House Speaker Mike Johnson votes early and campaigns for Republican Party
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson says this election is one of the most important elections in our lifetime.
Johnson cast his ballot early at the Benton courthouse before holding a press conference to discuss the priorities of the Republican party, and his accomplishments since becoming Speaker of the House one year ago.
"There really has been a radical kind of progressive agenda that has been advanced in Washington," said Johnson.
With the Republican party controlling only the House, Speaker Mike Johnson says they have had to play "defense."
He spoke about the party passing "the strictest border security measure in history," lowering the cost of living, bills protecting girls' sports, and legislation to improve the quality of life for American service members.
Johnson says the title of House Speaker does not take away from the honor of being the representative of Louisiana's 4th congressional district.
"We've had resource fairs for veterans throughout the district, roundtables with local farmers and healthcare workers and elected officials, and pastors and clergy around the district, grant seminars for local law enforcement and other interested parties, and FEMA disaster preparedness briefings," said Johnson.
The Speaker of the House then spoke of what is at stake during this election.
"Once we grow the majority in the House, which I believe is going to happen, and we're going to win back the Senate, and I believe Donald Trump is going to be elected president," said Johnson.
He spoke about concerns he has heard from families as he traveled.
"Everybody is concerned about the same things; they're concerned about the cost of living and how they are going to put groceries on the table for their families, they're worried about the rising crime rates around the country, they're worried about the weakness on the world stage that we're projected that's gotten us into the most dangerous situation since World War II," said Johnson.
The Speaker says if they party wins, they will have a very aggressive first 100 days in Congress.
"We're really in a battle right now between two completely different visions for who we are as a nation and who we are going to be," said Johnson.
House Speaker Johnson said the first order of business if former President Trump were to be re-elected would be to secure the border. Immediately after the party would tackle the economy as living costs are unaffordable.
"We're going to build upon and extend the tax cuts from the Trump era, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, because those tax cuts will expire at the end of next year if we don't fix it. It will be the greatest increase in taxes in the history of the country all at once," said Johnson.
The House Speaker will join former President Donald Trump at his Madison Square Garden rally on October 27th. He says he is fighting for the Republic Party because the American dream is in jeopardy.
"I'm the son of teen parents in Shreveport and a disabled firefighter. And it's only in a country like this that a kid like me, could get elected to Congress and wind up as Speaker of the House. I mean I am the example of the American dream, I'm so blessed to have been able to do that. And what we're fighting for in this election cycle is to preserve that American dream to pass it along to our children and our grandchildren."