3 Takeaways From Ron Johnson’s Talk At Marquette University

Sen. Ron Johnson was interviewed by the journalist Mike Gousha at a Marquette University forum on Friday. Here are three of the takeaways from the town-hall event:

1. Johnson said he’s running for re-election because he’s “more panicked” for the nation.

Johnson told Gousha he first ran for the Senate in 2010 “because I was panicked for this country.” But five years later, he said, he’s even more panicked than before.

For one thing, he thinks that President Barack Obama isn’t doing enough to address the terrorism threat from the Islamic State Group.

The senator also said he has to leave Washington, D.C. now and then because he’s disgusted at what he sees as dysfunction: “Every time the wheels lift off from Reagan Airport in Washington D.C., I get a big smile on my face.”

2. When it comes to his handling of problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Tomah, Johnson said he’s been a “bulldog.”

The senator said he first learned of the medical center’s problems regarding the over-prescription of painkillers early last year, and has been holding VA officials accountable ever since.

“Why are they being held accountable? Because of my committee’s investigation. Because I’ve been a bulldog getting to the facts,” he said.

​Johnson was referring to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which he chairs.

The senator also repeated claims that his likely Democratic opponent this fall, former Sen. Russ Feingold, knew about the Tomah VA’s problems while he was still in office.

Feingold has said he and his staff never received the letter that Johnson alleges was delivered to his office outlining the medical center’s problems. Feingold has called Johnson “pathetic” for politicizing the treatment of veterans.

3. Johnson defended Johnson Controls Inc.’s decision to move its corporate headquarters to Ireland.

The manufacturer Johnson Controls announced last week that it planned to acquire Tyco International and move its base to Tyco’s home, in what observers say is an instance of corporate inversion. Johnson said the move could save the company $150 million a year in federal taxes.

“If Johnson Controls didn’t do the inversion, you know what would happen to Johnson Controls? They’ll be bought by a multinational company, a foreign company,” he said.

Johnson said the U.S. tax code needs to be “scrapped” so that it only raises revenue the nation needs and not do economic harm.

Feingold has praised Johnson Controls’ work in Wisconsin, but said that different tax code changes are needed to reduce the benefits of moving headquarters overseas.