To the Editor:
My congressman, Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-Eden Prairie) has convinced me. He is a fake.
Mr. Paulsen didn’t earn my vote last November. But the Star Tribune had endorsed him as a reasonable, moderate Republican, so his re-election didn’t worry me then.
Now, I’m paying attention. Rep. Paulsen before Nov 9 was opposed to candidate Trump. After the election Paulsen proved too weak to stand up for Minnesotans against either President Trump or the Republican leadership. The fivethirtyeight.com website finds Mr. Paulsen’s votes are 100% supportive of President Trump. That makes him a fake moderate.
In addition, I notice Erik Paulsen has for years refused to face constituents at a public town hall meeting. If lucky, I might get an unannounced invitation to his “town call” phone chat. I left my number with his Eden Prairie office to increase my chances in that lottery. When asked about a transcript? ‘We don’t do that.’ Seems like Mr. Paulsen doesn’t have the nerve to take unscreened questions or share his answers with the majority of his constituents (i.e., those not on the call). To anyone who will listen he claims accessibility and numerous town halls without providing any data. That’s some serious puffery.
When AHCA (Trumpcare) returned to House consideration, right up to the morning of the vote, Paulsen was “undecided.” According to Scott Wong, senior staff writer at The Hill, Mr. Paulsen was whipping the bill [1]. Whipping a bill involves drumming up favorable votes. The same day he voted in favor of AHCA, which allows states to opt out of protecting those of us with pre-existing conditions, Mr. Paulsen sent me an email saying “…any reform efforts should maintain important provisions that expand access to health care. These include protecting patients with pre-existing conditions…” Mr. Paulsen says good things, but lacks the political courage to match his actions to his words. He does not truly represent me; he’s my fake Representative.
C R McIverm Plymouth
submitted to the Minneapolis Star Tribune May 10, 2017