Ron Johnson in State of Wisconsin Archives

On Drugs: Death penalty for drug dealers

(VIDEO CLIP): TRUMP: When I was in China and other places, I said, "Mr. President, do you have a drug problem?" "No, no, no, we do not." I said, "huh, big country, 1.4 billion people, right? Not much a drug problem." I said, "What do you attribute that to?" "Well, the death penalty." So, honestly, I don't know that the United States, frankly, is ready for it. They should be ready for it.

(END VIDEO) Q: Now, the death penalty for drug dealers, is that something that you agree with? And should we be following China's lead when it comes to criminal justice?

JOHNSON: I would say we probably should not be following China's lead when it comes to criminal justice. I'm a supporter of the death penalty, but only in those types of instances where we absolutely are 100% certain that the person is 100% guilty. I'm not sure it would be applicable to drug offenses.

On Abortion: Only allow abortion for rape, incest, and maternal life

Johnson: Abortions should be allowed in the case if rape and incest, or when the life of the mother is endangered

On Abortion: Roe v Wade decision was a tragedy

Feingold: No

Johnson: Yes. Believes Roe v Wade "was a tragedy."[1]

Q: On Contraception: Should employers be able to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if they disagree with it morally?

Feingold: Likely no, implied from positions on women's access to health care.

Johnson: Yes

Q: On Healthcare: Should Planned Parenthood be eligible to receive public funds for non-abortion health services?

Feingold: Yes

Johnson: No

On Drugs: No federal legalization; but let's see how states do

Feingold: Voted earlier for lower drug sentences, but unclear position on legalization.

Johnson: Opposes recreational legalization, but open to seeing results in states that have approved it.

On Immigration: Address comprehensive reform after border is secure

Feingold: Yes

Johnson: No. Opposed 2013 bipartisan bill. Said would consider addressing after border is secure. Strong focus on first increasing border security. Then open to considering "step by step" approach to reform legislation, including such steps as E-Verify and a guest worker program. Could then consider path to citizenship.

On War & Peace: 25,000 US combat troops to fight ISIS in Iraq

Feingold: Yes

Johnson: No

Q: On Iraq: Should the US recommit significant additional ground troops to Iraq to combat the success of ISIS?

Johnson: Organize global military coalition, including as many as 25,000 US combat troops.

Feingold: Use all resources except boots on the ground. Attack leaders, cut off funding sources, use targeted military action. Was one of only 23 senators to vote against authorizing President Bush to go to war in Iraq to begin with.

On Drugs: Unsecure Mexican border is a gateway for drug traffickers

[Ron Johnson said in his opening statement]: "America's borders are not secure. One key indicator is the fact that we are interdicting only 5% to 10% of illegal drugs crossing our southwest border. The declining price of heroin--from a nationwide average of $3,260 per gram of pure heroin in 1981 to $465 in 2012--is a metric that proves the point. Our unsecure Arizona-Mexico border has become a gateway for drug traffickers to distribute illicit drugs across the country."

On Free Trade: Yes to trade adjustment; Yes to fast-track

Ballotpedia.org analysis of Congressional voting record on trade issues:
• Voted YEA on Trade adjustment assistance (TAA): On 5/22/15, the Senate passed the TAA measure in HR 1314 by a vote of 62 to 37. TAA is a federal program providing American workers displaced by foreign trade agreements with job training and services.
• Voted YEA on Trade promotion authority (TPA): On 6/24/15, the Senate passed a TPA measure by a vote of 60-38, as part of HR 2146 . TPA would give the president fast-track authority to negotiate trade agreements sent to Congress without the opportunity for amendment or filibuster.

On Homeland Security: Grateful to the 1 million who have died defending the US

Ron will fight to ensure that if servicemen and women are needed to protect America's interests, they will be deployed with rules of engagement that allow them to accomplish their mission and allow them their most basic rule of self defense. Ron will never endanger our men and women in uniform by voting to place artificial withdrawal timelines on our deployed forces. [Source: ronjohnsonforsenate.com/home ]

On Government Reform: Third-party issue ad donors should be disclosed

"I'd be happy to have them disclose," Johnson said.

"Well, then why don't you ask them to do it?" Feingold responded.

"Disclose," Johnson said to applause from the audience.

On Health Care: ObamaCare will cost the average family $2,100

"We didn't need a 2,600-page bill passed in the middle of the night to address the problems that do exist in our health care industry," Johnson fired back, arguing in favor of repealing a bill that he said amounts to a government takeover and will cost the average family $2,100.

On Budget & Economy: $184B stimulus drove the country deeper into debt