Tag: 3rd Congressional District CD3

Bipartisan group strikes deal on coronavirus relief package

Liability, state and local aid to be split off, giving leadership some options

The group of Senate and House lawmakers negotiating a $908 billion COVID-19 relief package has reached agreement on business liability waivers and state and local government aid provisions, but those will be broken into a separate bill, according to a source familiar with the plan.

The larger $748 billion piece, which includes unemployment insurance, small-business relief, money for education, vaccine distribution and more, plus the separate bill with $160 billion for state and local governments and the liability protections, will be introduced Monday.

The bifurcated approach gives congressional leaders options as they try to assemble a massive year-end legislative package including a $1.4 trillion collection of a dozen fiscal 2021 appropriations bills. Other items still in play include legislation aimed at cracking down on surprise medical bills modeled on a bipartisan agreement reached Friday, and renewal of expiring tax breaks and health care programs. Continue reading.

Representatives Announce Introduction of H.R. 4705, the Safe at Home Act

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Representatives Introduce Key Legislation to Protect Victims of Stalking and Sexual Violence

WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released a statement today after she and Rep. Dean Phillips (DFL-Minn.), alongside Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon,announced bipartisan legislation to protect victims of stalking and domestic violence. H.R. 4705, the Safe at Home Act, will allow federal agencies to accept alternate addresses authorized by state law to protect the identity of those who fear for their safety. Minnesota and Missouri are two of 38 states with an existing ACP.

“I’m proud to introduce the Safe At Home Act with the support of Minnesota Secretary of State Simon and colleagues from both sides of the aisle,” Rep. Betty McCollum said. “October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we must take this time to do all we can to protect victims of stalking and domestic violence. This legislation is a common sense step that the federal government can take to help ensure the privacy of those who fear for their safety. I encourage my colleagues to support this important legislation.” Continue reading “Representatives Announce Introduction of H.R. 4705, the Safe at Home Act”

Paulsen’s joining of climate caucus rings hollow

To the editor:

The writer who stated that Rep. Paulsen’s joining the Climate Solutions Caucus brings him credit fails to note that, even if sincere, such an act is too little and too late. His record on the environment is abysmal and making a show of interest in climate issues is but a play for votes. A look at just three of his votes helps one understand how the League of Conservation Voters can assign him a lifetime score of 16 percent on its Environmental Scorecard.

On Dec. 1, 2015, Paulsen voted with the majority to disapprove or invalidate the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units. This was an attempt to prevent the EPA from taking stronger action to reduce greenhouse gases.

On July 18, 2017, Paulsen voted with the majority to pass the Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2017 which basically pushed back the implementation of parts of the Clean Air Act by five or more years and doubled the interval between certain assessments of air quality from five to ten years. These changes can only have damaging effects on the quality of air we breathe. Continue reading “Paulsen’s joining of climate caucus rings hollow”

Erik Paulsen’s campaign funded almost entirely by corporations and the wealthy

The following article by Peter Kotz was posted on the CityPages website April 12, 2018:

Pundits nationwide are citing Congressman Erik Paulsen’s race for re-election in Minneapolis’ western suburbs as among the tightest in the nation. But if he wins a sixth term this fall, it will be almost entirely due to large corporate patrons.

The question is whether the congressman can buy his way to another victory after turning his office into a corporate lobbying firm. Credit: Fibonacci Blue

Thus far, Paulsen (R-Eden Prairie) has raised an impressive $1.9 million. Yet only a meager 2 percent of that comes from the little people, those donating less than $200. By comparison, his neighbor to the east, Minneapolis Congressman Keith Ellison, has accumulated 54 percent of his war chest through these small donations.

It should come as no surprise that Paulsen is shorn of support from anyone below the highest castes. It’s been six long years since he openly met with them in public, offering the chance to ask questions uncensored. They’re not exactly on a first-name basis. Continue reading “Erik Paulsen’s campaign funded almost entirely by corporations and the wealthy”