Rep.-elect Johnson will not accept health-care benefits

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U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson of Poland, R-6th

Staff report

POLAND

U.S. Rep.-elect Bill Johnson of Poland, R-6th, will not accept congressional health-care benefits.

The decision, Johnson said, is his belief that members of Congress shouldn’t have access to premium health-care benefits when millions of Americans are struggling just to make ends meet.

“This is one substantial way I can show that my commitment to the people of Eastern and Southern Ohio is to help them, not to gain exclusive benefits for myself,” Johnson said in a prepared statement.

Johnson, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, has and will continue to receive health-care benefits from that branch of the military. Johnson served 26 years in the Air Force.

Johnson also will turn down the government’s 401K program that includes a matching portion paid by taxpayers.

The 12-county 6th District includes all of Columbiana County and about half of Mahoning County.