Mike Johanns

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Mike Johanns
United States Senator from Nebraska
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 2009 Serving with Ben Nelson
Preceded by	Chuck Hagel
28th United States Secretary of Agriculture
In office January 21, 2005 – September 20, 2007
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Ann Veneman
Succeeded by	Ed Schafer
41st Governor of Nebraska
In office January 7, 1999 – January 20, 2005
Lieutenant	David I. Maurstad (1999-2001) Dave Heineman (2001-2005)
Preceded by	Ben Nelson
Succeeded by	Dave Heineman
Born	June 18, 1950 (1950-06-18) (age 59) Osage, Iowa
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Stephanie Johanns
Residence	Omaha, Nebraska
Alma mater	St. Mary's University Creighton University
Occupation	attorney
Religion	Roman Catholic

Michael Owen "Mike" Johanns (born June 18, 1950) is an American Republican politician who has been the junior United States Senator from Nebraska since 2009. Previously he was Governor of Nebraska from 1999 to 2005 and was U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 2005 to 2007.^[1] On November 4, 2008, Johanns was elected to the United States Senate for the state of Nebraska, becoming one of only two new Republican senators (with Jim Risch of Idaho) heading into the 111th United States Congress.^[2]

[edit] History

[edit] Childhood

Johanns was born in Osage, Iowa, and grew up living and working on his family's farm. After graduating from high school, Johanns went on to study at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona. He earned a law degree from Creighton University. After his graduation, Johanns began practicing law in O'Neill and Lincoln, Nebraska.

[edit] Local Figure

Johanns served on the Lancaster County Board from 1983 to 1987 as a Democrat. In 1988 he switched party alliances and was elected to the Lincoln City Council where he served from 1989 to 1991. He was elected as Mayor of Lincoln in 1991 and 1995. He then ran successfully for Governor of Nebraska in 1998.

Mike Johanns speaks after being nominated by George W. Bush for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

Johanns was elected Governor in 1998 by defeating Democratic opponent Bill Hoppner by a margin of 54% to 46%. He won reelection in 2002 by a landslide, defeating Democrat Stormy Dean by a margin of 69% to 27%. In 2004 Johanns tried to close two of the three state regional mental health facilities to save the state money. This move was very unpopular, because it took away high paying jobs in small rural towns.^{[citation needed]}

On December 2, 2004, Johanns was nominated by President George W. Bush to replace outgoing Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman. As a result, he scrapped plans to run against Democratic Senator Ben Nelson in 2006.^[3] Johanns was confirmed by the Senate on January 20, 2005, hours after Bush's second inauguration. He tendered his resignation as Governor of Nebraska on that day. On the next day he was sworn in.

[edit] Personal

Johanns is married to Stephanie Johanns, a former Lancaster County Commissioner and Nebraska State Senator. They have two children and five grandchildren.

[edit] 2008 U.S. Senate campaign

On September 20, 2007, he resigned as Agriculture Secretary to run for the United States Senate.^[4] Johanns officially announced his bid on October 10, 2007 to run for the Senate seat to be vacated by Senator Chuck Hagel, who decided not to run for re-election. On November 4, 2008, he was elected to the United States Senate ^[3], defeating Democratic nominee Scott Kleeb in the general election.

[edit] Congressional career

[edit] Committee assignments

• Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
  • Subcommittee on Energy, Science and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Domestic and Foreign Marketing, Inspection, and Plant and Animal Health (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Production, Income Protection and Price Support
• Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions
  • Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
  • Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment
• Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
  • Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
  • Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
  • Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion
  • Subcommittee on Science and Space
  • Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs
• Committee on Indian Affairs

[edit] 111th Congress

In September 2009, Johanns introduced an amendment that would block federal funding for ACORN, in light of a number of members being arrested for voter fraud and three videos that show the group offering tax advice and promoting prostitution for undercover activists disguised as a pimp and a prostitute. The Johanns Amendment passed 83-7.^[5]

In October 2009, Johanns joined 29 other Republican senators in voting against a much-publicized amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill offered by Minnesota Senator Al Franken. Citing the case of Jamie Leigh Jones, Franken's amendment would withhold defense contracts from companies like KBR "if they restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court." It passed the US Senate 68-30.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mike Johanns

• Senator Mike Johanns official U.S. Senate website
• Mike Johanns for U.S. Senate official campaign website
• White House Biography
• USDA Biography

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Congressional profile at GovTrack.us
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org

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