Candidate bio - Gary Johnson

Gary Johnson

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1. Libertarian Nominee: Jobs, Taxes & Debates

Profile: Gary Johnson

Gary Johnson is the former two-term Republican governor of New Mexico. Raised in North Dakota and then New Mexico, Johnson graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1975. Johnson started a construction company in 1976 which grew into a multi-million enterprise in the decades since. We won the governorship in 1994 as an upstart Republican candidate, making a name for himself over the course of his time in office as a libertarian-minded conservative. He’s been active in libertarian causes, including marijuana legalization, since leaving office and is an accomplished athlete, having climbed Mt. Everest in 2003.

Full name:	Gary Earl Johnson
Date of birth:	Jan 1, 1953 in Minot, N.D.
Family:	Engaged to Kate Prusack, 1 son, 1 daughter from previous marriage
Religion:	Lutheran
Education:	B.S. University of New Mexico (1975)
Resume:	Founder of Big J Enterprises (1976), Governor of New Mexico (1995-2003)

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Social: From the field

Profile: Gary Johnson on the issues

Jobs Johnson's jobs plan relies on cuts to government spending and taxes, as well as a pullback of government assistance and oversight. He'd end public support for companies like Fannie Mae, and supports the legalization, regulation and taxation of marijuana.
Taxes Has supported eliminating the current tax system with the FairTax, a national sales tax.
Budget Johnson's jobs plan relies on cuts to government spending and taxes, as well as a pullback of government assistance and oversight. He'd end public support for companies like Fannie Mae, and supports the legalization, regulation and taxation of marijuana.
Regulations Not available
Entitlement programs Johnson would block grant Medicare and Medicaid funds to states, and identify cost savings in Medicare. He would index growth in Social Security benefits to wage growth (rather than inflation).
Health care reform Johnson would seek the repeal of President Obama's health care law, as well as the prescription drug benefits passed by Republicans in Congress in 2003.
Foreign policy Johnson would immediately bring troops home from Afghanistan and Iraq, and cease U.S. operations in Libya. He would bar physical or psychological torture for terror suspects, and afford them due process rights.
Immigration Johnson favors more open borders and a simplified legal immigration program. He says legalizing marijuana would reduce border violence, and would institute a "one strike" rule for immigrants who commit a crime.
Energy/Environment Huntsman would expedite the review of new oil and gas exploration projects, and end subsidies for products like ethanol. He would also loosen regulations against fuels like natural gas.
Abortion Johnson is a supporter of abortion rights.
Same-sex marriage Johnson condemned a social conservative group's pledge against same-sex marriage "offensive," and refused to sign it.
Climate change Not available