Tag: 3rd Congressional District

We want voter-centered representation

To the Editor:

Since my first vote in 1972, I’ve witnessed money increasingly erode our democracy. This year I’m relieved to see so much excitement for Dean Phillips. His decision to refuse PAC or special interest money recently made the New York Times. Phillips knows we must restrain the use of “big money” (set loose by the Citizens United decision) in order to bring back balance and accountability to our government.

The Minnesota Way Pledge proposed by Phillips included the People’s Pledge, which works to limit negative, personal attack ads. Incumbent Paulsen suggested this in 2016; in 2018 he’s no longer interested. By agreeing, he could have spared Minnesota much mudslinging by outside groups. Instead, Paulsen chose to keep his big money contributions.

Constituents are eager for a candidate who will be responsive to voters because that candidate chose to fund his campaign the Minnesota Way – no money from PACs, Federal lobbyists or Congress members. Many Third District folks support Dean Phillips with their small dollar contributions. They also proudly march with Phillips at local parades as well as phone bank, door knock and more. Continue reading “We want voter-centered representation”

MN03 Paulsen-Phillips TwinWest Debate

If you weren’t able to attend the above debate August 21, the UpTake.org has posted a replay on their website.  Here’s a link:  http://theuptake.org/2018/08/21/mn-cd3-debate-erik-paulsen-and-dean-phillips/

 

Projections Show Most Minnesota Congressional Races Up For Grabs

The following article was posted on the KSTP website August 20, 2018:

The FiveThirtyEight, which partners with ABC News, recently released their Election 2018 forecast for the US House, which shows a majority of Minnesota’s Congressional Districts are competitive.

“Minnesota certainly for its size, has a ridiculously disproportionate number of competitive seats,” said Nathaniel Rakich, FiveThirtyEight Election Analyst. “I don’t know of any other state that has half of its districts, fully half of its districts competitive.”

KSTP 2018 Election Coverage

The FiveThirtyEight offers users three different options for viewing the projections from a lite version with only polling data, or options with fundraising, and a more in-depth model that includes projections from other non-partisan election analysts.

View the complete article here.

Erik Paulsen Accepts Dean Phillips’s Invitation To Participate in Open-to-the-Public Voter Forums

Demand for public appearances by both candidates grows as Phillips appears at well-attended forums

Excelsior, MN – On August 10th, and again on on August 16th, Dean Phillips invited Congressman Erik Paulsen to join him at free, open to the public, voter forums in Coon Rapids and Eden Prairie. After 11 days of silence, Congressman Paulsen finally accepted the invitation to three forums, but with severe restrictions on participation, and did not offer dates on which he’d make himself available.

“Representation begins with listening,” said Dean Phillips. “Congressman Paulsen’s commitment to join me in answering questions from the public three times before Election Day is encouraging. It is important that these events are open and accessible to all who wish to attend – no tickets, just conversation.” Continue reading “Erik Paulsen Accepts Dean Phillips’s Invitation To Participate in Open-to-the-Public Voter Forums”

In First Debate, Erik Paulsen Can’t Do the Math

“For a so-called ‘math guy,’ Rep. Erik Paulsen clearly doesn’t get that his votes add up in Washington. We’re happy to do the math for him: Paulsen votes with President Trump 98 percent of the time, while being the 6th highest recipient of special interest money in Congress. Those numbers won’t help his chances in November. ” – DCCC spokesperson Rachel Irwin 

Here’s a fact check of Paulsen’s claims:

Paulsen Claim: “I’m in the top ten percent of those who don’t vote with my party.”

Reality: In his career, Paulsen has voted with the Republican Party 93% of the time, and in the 115th Congress, Paulsen has voted 96% of the time with Paul Ryan. He votes with President Trump 98 percent of the time in D.C. Continue reading “In First Debate, Erik Paulsen Can’t Do the Math”

Dean Phillips Announces First “Everyone’s Invited! Issue Forum” With Focus on Getting Special Interest Money Out of Politics

Free Educational Forum to be Held on Monday, August 27th in Edina

Excelsior, MN — A day after Dean Phillips again challenged Congressman Erik Paulsen to join him in signing The Minnesota Way Pledge in a live debate where Congressman Paulsen again refused to do so, Phillips announced plans to host and moderate a free and open-to-the-public issue forum focused on money in politics in Edina on Monday, August 27th.

The educational forum will feature national leaders on campaign finance reform, including Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United; U.S. Representative John Sarbanes; and former State Representative Ryan Winkler, who authored the Minnesota DISCLOSE Act.

Here are the event details: Continue reading “Dean Phillips Announces First “Everyone’s Invited! Issue Forum” With Focus on Getting Special Interest Money Out of Politics”

DFL Fact Check: Rep. Erik Paulsen misleads voters

During the Aug. 21 Twin West Chamber Debate between Congressman Erik Paulsen and Dean Phillips, Paulsen made questionable statements that will lead to fact checkers’ “pants-on-fire scores,” including:

Paulsen Claim: “Number six? I don’t know where you get that number from.”

Fact check: False. Paulsen is ranked number six <https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/top-recipients> from special interest raised from Super PACs.

Paulsen Claim: “The good news is you have young people graduating from college that don’t have as much of a challenge paying off student loans. There’s upward mobility.”

Fact check: False. “At nearly $1.4 trillion in loans outstanding, student debt is now the second-largest source of household debt and is the only form of consumer debt that continued to grow in the wake of the Great Recession.” -Brookings Institute<https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-looming-student-loan-default-crisis-is-worse-than-we-thought/> Continue reading “DFL Fact Check: Rep. Erik Paulsen misleads voters”

At Debate: Congressman Paulsen Misleads Voters

Dean Phillips Presses Congressman on Corruption in Congress

ST. LOUIS PARK, MN – Today in the first debate between candidates for Congress in Minnesota’s Third District, Congressman Erik Paulsen refused to be honest with voters when directly confronted about how much money he takes from special interests –despite clear evidence reported by several outlets including The New York Times.

“We have a Congress that is bought and sold by special interests and Congressman Paulsen ranks 6 out of 435 when it comes to those who take money from PACs, special interests, federal lobbyists and other Members of Congress,” said Dean Phillips. “I take none.” Continue reading “At Debate: Congressman Paulsen Misleads Voters”