FRC Scorecard on Senator Tim Johnson

The Family Research Council and Focus on the Family Action have released their scorecard of the 110th Congress on key votes of interest to pro-family voters.

South Dakota Democrat Senator Tim Johnson is being challenged this year by Republican legislator Joel Dykstra.

This is how Johnson voted on these key issues:




1. Protect Grassroots Organizations in Lobby Reform Bill
Senators Robert Bennett (R-UT) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) offered an amendment (No. 20) to this year’s Lobby Reform Act (S.1). The amendment removed provisions in S.1 that would have regulated so-called grassroots lobbying activities.
(Passed 1/18/2007, 55 yeas to 43 nays, Roll Call No. 17)
FRC Action and Focus Action Supported this Amendment.

2. Embryonic Stem Cell Research Act
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) sponsored the Embryonic Stem Cell Research Act (S. 5), which sought to overturn President Bush’s policy on funding human embryonic stem cell research. The bill would authorize the National Institutes of Health to fund stem cell research that requires the destruction of human embryos. On June 20, 2007, President George W. Bush vetoed this bill as he did a similar bill last year.
(Passed 4/11/2007, 63 yeas to 34 nays, Roll Call No. 127)
FRC Action and Focus Action Opposed this Bill.

3. Protect Health Insurance for Unborn Children
Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) sponsored an amendment (No. 2535) to H.R. 976, a bill to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Senator Allard’s amendment would have codified the “Unborn Child Rule” which allows states the option of providing health care insurance for unborn children.
(Failed 8/2/2007, 49 yeas to 50 nays, Roll Call No. 302)
FRC Action and Focus Action Supported this Amendment.

4. Kemp/Kasten Coercive Abortion and Sterilization Provision
Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) offered an amendment (No. 2707) to the Senate State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 (H.R. 2764) to strike language in the bill that would have undermined the Kemp-Kasten provision, which since 1985 has prevented funding international groups that support or participate in coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization programs, as determined by the President.
(Passed 9/6/2007, 48 yeas to 45 nays, Roll Call No. 318)
FRC Action and Focus Action Supported this Amendment.

5. Undermine Mexico City Policy by Funding International Abortion Groups
Offered by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), this amendment (No. 2719) to the Senate State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 (H.R. 2764) would have gutted the Mexico City Policy by funding international organizations that perform and promote abortions as a method of family planning.
(Passed 9/6/2007, 53 yeas to 41 nays, Roll Call No. 319)
FRC Action and Focus Action Opposed this Amendment.

6. Federal Hate Crimes Act
Sponsored by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), this thought crimes amendment (No. 3035) to the Department of Defense Authorization would establish federal “hate crimes” for certain violent acts based on the actual or perceived race, religion, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation of any person.
(Passed 9/27/2007, 60 yeas to 39 nays, Roll Call No. 350)
FRC Action and Focus Action Opposed this Amendment.

7. Confirmation of Judge Leslie Southwick to U.S. Court of Appeals
Judge Leslie Southwick of Mississippi was nominated on January 9, 2007 by President George W. Bush to serve as a judge on the U.S Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. After months of delay, Judge Southwick was confirmed on October 24, 2007.
(Passed 10/24/2007, 59 yeas to 38 nays, Roll Call No. 393)
FRC Action and Focus Action Supported this Nomination.

8. Prevent Indian Health Service Funds From Being Used for Abortions
Senator David Vitter (R-LA) offered an amendment (No. 3896) to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 2007 (S. 1200) to codify language ensuring that Indian Health Service funds will not be used for abortion.
(Passed 2/26/08, 52 yeas to 42 nays, Roll Call No. 30)
FRC Action and Focus Action Supported this Amendment.

9. Protect Health Insurance for Unborn Children
Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) offered an amendment (No. 4223) to the Budget Resolution (S.Con.Res. 70) that would codify the “Unborn Child Rule” which allows states the option of providing health care insurance for unborn children under the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
(Failed 3/14/08, 45 yeas to 51 nays, Roll Call No. 81)
FRC Action and Focus Action Supported this Amendment.