YES to provide a half billion dollars for a new Titans stadium
- He voted YES to give an 80% tax-break to Cincinnati Reds farm team
Senator Johnson earned a C for leadership, which is particularly significant when he is the Senate Majority Leader and has great influence over the other Republican members.
In just one example, Senator Johnson feigned an objection to the $500 million for the new Tennessee Titans Stadium by removing it from the budget, but then went on to vote for it when the time came.
The Tennessee Legislative Report Card grades legislators on bills and leadership that allow every Tennessean to thrive, paying particular attention to education reform, medical freedom, fiscal responsibility, property rights, and cronyism.
We are sad to report that Senator Jack Johnson is not living up to those principles. It’s important to retain legislators that hold the line and represent ordinary Tennesseans, and just as important to replace those that do not.
For information on all 132 members of the Tennessee General Assembly, go to: tnreportcard.org
Your Tennessee Legislative Report Card Team
