Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH, 6th District) has served as a U.S. Representative for Ohio’s 6th congressional district since 2011. Johnson served on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in 2017-2018. He is co-chair of the Congressional Natural Gas Caucus.
Bill Johnson on Climate Change
When asked in an interview with E&E News if he was concerned about the health-related consequences of coal, Johnson replied, “not really… absolutely I’m concerned about protecting our environment, but I am not an alarmist that believes that greenhouse gas emissions coming from the coal industry are causing major problems.”
In an opinion piece published in 2013 titled “Coal and Global Warming,” Johnson wrote, “long before Americans were around to blame, there was climate change.” In the rest of the op-ed, Johnson continues to criticize Obama’s Climate Action Plan, which had been announced the week before. Johnson wrote that “[Obama] used platitudes and flowery rhetoric to attack the industries, and the workers, that have helped to make America the greatest, most prosperous nation on Earth.” Johnson’s main concern was coal– Ohio is a leading state in coal consumption. “There are six coal-fired power plants here in Eastern and Southeastern Ohio that would likely close. Those jobs would be gone,” Johnson wrote, “President Obama is choosing to turn our economy upside down on a theory.”
In more recent years, Johnson has continued to express concern related to the coal, oil, and gas industries. At a 2016 committee hearing, Johnson accused the Environmental Protection Agency of “draining the lifeblood out of our businesses.” “I think it’s absurd,” he said, “I think it’s irresponsible, I think honestly it’s un-American. Your department doesn’t have a concern for the very people who create jobs in this country.”
In a February 2021 press release, Johnson wrote, “I wish special interest groups and the Biden Administration would stop targeting American energy workers.” In a March 2021 press release, Johnson stated that “America’s energy dominance must be preserved at all costs.”
Bill Johnson and Friends
Johnson scored an 87 on the “Trump Loyalty Index,” and voted in line with Trump 97% of the time.
Johnson’s top campaign contributors in 2019-2020 were Magnum Magnetics and Ohio-West Virginia Excavating. Other contributors include America’s Communication Association and American Bankers Association.
See Also:
Climate of Denial