Dean Phillips 5 , CD3 DFL

Rep. Dean Phillips (CD3): Working with You and for You

Hi Neighbors,

It has been a transformative spring in Minnesota, and my heart is with all the families, students, faculty, and staff in our community who endured moments of horror this week when a student fired multiple shots inside Plymouth Middle School. It’s a miracle that no one was hurt and a clarion call to responsible gun owners to always use locking devices and keep firearms in a safe or lock box.

Like many of you, I watched in uneasy anticipation as we received a verdict in the Derek Chauvin case, a verdict that I sincerely hope will be turning point in our history. George Floyd should be alive, but I hope that this conviction is a step towards accountability for George Floyd’s family. America’s work, our work, to ensure justice, safety and opportunity for all will continue with more intention, more fortitude, and more purpose. We must work together to reduce violence in our society and create a safer society for all of our neighbors, and I look forward to doing that with you. Onwards.

Through it all, I’m working for you in Washington and in Minnesota. Read on to learn more:

Phillips Earns “Spirit of the Alley” Award for Commitment to Entrepreneurship and Innovation in HealthE Care

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) thanked the Medical Alley community for presenting him with the Spirit of the Alley Award, in honor of Phillips’s work to support small businesses in Minnesota and foster innovation in health care.

In 2019, Phillips helped achieve a permanent repeal of the medical device tax, which had previously stifled productivity, hampered job growth, and disproportionately harmed Minnesota, the birthplace and epicenter of the medical device industry. Furthermore, since the beginning of the catastrophic COVID-19 pandemic, Rep. Phillips has introduced two bills – the IGNITE American Innovation Act and New Business Preservation Act – that would protect American start-ups and encourage investment in a time of economic turmoil.

“It’s a great honor to represent Minnesota’s Third District and all of the ground-breaking – and often lifesaving – innovations that happen right here in the Medical Alley,” said Rep. Phillips. “I’m humbled and grateful for this recognition, and I’m proud to champion our state’s unparalleled community of health care entrepreneurs. In the months and years to come, I will continue to elevate ideas that decrease costs and improve health outcomes for Minnesotans, and I invite those of all political persuasions to join me in that endeavor.”

Phillips Introduces Bipartisan Ethics Reform Bill to Prohibit Lobbying by Elected Officials

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Reps. Dean Phillips (D-MN) and Van Taylor (R-TX) introduced H.R. 2902, the Elected Official Lobbying Prohibition Act. This bipartisan legislation would close a long-standing loophole that allows elected officials to lobby on behalf of private clients.

Under current law, state and local officials can leverage their political influence to advance the goals of private sector patrons and special interests. H.R. 2902 would end that corrupt practice once and for all. However, the bill does not prohibit state and local officials from advocating at the federal level on behalf of their constituents. The complete text of H.R. 2902 can be found here.

“This isn’t controversial – elected officials should serve the people, not their pocketbook,” said Rep. Phillips. “Current law allows our leaders to lobby Washington on behalf of special interests, never mind the needs of their constituents. That is a blatant betrayal of the public trust, and it must be prohibited immediately. This bipartisan legislation is a victory for the American people and a much-needed step toward restoring their faith in our government.”

Phillips Opens Voting for Congressional Art Competition “People’s Choice Aaward” – Now Featuring Ranked Choice Ballots

MINNETONKA, MINNESOTA – Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) invited Minnesotans to begin voting for the 2021 Congressional Art Competition “People’s Choice Award.” Forty-seven talented students from nine high schools across Minnesota’s Third District submitted incredible works of art for the national competition. For the first time in MN-03 history, the People’s Choice Award will be decided using Ranked Choice Voting, a system of voting that is proven to build consensus and discourage division. In addition to the Congressional Art Competition, Rep. Phillips supports the use of Ranked Choice Voting to decide comparatively lower-stakes elections, such as U.S. congressional races.

“Throughout the most challenging year in generations, our young people have shown remarkable resilience and spirit” said Rep. Phillips. “That is abundantly clear in all of this year’s submissions, which are among the most moving and impressive works my office has seen in the three years we’ve hosted the Congressional Art Competition. Congratulations to all of the extraordinary students who submitted works of art, our judges and voters have a challenging task ahead!”

Minnesota GOP challenges Democrats over Rep. Maxine Waters’ words

Democrats counter that GOP was silent on Jan. 6 insurrection at Capitol.

WASHINGTON – Comments last weekend by Democratic U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters at a Twin Cities protest are deeply dividing Minnesota’s political delegation in Washington as Republicans unsuccessfully sought to censure the California lawmaker.

As the nation waited for the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial Tuesday, House Democrats, including four from Minnesota, blocked the GOP’s resolution censuring Waters for urging protesters “to get more confrontational” if the jury acquitted the former police officer.

Minnesota’s four GOP House members pushed for Waters to be censured, saying in a letter that “these comments … are unacceptable, divisive and can only be viewed as a means to incite further violence and destruction.” Continue reading.

Rep. Dean Phillips (CD3): Remembering Fritz

Neighbors,

America and Minnesota lost one of our finest statesmen from the greatest generation, and I lost an extraordinary mentor.

Fritz Mondale was a man of principle, empathy, decency, and strength. His legacy is a powerful beacon to all of us during these difficult days.

Rep. Dean Phillips (CD3): Small Business Relief Information for You

Hi Neighbors,

As a small business owner, I know that the challenges facing our nation’s job-creators have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re an entrepreneur or small business owner (or know one!), new relief options may be available to help you weather this storm. Read on to learn more, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if we can be of assistance during this extraordinarily difficult time:

ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTOR LOAN (EIDL) UPDATE

The Small Business Administration (SBA) began the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program at the start of the pandemic. The SBA announced they have increased the maximum amount small businesses and non-profit organizations can borrow through the program. The SBA has raised the loan limit from 6-months of economic injury with a maximum loan amount of $150,000 to up to 24-months of economic injury with a maximum loan amount of $500,000.

Rep. Phillips on the Derek Chauvin Verdict

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Dean Phillips issued the following statement:

“Justice was served for George Floyd today, but America’s work, our work, to ensure justice, safety and opportunity FOR ALL will continue with even more intention, more fortitude, and more purpose. Onwards in unity.”

Rep. Dean Phillips (CD3): Difficult Truths

Hi Neighbors,

This week our community experienced more heartbreak, said more prayers, and saw more carnage. As we continue to grapple with the killing of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center and await a verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, I believe I speak for most Americans when I say injustice must be protested, journalists, and the First Amendment must be protected, and encouraging violent confrontation must be rejected.

Let me be clear – Racial injustice is real. Protesting injustice is lawful and warranted. Criminal looting and burning destroys our communities and small businesses is wrong. We can believe all of these things at once, and I’m on a mission help our community confront difficult truths and do better together. Will you join me?

Phillips Decries Moocher States, Calls for More Investment in Minnesota

Minnesota is one of just eight states to contribute more each year to Washington than it receives in federal aid.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) engaged in a whole-of-government strategy to call out systemic underinvestment and tax fairness in Minnesota, from advocacy at the White House to the House Transportation & Infrastructure. On balance, Minnesotans currently pays out more than $1.8 billion each year to federal coffers without seeing that money invested locally. Meanwhile states like Kentucky receive $63 billion morefrom D.C. than they share in federal taxes.

In light of this imbalance, Phillips announced his co-sponsorship of the Payer State Transparency Act, a bipartisan bill that would require yearly reports on the disparities in federal spending and taxation across American states. These disparities—which often manifest as higher taxes, higher government debt, and underdevelopment—have only grown more pronounced since the cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction was implemented in 2017.

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