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Planned Parenthood endorses Bob Johnson

LEE’S SUMMIT, MO – Former Republican state representative Bob Johnson received the endorsement of the pro-choice group Planned Parenthood in his campaign for the Republican nomination in the traditionally conservative district based in Lee’s Summit. Johnson told The Missouri Times, “I am not going to vote for any more restrictions on abortion.”

Johnson is running to replace Rep. Jeff Grisamore in the 34th District in a three-way Republican primary against Justin Kalwei and Rebecca Roeber.

“We are very excited to have a pro-choice Republican to endorse in this race. He has a long history of supporting reproductive rights and we are proud to support him,” said Tom Barry, Vice President of External Relations for Advocates of Planned Parenthood of St. Louis and Southwest Missouri. “We want to make sure this endorsement counts so we are working diligently on the ground for him.”

bob johnson
Bob Johnson

Johnson understood the reasons for the endorsement. “I’m sure they looked at my past voting record and chose to endorse me.  The issue to me really is that over 90% of Planned Parenthood’s patients are ones who need help with gynecological issues, HIV testing or STD testing, and contraception and if you are in need, where else can you get that?”

However, Johnson isn’t running exclusively on a pro-choice platform, he wants to take on issues such as partisanship, preventing school vouchers, and ethics reform. “Abortion is something that an irrelevant minority wants to talk about instead of discussing real issues. Maybe we should consolidate a lot of these rural schools, and maybe we should talk more about kids who graduate high school and can’t make change,” he said.

He continued, “As I look at what’s happened in Washington D.C. and Jefferson City it’s become highly partisan and that’s not the way it should be. It’s become so partisan that the system is polarized. I’m running to bring back civility and that’s something that is lacking.”

“If I were serving last session I would not have voted for the tax cut bill,” he said. “I don’t think that the state’s income tax rates are that high. I don’t think that the income tax bill should have been passed until we have fixed all of our societal ills. Taxes aren’t too high now.” He would also like get rid of the tax credit programs that provide targeted tax cuts to encourage economic development in favor of a larger state government spending.

Johnson previously served in the General Assembly as well as a state senator, he attempted to return to the senate before being defeated by former Senator Matt Bartle. He says the bill he is the most proud of was authoring the first Right to Die legislation in Missouri. “It has allowed many families to make choices on their loved ones having the right to die,” said Johnson.

When asked about senators who he most looked up to looking back on the history of the General Assembly, he pointed to Democratic senators John Scott and Jim Mathewson.

While Johnson said he accepted the endorsement and appreciated the support, he said he never filled out any interest group candidate surveys. However, Barry said that in order to be endorsed, Mr. Johnson had to receive a 100% score on their candidate questionnaire which includes questions such as, do you “oppose a gag” on pregnancy options information and would you “oppose attempts to overturn federal protections guaranteed in Roe vs. Wade”.

Barry confirmed that Johnson not only took the Planned Parenthood Candidate Survey 2014 and scored 100% support of their positions, but did pass an interview screening before receiving the endorsement. He went on to state that 98% of Planned Parenthood endorsed candidates won their election

“He is simply on the right side of history. No longer will attacks on women go unanswered, even in the Republican Party.  To see this happening in Missouri, which is rationally conservative, is exciting for the nation. Our board members and supporters are on the ground working for Mr. Johnson and giving him money. We are excited to see him win this race,” Barry concluded.