Tim Johnson (U.S. Senator) 339211 221825015 2008-06-26T07:39:53Z Australiaaz 6263999 {{otheruses4|the Senator from South Dakota|the Congressman from Illinois|Timothy Johnson (U.S. Representative)|other names|Timothy Johnson}} {{Infobox Senator | name=Tim Johnson | image name=Tim Johnson, official photo as senator.jpg | jr/sr=Senior Senator | state=[[South Dakota]] | term_start=[[January 7]], [[1997]] | alongside= [[John Thune]] | preceded=[[Larry Pressler]] | succeeded= | state3=[[South Dakota]] | district3=[[South Dakota's At-large congressional district|At-Large]] | predecessor3=[[Tom Daschle]] | successor3=[[John Thune]] | term_start3=[[January 3]], [[1987]] | term_end3=[[January 3]], [[1997]] | date of birth={{birth date and age|1946|12|28}} | place of birth=[[Canton, South Dakota|Canton]], [[South Dakota]] | date of death= | place of death= | spouse=Barbara Brooks | alma_mater=[[University of South Dakota]] | religion=[[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America|Lutheran]] | party=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] }} '''Timothy Peter Johnson''' (born [[December 28]] [[1946]]) is the senior [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[South Dakota]] and a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. He was the subject of national attention in December 2006 when his ill health raised the possibility that, were he to die, the South Dakota governor might appoint a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] to fill his seat, thus returning the Senate to Republican control after elections which had given the Democratic Party a slim majority. Johnson has since regained his health, and now continues his service in the Senate. ==Early life and state politics== Johnson was born in [[Canton, South Dakota]] to Ruth Jorinda Ljostveit and Vandel Charles Johnson.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =rootsweb Search | work = | publisher =ancestry.com | date = | url =http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/senators/johnson.htm | format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-10-26 }}</ref> He was raised in [[Vermillion, South Dakota|Vermillion]], Johnson earned a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in 1969 and an [[Master's degree|M.A.]] in 1970, from the [[University of South Dakota]], where he was a member of the [[Delta Tau Delta]] fraternity. After doing post-graduate studies at [[Michigan State University]] from 1970 to 1971, he earned his [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] from the [[University of South Dakota]] in 1975. He served in the [[South Dakota House of Representatives]] from 1979 to 1982 and in the [[South Dakota Senate]] from 1983 to 1986. Johnson served as Clay County deputy state's attorney in 1985 during his tenure in the South Dakota Senate. ==House of Representatives== {{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} Johnson was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]] from {{ushr|South Dakota|AL|}} in 1986. He served up until 1997, when he took up his newly acquired Senate seat. ==United States Senate career== ===Elections=== Johnson defeated three-term Senator [[Larry Pressler]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]) in the [[United States Senate elections, 1996|1996 U.S. Senate election]], making him the only Senate candidate to defeat an incumbent in a year that saw thirteen open seats. In [[United States Senate elections, 2002|2002]], he defeated his successor in the at-large House seat, U.S. Representative [[John Thune]] (R), by 524 votes to win re-election. His close margin of victory was made possible by final returns from [[Shannon County, South Dakota|Shannon County]] on the [[Pine Ridge Indian Reservation]], which reported twice the turnout of the previous election and 92% votes for Johnson. His re-election race was widely seen as a proxy battle between [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]], who had carried South Dakota comfortably in [[United States presidential election, 2000|2000]], and the state's senior Senator and Johnson's fellow Democrat, [[United States Senate Majority Leader|Senate Majority Leader]] [[Tom Daschle]], who was subsequently up for re-election in [[United States Senate elections, 2004|2004]] and lost to Thune. In spite of his recent illness (see "Health" section below), Johnson's chief of staff has announced they hired leading political strategist [[Steve Jarding]] for Johnson's re-election campaign for the [[South Dakota United States Senate election, 2008| 2008 Senate election]].<ref name = "ssj">{{cite news |title= Ailing Johnson hires top campaign strategist |url=http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2007/01/18/news/south_dakota/1f6fabf85199253f862572670005a9b0.txt |publisher= [[Associated Press]]/[[Sioux City Journal]] | |date= January 20, 2007}}</ref> ===Positions and votes=== [[Image:TIMSD.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Sen. Johnson (second from right) answers questions after he helped prevent the closure of [[Ellsworth Air Force Base]] in South Dakota. Left to right: Governor [[M. Michael Rounds]], Rep. [[Stephanie Herseth Sandlin|Stephanie Herseth]], Johnson and Sen. [[John Thune]].]] While in the House, Johnson was among the minority of his party to vote in favor of the [[Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act]] of 1996 — a [[social welfare|welfare]] reform bill — and another bill to repeal the [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban|ban on semiautomatic weapons]]. He was among the minority of Democrats to vote for Bush's 2001 tax cut. On [[January 31]], [[2006]], Johnson was one of only four Democrats to vote to confirm Judge [[Samuel Alito]] to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]]. He has also called for "broadened use" of the [[Capital punishment in the United States|death penalty]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ontheissues.org/Senate/Tim_Johnson.htm#Crime|title=Tim Johnson on the Issues|accessdate=2006-12-20|publisher=OnTheIssues.org|quote=Broaden use of death penalty. (Jan 1996)}}</ref> Johnson was, however, among the minority of senators to vote against the [[Unborn Victims of Violence Act]], which was strongly supported by [[pro-life]] groups. While a member of the House, he was one of only 16 congressmen to vote against the [[Telecom Act of 1996]], which provided for [[deregulation]] and competition in the communication sector and was given firm support by Republicans, business groups, and most Democrats. In May 2007, Senator Johnson received an Honored Cooperator award from the [[National Cooperative Business Association]] (NCBA) for his support of cooperative businesses. Paul Hazen, NCBA president, made the presentation to Johnson’s staff at the NCBA annual meeting in Arlington, Va. Hazen praised the South Dakota Democrat for consistently supporting the Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) program, which creates jobs and bolsters the rural economy through cooperative business. Typically funded at $6 million annually, the RCDG program is the only federal grants program devoted solely to forming and expanding co-ops. His elder son, Brooks, serves in the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]], making him the only Senator with a child in the [[Military of the United States|U.S. Armed Forces]] when America invaded Iraq. [[Michael Moore]] stated in his film ''[[Fahrenheit 9/11]]'' that only one member of the Senate had a son serving in the military at the time; Moore was referring to Johnson, although he didn't mention his name. He and his wife Barbara, a professional [[social work]]er, have another son, Brendan, and a daughter, Kelsey. ===Committee assignments=== *Committee on Appropriations **Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies **Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development **Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies **Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs, and Related Agencies (Chairman) **Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs **Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies *Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs **Subcommittee on Financial Institutions (Chairman) **Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investment **Subcommittee on Security and International Trade and Finance *Committee on Energy and Natural Resources **Subcommittee on Energy **Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests **Subcommittee on Water and Power (Chairman) ==Health== Senator Johnson was treated for prostate cancer in 2004 and further tests showed that he was clear of the disease.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://johnson.senate.gov/about.html |accessdate=2006-12-20 |title=Biography of Senator Tim Johnson |publisher=Tim Johnson Senate website}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sen. Johnson recovering after brain surgery|work=MSNBC.com|publisher=Associated Press|date=2006-12-14|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16199440/|accessdate=2006-12-23|quote="He underwent prostate cancer treatment in 2004, and subsequent tests have shown him to be clear of the disease."}}</ref> In [[Washington, D.C.]], on [[December 13]], [[2006]], during the broadcast of a live radio interview with [[WNAX]] radio in [[Yankton, South Dakota]], Johnson suffered bleeding in the brain caused by [[cerebral arteriovenous malformation]], a congenital problem that causes enlarged and tangled blood vessels. He underwent successful surgery at [[George Washington University Hospital]] to drain the blood and stop further bleeding.<ref>{{cite news|title=Senator in Critical Condition |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/14/johnson.ill/index.html|publisher=CNN.com|2006-12-14| accessdate=2006-12-14|quote=Johnson, 59, was in critical condition Thursday morning after surgery...}}</ref> As of [[January 19]], [[2007]], Johnson was undergoing [[physical therapy|physical]], [[occupational therapy|occupational]], and [[speech therapy]] every day for three hours. This included strengthening exercises to gain mobility and work with parallel bars. His recovery was expected to take "several months."<ref name = "cbs">{{cite news |title= Ailing South Dakota Senator on the Mend |url= http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/19/ap/politics/mainD8MOLHT00.shtml |work=CBS|publisher= The Associated Press| first= Mary Clare |last=Jalonick |date= January 19, 2007}}</ref> In his [[2007 State of the Union Address]], President [[George W. Bush]] wished Johnson well.<ref name="sotu2007">{{cite news | last = Bush | first = George W. | authorlink = George W. Bush | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/23/AR2007012301075_pf.html | title = President Bush's 2007 State of the Union Address | publisher = [[The Washington Post]] | date = [[January 23]], [[2007]] | accessdate = 2007-01-24 }}</ref> On [[February 10]], it was reported that Senator Johnson was reading news clippings and starting to do some office work from the hospital. "At this point, he has requested more contact with office and is looking for updates from staff," a member of his staff said in a statement.<ref name="NewsMax">"[http://newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/2/9/160323.shtml Recovering Sen. Tim Johnson Working from Hospital]". [[February 10]], [[2007]].</ref> On February 15, Johnson co-sponsored his first piece of legislation since his hospitalization, the [[Emergency Farm Relief Act of 2007]].<ref name="NewsMax2">"[http://newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/2/16/80836.shtml?s=ic Hospitalized Sen. Tim Johnson Co-Sponsors Bill]". [[February 16]], [[2007]]</ref> On [[February 20]], he left the hospital and moved to a private facility.<ref>{{cite news |title=Johnson Update |date=February 21, 2007 |page=A13 |publisher=The Associated Press |work=The Washington Post |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/20/AR2007022001429.html |accessdate=2007-03-19}} </ref><ref>http://www.thehill.com/content/view/60698/70/"Sen. Tim Johnson leaves hospital" By Sam Youngman, TheHill.com, February 21, 2007.</ref> On [[March 13]] [[2007]], Johnson issued his first public statement, "I want to thank the people of South Dakota and all of our dear friends for their support and prayers. This has been an unexpected journey and there is a long road in front of me. I am determined and focused on my recovery, and I look forward to returning to the Senate on behalf of South Dakota."<ref>[http://newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/3/13/144054.shtml?s=ic Sen. Tim Johnson: Thanks for Support and Prayers]. [[March 13]], [[2007]].</ref> Johnson was discharged from the [[National Rehabilitation Hospital]] in Washington on [[April 27]].<ref>[http://johnson.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=273305 "Statement from the Office of Senator Johnson"] April 30, 2007</ref> On [[June 11]], [[2007]], his doctor said that he would be able to resume his full duties in the Senate.<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/06/11/national/w123842D22.DTL&type=politics Sen. Johnson's Doctor OKs Return to Work]</ref> Johnson returned to work in the Senate on [[September 5]], [[2007]] to both tributes and standing ovations. It was reported that Democrats and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] alike had tears during his first speech on the Senate floor. <ref name="WP2">{{cite news |title=Senate Family Welcomes Cousin Tim . . . Not So Much Uncle Larry |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/05/AR2007090502359.html |publisher= ''[[Washington Post]]'' | first= Dana |last= Mlbank |date= September 6, 2007}}</ref> ==2008 election== Johnson's current term is up in January 2009. Sen. Johnson has stated that he will run for reelection, although, because of the severity of his illness, there is speculation that he may not run. While Johnson was recovering, fellow Democratic senators raised funds on behalf of Johnson's reelection campaign. Early polls show him a favorite to beat the Republican challenger in the fall. <ref name="Poll">{{cite news | title=Election 2008: South Dakota Senate | url= http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/election_2008_south_dakota_senate |publisher=Rasmussen Reports | date= March 7, 2008}}</ref> Tim Johnson has endorsed [[Illinois]] Sen. [[Barack Obama]] for the 2008 Presidential election.<ref>[http://www.kxmb.com/News/196637.asp Johnson backs Obama]</ref> However, NBC News reported that Johnson's superdelegate vote will go for Hillary Clinton as he pledged earlier to support the winner of the South Dakota Primary. ==Electoral history== {| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%" |+ {{ushr|South Dakota|AL|}}: Results 1986&ndash;1994<ref name="clerkresults">{{cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics |accessdate=2007-08-08 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives }}</ref> !|Year ! !|Democrat !|Votes !|Pct ! !|Republican !|Votes !|Pct ! !|3rd Party !|Party !|Votes !|Pct ! !|3rd Party !|Party !|Votes !|Pct ! |- |[[U.S. House election, 1986|1986]] | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Tim Johnson''' |{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |171,462 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |59% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Dale Bell |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |118,261 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |41% | | | | | | | | | | | |- |[[U.S. House election, 1988|1988]] | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Tim Johnson''' |{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |223,759 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |72% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |David Volk |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |88,157 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |28% | | | | | | | | | | | |- |[[U.S. House election, 1990|1990]] | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Tim Johnson''' |{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |173,814 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |68% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Don Frankenfeld}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |83,484 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |32% | | | | | | | | | | | |- |[[U.S. House election, 1992|1992]] | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|'''Tim Johnson'''}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |230,070 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |69% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |John Timmer |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |89,375 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |27% | |{{Party shading/Independent}} |Ronald Wieczorek |{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Independent (politician)|Independent]] |{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |6,746 |{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2% | |{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Robert J. Newland |{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] |{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |3,931 |{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |1% | |'''*''' |- |[[U.S. House election, 1994|1994]] | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Tim Johnson''' |{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |183,036 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |60% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Jan Berkhout |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |112,054 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |37% | |{{Party shading/Independent}} |Ronald Wieczorek |{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Independent (politician)|Independent]] |{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |10,832 |{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |4% | | | | | | {{end box}} <div class="references-small"><nowiki>*</nowiki>Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 1992, Ann Balakier received 2,780 votes. </div> {| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%" |+ [[List of United States Senators from South Dakota|South Dakota Senator (Class II)]]: Results 1996&ndash;2002<ref name="clerkresults">{{cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics |accessdate=2007-08-08 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives }}</ref> !|Year ! !|Democrat !|Votes !|Pct ! !|Republican !|Votes !|Pct ! !|3rd Party !|Party !|Votes !|Pct ! |- |[[U.S. Senate election, 1996|1996]] | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|'''Tim Johnson'''}} |{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |166,533 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |51% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|[[Larry Pressler]]}} |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |157,954 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |49% | | | | | | |- |[[U.S. Senate election, 2002|2002]] | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Tim Johnson''' |{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |167,481 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |50% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[John Thune]] |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |166,949 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |49% | |{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Kurt Evans |{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] |{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |3,071 |{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |1% | {{end box}} ==References== {{reflist|2}} == External links == {{wikiquote|Tim Johnson}} *[http://johnson.senate.gov/ United States Senator Tim Johnson], Senate site {{CongLinks | name = Tim Johnson | surge = 914 | congbio = j000177 | fec = S6SD00051 | opensecrets = N00010084 | votesmart = H3681103 | ontheissuespath = Senate/Tim_Johnson.htm}} *[http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/j/tim_johnson/index.html New York Times — Tim Johnson News] collected news and commentary *[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tim_P._Johnson SourceWatch Congresspedia — Tim P. Johnson] profile *[http://www.timjohnsonforsd.com/ Tim Johnson for South Dakota], Campaign site * [http://creepysleepy.com/audio/CreepySleepyShow3.mp3 Creepy Sleepy] Tim Johnson talks politics on the Creepy Sleepy Show podcast, May 2005 {{s-start}} {{s-par|us-hs}} {{USRepSuccessionBox | state=South Dakota | district=AL | before=[[Tom Daschle]] | years=1987 – [[January 7]], [[1997]] | after= [[John Thune]]}} {{s-par|us-sen}} {{U.S. Senator box | before=[[Larry Pressler]] | state=South Dakota | class=2 | start=[[January 7]], [[1997]] | alongside=[[Tom Daschle]], [[John Thune]]}} {{end}} {{SDStatewideOfficials}} {{USSenSD}} {{South Dakota Congressional Delegation}} {{Current U.S. Senators}} <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] --> {{Persondata |NAME=Johnson, Timothy Peter |ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Johnson, Tim |SHORT DESCRIPTION=United States Senator from South Dakota |DATE OF BIRTH=[[December 28]], [[1946]] |PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Canton, South Dakota]] |DATE OF DEATH= |PLACE OF DEATH= }} {{video game controversy}} [[Category:1946 births|Johnson, Tim]] [[Category:Current members of the United States Senate]] [[Category:Living people|Johnson, Tim]] [[Category:United States Senators from South Dakota|Johnson, Tim]] [[Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from South Dakota|Johnson, Tim]] [[Category:South Dakota State Senators|Johnson, Tim]] [[Category:Members of the South Dakota House of Representatives|Johnson, Tim]] [[Category:Prosecutors|Johnson, Tim]] [[Category:South Dakota lawyers|Johnson, Tim]] [[Category:University of South Dakota alumni|Johnson, Tim]] [[Category:Michigan State University alumni|Johnson, Tim]] [[Category:People from Sioux Falls, South Dakota|Johnson, Tim]] [[Category:Democratic Party (United States) politicians]] [[Category:American Lutherans|Johnson, Tim]] [[fr:Tim Johnson]] [[nl:Tim Johnson (politicus)]] [[pl:Tim Johnson]] [[ru:Джонсон, Тимоти Питер]] [[fi:Tim Johnson]] [[sv:Tim Johnson]]