Changes

In 2002, Milkovich was an unsuccessful candidate for Louisiana's 4th congressional district seat. He lost to the then incumbent, Republican [[Jim McCrery]], 114,649 (72 percent) to Milkovich's 42,340 (26 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=Election Returns|date=November 5, 2002|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=September 20, 2017}}</ref> In 2008, he again ran for Congress but lost the Democratic nomination to then Caddo Parish District Attorney Paul Carmouche. Milkovich finished third in the primary with 21 percent of the ballots cast<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=Election Returns|date=October 4, 2008|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=September 20, 2017}}</ref> and was hence eliminated from the runoff contest narrowly won not by Carmouche but by Republican [[John Fleming]], a physician from Minden. The seat is now held by Republican [[Mike Johnson|James Michael "Mike" Johnson]] of Benton in Bossier Parish.

In 2002, Milkovich was an unsuccessful candidate for Louisiana's 4th congressional district seat. He lost to the then incumbent, Republican [[Jim McCrery]], 114,649 (72 percent) to Milkovich's 42,340 (26 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=Election Returns|date=November 5, 2002|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=September 20, 2017}}</ref> In 2008, he again ran for Congress but lost the Democratic nomination to then Caddo Parish District Attorney Paul Carmouche. Milkovich finished third in the primary with 21 percent of the ballots cast<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=Election Returns|date=October 4, 2008|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=September 20, 2017}}</ref> and was hence eliminated from the runoff contest narrowly won not by Carmouche but by Republican [[John Fleming]], a physician from Minden. The seat is now held by Republican [[Mike Johnson|James Michael "Mike" Johnson]] of Benton in Bossier Parish.

In April 2018, Milkovich obtained state Senate approval, 28-3, of his proposal to ban elective abortions in Louisiana beyond fifteen weeks of gestation. The state has a ban now on abortion beyond twenty weeks. The measure now heads to the state House. A similar law in [[Mississippi]] has been placed on hold by a liberal federal judge. Milkovich called such abortions "torture". Amy Irvin of the New Orleans Abortion Fund called Milkovich's legislation a "cruel and dangerous bill" during testimony before the House  Judiciary C Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2018/04/24/sen-milkovich-abortions-beyond-15-weeks-torture/545266002/|title=Sen. Milkovich: Abortions beyond 15 weeks 'torture'|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=April 24, 2018|accessdate=April 26, 2018}}</ref>

In April 2018, Milkovich obtained state Senate approval, 28-3, of his proposal to ban elective abortions in Louisiana beyond fifteen weeks of gestation. The state has a ban now on abortion beyond twenty weeks. The measure now heads to the state House. A similar law in [[Mississippi]] has been placed on hold by a liberal federal judge. Milkovich called such abortions "torture". Amy Irvin of the New Orleans Abortion Fund called Milkovich's legislation a "cruel and dangerous bill" during testimony before the House  Judiciary C Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2018/04/24/sen-milkovich-abortions-beyond-15-weeks-torture/545266002/|title=Sen. Milkovich: Abortions beyond 15 weeks 'torture'|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=April 24, 2018|accessdate=April 26, 2018}}</ref> Milkovich called passage of his 15-week measure "a great day for America ... a great day for unborn babies.” Milkovich advocates the overturning of the [[United States Supreme Court]]'s ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' opinion in 1973 which on a 7-2 vote legalized abortion in all states. “We want to have statues in place so that when ''Roe v. Wade'' gets overturned, we are in a position to say ‘Look, we are putting abortion clinics out of business in Louisiana,’” Milkovich said.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwl.radio.com/articles/senator-john-milkovich-ecstatic-over-possible-repeal-roe-v-wade|title=Sen. John Milkovich is ecstatic over possible repeal of ''Roe v. Wade''|publisher=WWL Radio in [[New Orleans]]|date=July 16, 2018|accessdate=July 17, 2018}}</ref>

In June 2018, Milkovich was the only dissenting senator when the body approved, 38-1, a half-cent sales tax on the current temporary law and ending of certain business deductions. Milkovich said that he cast his "nay" vote to call attention to the need for spending cuts. "We introduced budget amendments … to cut more than $290 million of wasteful spending. I voted against the budget, and I voted against three and a half billion dollars in sales taxes over the next seven years," Milkovich explained.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/sen-john-milkovich-why-he-was-the-senates-only-no-vote-video/|title=Sen. John Milkovich: Why he was the Senate's only no vote [Video]"|publisher=KEEL Radio|accessdate=June 4, 2018}}</ref>

In June 2018, Milkovich was the only dissenting senator when the body approved, 38-1, a half-cent sales tax on the current temporary law and ending of certain business deductions. Milkovich said that he cast his "nay" vote to call attention to the need for spending cuts. "We introduced budget amendments … to cut more than $290 million of wasteful spending. I voted against the budget, and I voted against three and a half billion dollars in sales taxes over the next seven years," Milkovich explained.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/sen-john-milkovich-why-he-was-the-senates-only-no-vote-video/|title=Sen. John Milkovich: Why he was the Senate's only no vote [Video]"|publisher=KEEL Radio|accessdate=June 4, 2018}}</ref>