Tag: 3rd Congressional District

Paulsen’s Dishonest Campaign Barrels on with No Regard for Truth in Final MN03 Debate

When asked, Erik Paulsen has a misleading or flat out false answer for everything

Excelsior, MN — At the final debate between Erik Paulsen and Dean Phillips today, Congressman Paulsen doubled down on the lies and distortions that have come to be a hallmark of his campaign. Erik Paulsen deceived at every turn, wrapping up a negative campaign the likes of which is unprecedented in Minnesota political history.

“Congressman Paulsen’s dishonest tactics were on display again today,” said Zach Rodvold, campaign manager for Phillips for Congress. “Not only is Congressman Paulsen voting with Trump 98% of the time, he’s beginning to behave like him too, using personal insults and slander and telling lie after lie in his ads and in public appearances. That’s why more and more former Erik Paulsen supporters are joining the Dean Team every day.”

“I’ve simply had it,” said one of Paulsen’s former supporters, David Hawes from Minnetonka, who has voted for Paulsen four times. “Erik Paulsen is running the worst smear campaign Minnesota has ever seen – and this year I am switching my vote to Dean Phillips.”

Here are a few of Congressman Paulsen’s deviations from the truth from today’s KSTP debate: Continue reading “Paulsen’s Dishonest Campaign Barrels on with No Regard for Truth in Final MN03 Debate”

Medical costs transparency

Erik Paulsen has failed us in healthcare cost containment.

In his position on the Health Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee, he has been presented with numerous ideas to contain costs. He has chosen instead to promote Health Savings Accounts.

Since we have no choice but to pay whatever bill shows up, having an HSA does nothing to check rising healthcare costs. Minnesota did pass a law this year that will require primary care physicians to post the prices of their 25 most common procedures, so next year we will be able to compare the cost of wart removal and a sore throat exam. Where we need the cost comparisons is for a hip replacement, cancer treatment, and heart valve replacement surgery.

I checked and found that other states already require different levels of transparency. Even my home state of Nebraska has had hospitals posting their fees for years now. Minnesota is behind in this commonsense, competitive way to lower the costs of healthcare.

We are the home of big healthcare insurance companies, who have given politicians lots of money to promote ideas that don’t contain costs.

Dean Phillips has pledged not to take this kind of money. I am ready to give him the chance to go to Washington and change Congress, to be responsive to people again.

Working people run this economy. It is time we recognize our value and vote to take care of ourselves and our families.

Sally Johnson, Chanhassen
Chanhassen Villager, October 20, 2018

Truth Test: Paulsen Attack on Phillips Gets D-

A new television ad by Republican 3rd District Congressional candidate Erik Paulsen exaggerates and misleads in an attempt to tie Democratic opponent Dean Phillips to another candidate accused of domestic abuse.

“Sleazy Keith Ellison and Shady Dean Phillips both caught up in another sexual harassment scandal,” says the new ad, making it sound like the two are caught up in the same sexual harassment scandal.

“Ellison accused of physical abuse,” the ad continues. “Phillips charged with ignoring sexual harassment and discrimination at his companies.”

View the complete October 18 post on the KSTP website here.

Paulsen Gets Promoted:

ERIK PAULSEN IS NOW THE 4TH BIGGEST TAKER OF PAC MONEY IN CONGRESS

Paulsen’s special interest patrons are desperate, scrambling to buy election as Paulsen’s negative campaign backfires

Excelsior, MN – Erik Paulsen’s unprecedented negative campaign has drawn public rebuke from independent journalists, community leaders, sexual harassment and assault survivors, attorneys, and members of his own party in the past week alone. Meanwhile, special interest groups and super PACs are pouring money into Paulsen’s campaign coffers and spending even more on his behalf, doubling down on their deceitful campaign in a last-ditch effort to protect their investment. As a result, Congressman Erik Paulsen is now the fourth biggest taker of PAC money in all of Congress, up from sixth just a few weeks ago, and eighth in August.

“Erik Paulsen has sold his votes to the highest bidder,” said Zach Rodvold, campaign manager for Phillips for Congress. “Voters should ask: can the 4th biggest taker of special interest money in all of Congress really represent the people of Minnesota’s Third Congressional District? Congressman Paulsen’s record – voting 98% of the time with Donald Trump, and over and over again with special interests – proves the answer is ‘no.’ The staggering about of PAC money that bankrolls Erik Paulsen’s campaign speaks for itself. Erik Paulsen is bought and sold.”

MORE FROM PACS THAN FROM PEOPLE

Erik Paulsen has taken more than $2.6 million from PACs in this election cycle alone. That sum accounts for 51% of his total fundraising. Only 3% of Erik Paulsen’s campaign contributions came from individual small dollar donors. In the same period, Dean Phillips has taken $0 from PACs, instead raising over $4 million from 64,000 individual donors and counting. Continue reading “Paulsen Gets Promoted:”

Paulsen fails voters again and again

To the editor:< Once again, Rep. Paulsen has put party politics and special interest groups ahead of the voters. It happened with recent tax reform, where the Ways & Means committee Erik serves on crafted legislation that reduced our state income tax/property tax deduction to $10,000 per year and largely eliminated many of us from sharing in any of the highly touted tax cuts. More importantly, those tax cuts were little more than a thinly veiled effort to buy our votes, and will add $1.5 trillion to the nation’s deficit. It happened when Erik ignored the overwhelming majority of voters in our district who favor meaningful gun control in favor of garnering an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association. I think it’s safe to assume that rating includes generous financial support from the NRA as well. Now it’s happened again, where thanks to federal legislation, over 300,000 senior citizens in Minnesota will lose their existing Medicare health plan supplement at the end of the year. For 2019, our choices include (1) paying an additional $1,000 per year to retain coverage that is comparable to our current plan, or (2) joining a program where coverage is diluted with costly co-pays, and our choice of doctors/providers is limited. In either case, seniors’ health insurance is taking a big step backwards. Some readers may suspect that my criticism is partisan. Fact is, I worked for Rep. Paulsen’s political campaign years ago helping with street signs and literature. I’ve also served as a delegate at the Minnesota Republican convention. But the bottom line is our political system is broken, and we’re badly in need of newly elected officials. Rep. Paulsen has demonstrated his constituents are no longer his priority. He’s had ample opportunity to serve – now it’s time for a change. Roddy Geckler, Edina Edina Sun-Current, October 18, 2018

After Erik Paulsen charges CEOs with sex harassment cover up, the blowtorch comes out

Paulsen’s scorched-earth tactics make the Huns look like male cheerleaders. But when he set his guns on corporate leaders, they fired back Credit: WCCO screengrab

The ad opens with foreboding tones and black-and-white photos, telegraphing to the viewer that great fiendishness is at hand.

It goes on to explain his term as board chairman of Allina Heath, where, 11 years ago, seven nurses sued the nonprofit for “lewd comments, groping, and even assault.” (Message: Is Dean Phillips a pervert?)

But “Phillips and the board did nothing,” the ad concludes. (Message: Why isn’t “Shady Dean Phillips” on the sex offender registry yet?)

View the complete October 18 article by Kete Kotz on the CityPages website here.

Erik Paulsen Needs to Take His Own Advice

Paulsen’s campaign should show the civility, discourse, and restraint he called for last year

Erik Paulsen needs to start taking his own advice. Last year, the Third District Republican called for “civility, discourse, restraint, whether it’s in the political system or society as a whole.”  Yet over the course of his campaign against DFLer Dean Phillips, Congressman Paulsen has run a campaign devoid of civility, discourse, or restraint.

As a member of the bipartisan Congressional Civility Caucus, Erik Paulsen has joined other representatives from both parties who have said they are “taking action to restore civility and respect in our political discourse.” But Paulsen’s campaign tactics are anything but civil and are probably enough to warrant his ejection from that club. As recently as this week Paulsen has been condemned by constituents, business and community leaders for the incivility with which he continues to launch misleading attacks against his opponent Dean Phillips.  

A closer look at Paulsen’s behavior during the campaign shows a stark contradiction between his words and actions. Continue reading “Erik Paulsen Needs to Take His Own Advice”

Dean Phillips to Moderate Gun Violence Prevention Issue Forum

Public forum with national experts to be held on Monday, October 22 in Edina

Excelsior, MN — Dean Phillips will moderate a free and open-to-the-public panel discussion focused on gun violence prevention on Monday, October 22nd in Edina. The solutions-focused educational forum will feature national experts. Previous “Everyone’s Invited! Issue Forums” have drawn crowds of more than 200 people.

Event details:

“Everyone’s Invited! Issue Forum” – Gun Violence Prevention

Monday, October 22, 2018
Location: Normandale Elementary, 5701 Normandale Road, Edina, MN 55424
Doors Open: 6:00 PM
Event Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Special Guests:

  • Representative Ted Deutch, US Congressman representing Parkland, FL
  • Nancy Nord Bence, Executive Director of Protect Minnesota
  • Lt. Col. Kyleanne Hunter, USMC (ret.), Vice President of Programs at Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence
  • Katherine Phillips, Federal Affairs Manager at Giffords (no relation to Dean Phillips)

New Record for ‘Outside Spending’ on Minnesota House Races

With nearly three weeks to go before Election Day, outside special interest groups have already spent a record amount of money in Minnesota. This week, the outside spending surpassed $27 million, more than the record $26.9 million spent in the entire 2016 election cycle.

“Money is attracted to competitive races and we’re right in the middle of that,” said Steven Schier, a political scientist from Carleton College. “I think money is going to Minnesota because the polling on both sides that we don’t see publicly shows a lot of competition, particularly in the congressional races.”

KSTP ‘Vote 2018’ Election Coverage

A review of outside spending records at opensecrets.org shows a pronounced increase in spending on Minnesota’s U.S. House races. In 2008, just $5.7 million was spent in the state. That figure jumps to $21.9 million in 2014 and now to more than $27 million.

View the complete October 17 post on the KSTP.com website here.