Jonathan Johnson in 2016 UT Governor's race
On Homeland Security:
Endorse Ted Cruz as strong champion for national defense
Jonathan Johnson, Republican candidate for Governor endorses Republican candidate for President Ted Cruz in the following statement: "I believe Ted Cruz is a man of principle and a man of his word.
He has proven that he willing to stand up to cronyism within government and do what is right, even when it is not popular. Ted will make the right decision on critical Supreme Court appointments, he will be a strong champion for national defense,
he will reform our broken tax code, and he will transfer Utah's public lands back to rightful state ownership. As Utah's next Governor, I plan on being an effective fighter for limited government, localized decision
making and transformational improvements in Utah's education system. I look forward to working with Ted to make these top priorities a reality for Utah and the nation."
Source: 2016 Utah gubernatorial campaign website HireJJ.com
Mar 3, 2016
On Homeland Security:
I know plight of refugees; but no Syrians
Statement Regarding Utah Accepting Refugees: "I know the plight of refugees. I have three cousins who were Vietnamese refugees in the 1970's. I've seen how their lives were changed by American generosity.
I've seen the meaningful contribution they make to America. However, we don't want ISIS terrorists coming here under the guise of refugee status.
Utah should immediately suspend the acceptance of Syrian refugees until we are sure the screening process works.
Utahns are extremely compassionate and generous people, but the Governor needs to ensure refugees coming to Utah are not a danger to Utahns."
Source: 2016 Utah gubernatorial campaign website HireJJ.com
Mar 3, 2016
On Tax Reform:
I will not raise taxes as governor
I oppose new taxes and, as governor, I will not raise taxes. Last year, I voted against Prop 1 in Salt Lake County. Utahns deserve a break from ever increasing taxes.
I will actively look to shrink government, not expand it. I will look for ways to reduce taxes, including corporate income tax and income taxes on military and social security benefits.
Source: 2016 Utah gubernatorial campaign website HireJJ.com
Feb 2, 2016
On Civil Rights:
Marriage is between a man and a woman
Marriage has always been a state issue, and should be left up to the states. Along with the majority of Utahns,
I believe marriage is between a man and a woman, and the legal definition of marriage should be decided by Utahns and not by federal government mandate.
Source: 2016 Utah Gubernatorial campaign website, HireJJ.com
Dec 10, 2015
On Education:
Common Core runs counter to family & local control
I oppose Common Core. It runs counter to the conservative principle that small government, local control and family based decisions work best. Currently, Utah has adopted the Common Core Standards.
As governor I will work to end it and reverse the trend of giving up our decision making power to D.C. and return control to local districts and parents.
Source: 2016 Utah Gubernatorial campaign website, HireJJ.com
Dec 10, 2015
On Environment:
Air quality retains and attracts business
Air quality is a top issue for retaining and attracting business in Utah. Our valleys' air has a natural tendency to quickly become over polluted increasing health problems and costs while decreasing our overall quality of life. Everyone along the
Wasatch front shares the same air and responsibility to improve the conditions. To do this Utah should consider implementing tier three fuel standards, drastically cutting vehicle emissions, which accounts for the majority of the pollution in our state.
Source: 2016 Utah Gubernatorial campaign website, HireJJ.com
Dec 10, 2015
On Gun Control:
Protect right to own and carry guns
I support the second amendment and
will protect your right to own and carry guns.
Source: 2016 Utah Gubernatorial campaign website, HireJJ.com
Dec 10, 2015
On Technology:
Elect transit officials instead of political appointments
Gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Johnson started airing radio commercials calling for changes at the Utah Transit Authority, the first in his race to unseat Gov. Gary Herbert in 2016. "No more backroom deals by career politicians. Utah can do it better,"
Johnson said in the 60-second spot. Members of the UTA board should be elected rather than appointed by "political insiders," he said.
The public's perception of the transit agency, widely criticized over high executive salaries and bonuses, was largely blamed for voters rejecting the Proposition 1 sales tax increase for transportation in 7 of 17 counties statewide.
What Johnson is proposing is reducing the size of the UTA board to nine members. Eight would be elected and one appointed by the governor, and all would be limited to a single six-year term.
Source: KSL-TV AdWatch on 2016 Utah gubernatorial race
Nov 30, 2015
On Budget & Economy:
Kept $11M in gold coins in case of financial crisis
Under Jonathan Johnson's leadership at Overstock.com, the company has socked away $10.9 million in gold and silver and has a three-month food supply for each employee, bracing for a financial crisis that the Republican gubernatorial candidate said is
certain to come.Johnson told the United Precious Metals Association--a group that was behind legislation to make gold legal tender in the state--that the company keeps small button-sized gold and silver coins outside the banking system. "We expect
when there is a financial crisis, there will be a banking holiday," Johnson told the group. "I don't know if it will be two days or two weeks or two months. But we have $10 million in gold and silver in denominations small enough that we can use it for
payroll. We want to be able to keep our employees paid and safe and our site up and running."
On Overstock's last quarterly report, the company listed $10.9 million in "precious metals" among its assets--$6.3 million in gold and $4.6 million in silver.
Source: Salt Lake Tribune on 2016 Utah gubernatorial race
Nov 2, 2015
On Health Care:
ObamaCare & Medicaid expansion: ever-increasing government
As the so-called Gang of Six considers Medicaid expansion in Utah under ObamaCare, let's step back to look at the negative long-term ramifications of the ever-increasing expansion of the federal government in Utah. When President Obama strong-armed the
Affordable Care Act through Congress, Utahns were overwhelmingly outraged by the gross overreach of the federal government. The tax increases, the mandates and the government intrusion into our lives were not the Utah way. And now proponents of Medicaid
expansion in Utah are proposing more of the same.Medicaid expansion is projected to cost Utah at least $78 million annually--and that is on top of the roughly $600 million of annual ObamaCare-rooted taxpayer dollars from the federal government.
To fund this new expense the Gang of Six has looked at several options, with ideas ranging from bringing back the sales tax on food to forcing insurers, hospitals, doctors, medical device manufacturers and drug providers to cover the open-ended costs.
Source: Deseret News OpEd by 2016 Utah gubernatorial candidate
Sep 17, 2015
On Immigration:
Support Immigration Innovation Act: more H1B visas
As an American, you're probably optimistic that we can solve every problem. That's what makes the Immigration Innovation Act of 2015 so exciting. Introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch and supported on a bipartisan basis, the "I-Squared" Act is a long-overdue
fix for the roadblocks stopping high-skilled immigrants who want to work here.The I-Squared Act would increase the limits on H-1B visas (from 65,000 to 115,000, with provisions to rise temporarily as high as 195,000), thus allowing
U.S. companies to host high-skilled workers who work in specialty occupations.
It's important that we open up our economy to the contributions of highly skilled workers. These aren't cheap laborers.
The law is clear that they must be paid as well as their counterparts who are already here. These are highly talented scientists and engineers who want to live, work and pay taxes here.
Source: Salt Lake Tribune OpEd by 2016 Utah gubernatorial candidate
Feb 1, 2015
Page last updated: Dec 09, 2018