Rep. Tim Johnson Ranked as Leading Independent

Statement

U.S. Rep. Timothy V. Johnson was identified in a voting analysis published in Politico today as having one of the four most independent voting records in the 112th Congress.

The analysis, at http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/63452.html, shows that Rep. Johnson voted against the so-called party line 38.4 percent of the time. Reps. Justin Amash, R-MI, Walter Jones, R-N.C., and Ron Paul, R-TX, had slightly higher records of opposing the party line.

"People and the media in particular focus on the partisanship in Congress, the conflicts and the gridlock," Rep. Johnson said. "That is clearly not true of everybody and this analysis makes it abundantly clear.

"My voting history demonstrates my fiscal conservatism, to be sure, but it also demonstrates my independence. I think voters want somebody who thinks for themselves and is not a slave to party politics all of the time.

"I founded the Center Aisle Caucus six years ago in part to foster openness and dialogue. Elected officials don't have to abandon their ideologies to get along or to think for themselves. That's what people want and what they deserve."

Source