Tag: 3rd CD

After 2,459 Days, Rep. Paulsen to Finally Hold Small Town Halls

We’ve just become aware of three town halls Rep. Paulsen will be holding on May 30, 2018. The locations will be small, tickets must be requested in advance and a photo ID must be presented before a ticket holder will be allowed into the town hall.

  • May 30, 9:45 AM — Hamel, MN.  No location specifics provided. Request a ticket here.
  • May 30, 1:45 PM — Chanhassen, MN.  No location specifics provided. Request a ticket here.
  • May 30, 6:45 PM — Brooklyn Park, MN. No location specifics provided. Request a ticket here.

This sounds similar to the type of limited town hall Rep. Lewis has recently held. And, they will be Wednesday of Memorial Day weekend when many people are either still out of town on vacation or catching up at work and unable to take time away. So, not a true town hall, but some constituents will still have a chance to gain access to their representative in Congress.

Where’s Erik Paulsen?

Our Representative in Congress held a public town hall September 6, 2011. Since then, there’ve been last minute meetings announced on social media shortly before they happen, tele-town halls where questions can be vetted before being forwarded, appearances at local businesses and school, robocalls that come to you saying he’s sorry you weren’t there to take his invitation to the tele-townhalls — but no traditional town hall until May of 2018.  Then reservations were required and interaction was limited.

Rep. Erik Paulsen held no public town halls for 2,459 days.

Tevlin: Health care debate is ‘legacy’ of the times

NOTE:  Minnesota Third CD DFL was not involved in the organization of this meeting.

The following article by Jon Tevlin was posted on the StarTribune website June 6, 2017:

Across the country, angry crowds have gathered at public forums on health care changes, booing and heckling members of the U.S. House of Representatives who voted for President Donald Trump’s American Health Care Act (AHCA). On Monday, more than 200 people in Eden Prairie, in Minnesota’s Third District, flipped the script, giving standing ovations to a congressman.

That congressman, however, doesn’t represent that district, and most of the people in the crowd can’t vote for him. Continue reading “Tevlin: Health care debate is ‘legacy’ of the times”

Democracy isn’t just about elections

To the Editor:

I cannot understand why everyone is not requesting that Congressman Erik Paulsen hold a live, interactive town hall meeting. The people have a right to ask why Paulson is supporting this travesty of a health care act. And he has a right to explain his vote and defend his action. Let’s talk and discuss as fellow Americans.

We are supposed to have government of the people, by the people, for the people. Congressman Paulson is supposed to represent we the people.

Surely, some order could be maintained by nonpartisan coordinators or monitors or even law enforcement. Democracy should be a dynamic process, not a one-time thing each election day. There are serious matters before us and this is only one of them.

Meanwhile, I urge everyone to consider signing the ongoing petition effort at www.change.org (click on Health Care under Topics on the lower right) calling for action to strip members of Congress of their health care. Their vote should impact them as much as it impacts each of us.

Steve Chicoine, Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie News, May 27, 2017

Paulsen’s AHCA vote a disaster for constituents

Erik Paulsen’s recent ACHA [sic] vote is another example of tax cuts for the wealthiest. Despite the flood of calls, letters and demonstrations from his constituents against it, he chose to ignore them. The ACHA [sic] is a “success” for the top 1 percent among us, and is an absolute disaster for the well-being of the people of the Congressional District 3 he serves, and the rest of the country.

Paulsen’s party before country agenda has been to repeal and replace the ACA Period. Not improving it. Not getting more Minnesotans and Americans insured. Not making health insurance more affordable and certainy not saving and cherishing human life. With the CBO showing that 23 million Americans will be adversely affected by this, there is no doubt. Paulsen’s vote in favor of the ACHA [sic] is a disgrace and a blemis on Minnesota He has betrayed us.

Michelle Beddor, Chanhassen
Lakeshore Weekly, June 1, 2017

What kind of conscience does Paulsen have?

To the Editor:

We would like to connect the dots between Rep. Erik Paulsen, our representative, and his callous vote for the AHCA . Erik has been flying under the radar as a moderate Minnesotan, a nice guy, a math guy. Erik cast his vote before the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office had a chance to score it for its impact on people and on the budget. As of last Wednesday we know the CBO projects that by 2026, 56 million people are expected to uninsured. Reduced spending on health care will affect the middle class, the poor, the sick, the elderly and the disabled. Should a form of the Republican House bill pass, every millionaire could receive large tax cuts paid for by the cut in care to 32 million people. Whether or not a form of this bill is ever passed, Erik’s constituents should ask what kind of conscience must he have in order to put so many in dire conditions while the wealthy benefit once again?

We think Congressional District 3 can and should do better than Erik Paulsen!

Art and Jane Price, Coon Rapids
Anoka County Union Herald, June 1, 2017

‘Town hall’ meetings mostly draw angry people. Should members of Congress hold them anyway?

The following article by Sam Brodey I was posted on the MinnPost website June 1, 2016:

MinnPost photo by Ibrahim Hirsi
3rd District activists held a town hall style event “with our without” Rep. Erik Paulsen. (It turned out to be “without.”)

What’s more American than the town hall meeting? Open debate, confrontation of those in power, yelling — town hall meetings, where communities gather for discussion and debate of the day’s issues, have it all, and they’ve persisted as a civic practice throughout U.S. history.

There’s a specific kind of town hall that gets the most attention these days, however: one in a school auditorium or coffee shop or library, where a member of Congress stands before his or her constituents and answers their questions about what’s going on in Washington. Continue reading “‘Town hall’ meetings mostly draw angry people. Should members of Congress hold them anyway?”

Paulsen failed to follow through on his statement

To the editor:

On May 10, Rep. Erik Paulsen published a statement on his Congressional website, “Paulsen Statement on the Firing of FBI Director Comey,” which called for an independent investigation into the firing of Comey, Russian interference with our election, and integrity of our institutions.

A mere seven days later, on May 17, Paulsen was given an opportunity to sign a petition to bring House Bill 356 ( tr.im/hr356) to the floor for a vote. Continue reading “Paulsen failed to follow through on his statement”

Local residents meet with Rep. Erik Paulsen on gun violence

To the Editor:

On Tuesday, May 16, I had the opportunity to meet with my congressman, Erik Paulsen.

Five Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense members met with him to discuss legislation to reduce gun violence, specifically, universal background checks. We each shared stories of the impact of gun violence on our suburban lives. Continue reading “Local residents meet with Rep. Erik Paulsen on gun violence”