U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) visited HARDI-member Gustave A. Larson Co. on April 29 where he took part in an employee town hall. Nearly 100 Gustave A. Larson Co. associates joined the senator for an open discussion to learn more about each other’s various viewpoints, concerns and priorities.

Johnson, who has been in office since 2011, has been a supporter of small businesses, favoring simplified fiscal policies that allow them to focus on growing their business instead of navigating regulations. Johnson has a background in manufacturing, having served as co-founder and CEO of Pacur, LLC, a Wisconsin-based plastics and polyester manufacturer.

“Having started a successful company, Sen. Johnson understands first-hand what it’s like to run a business. He knows our challenges and what keeps us up at night better than most and has intimate knowledge of how regulatory changes can deeply impact us and other Wisconsin businesses,” said Gustave A. Larson Co. President Scott Larson.

“It’s vital to have someone with his extensive private-sector experience representing us, especially when that someone is so intimately involved with federal spending and regulatory affairs,” said Greg Toler, vice president of supply chain.

Sen. Johnson is chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, which has subcommittees on Federal Spending Oversight and Regulatory Affairs & Federal Management.

“As someone who spent 31 years building a manufacturing business and now has oversight over the regulatory activities of the federal government, laying out our economic realities with Wisconsin job creators is one of my main priorities,” said Sen. Johnson. “The leadership and employees of Gustave A. Larson understand the importance of these realities and the negative impact our massive regulatory burden is having on businesses across Wisconsin and America.”

Johnson previously met with Gustave A. Larson Co. and other Wisconsin businesses at HARDI’s 2015 Congressional Fly-In.

On May 2, Sen. Johnson officially announced his running for reelection this November. He is endorsed by HARDIPAC.