Tag: 3rd Congressional District

Don’t talk him up, Star Tribune, and do mention all challengers

Once again, U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen has been showcased in a positive light by the Star Tribune and portrayed as a fiscal conservative who is concerned about the economy, and as a public servant working hard to do what’s best for Minnesota (“Paulsen flexes his muscle on economy,” front page, March 12). When is the sucking up going to stop? This constituent completely disagrees with the Star Tribune’s assessment and knows better. This is a man who self-describes himself as “The Math Guy,” yet voted to increase our country’s deficit and give tax cuts to the wealthiest individuals in our country. How’s that math adding up for our country?

Let’s be clear: Paulsen was only given the appointment to the U.S. Joint Economic Committee by House Speaker Paul Ryan because his job as congressman is in jeopardy! It has nothing to do with his experience or knowledge. Continue reading “Don’t talk him up, Star Tribune, and do mention all challengers”

Medicare Advantage isn’t all that advantageous

To the Editor:

The March 8 edition of the Sun Sailor Plymouth published three letters for or against Rep. Erik Paulsen. Two of those letters were about guns and the third, about Medicare, was apparently sent to you by the vice chair of Senate District 44 Republicans, Tracy Sterk, and is just more of Erik Paulsen’s pandering to seniors.

The writer does not appear to be of Medicare-age based on internet pictures. While this does not disqualify her from writing about it, I really wonder how much input she had into its content and how much was produced by some association of Medicare Advantage plans to thank Paulsen for a vote or for a letter he signed. Continue reading “Medicare Advantage isn’t all that advantageous”

Erik Paulsen’s ‘town calls’ fail to connect with constituents

To the Editor:

Congressman Erik Paulsen is fond of talking about how he connects to his constituents through a method called a “town call.” Paulsen has not had an in-person town hall meeting since 2011, so this is his preferred and main method of connecting with his constituents. I am not sure the “town call” method is connecting as robustly with his constituents as he thinks he is. His preferred method of contact looks a lot like hiding.

I called Paulsen’s Eden Prairie office to learn more about these “town calls,” since I have never received one. According to Paulsen’s staff, they make about one phone call a month to about 40,000 numbers. The calls are each targeted to a certain geography. Out of the 40,000 people called, there are between 2,000 and 8,000 people on the call. Usually, closer to 2,000. There is no advance announcement of when the calls are coming. When I asked why the calls are not announced ahead of time, the staff person told me: “There is no reason. We just don’t.” Continue reading “Erik Paulsen’s ‘town calls’ fail to connect with constituents”

The right to bear muskets (1791) and bear machine guns (2018)?

The following column by Jason Jenkins was posted on the Sun-Sailor website March 1, 2018:

The Second Amendment was passed in 1791, giving the right for ordinary citizens to bear arms. Congressman Erik Paulsen has accepted nearly $32,000 in contributions from the National Rifle Association according to a full page ad in the Feb. 21 New York Times. He favors the NRA’s contention that we can’t mess with the Second Amendment, particularly in a state that has thousand of hunters, myself included. I have nothing against guns and have several myself, but an AR-15?

I have guns including a stainless steel Martin hunting rifle, and, at home, I have a .38-caliber revolver, which seems more like a handheld cannon than a handgun. But even with this tiny legal arsenal, I have more firepower than any patriot had in 1791 when the Second Amendment was passed. Remember that was the era of the front-loaded musket, which had a barrel of 3.5 feet – not a concealed weapon. With practice, an accomplished marksman could load three rounds per minute. And, Hollywood movies notwithstanding, it was highly inaccurate. That is why soldiers would stand together and let loose a barrage of bullets hoping they would hit their target at a rate of three rounds per minute. Continue reading “The right to bear muskets (1791) and bear machine guns (2018)?”

Word do not translate into action

A recent letter to the editor in reference to U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen’s voting record reminded me of my own experience as a voter for Paulsen (“Paulsen works with both parties,” Feb. 22).

I too considered him a moderate and believed from his words that he had enough of the beliefs and principles I hold to deserve my vote. I was mistaken. Continue reading “Word do not translate into action”

Constituents shouldn’t be criticized for exercising civic duties

To the Editor:

In this era of fake news,” it’s disturbing that an elected representative would try to raise campaign money by lying about people who oppose him. A recent fundraising letter signed by Rep. Erik Paulsen claims that some or all of the people who have been protesting against his votes are “Soros-paid volunteers.” He hasn’t a shred of evidence to prove that claim is true, and he knows it. But that hasn’t stopped him from demonizing people who are taking time out of their days, away from their jobs and family, to express their opposition to Rep. Paulsen’s voting record, behavior toward his constituents, and subservience to his corporate and political benefactors. Continue reading “Constituents shouldn’t be criticized for exercising civic duties”

We need a representative who will champion gun safety

I had a few things I wanted to say about my very serious concerns about the current administration and my congressman, Erik Paulsen. Those had to do with Paulsen’s complicit approval of the president’s behavior in attacking and discrediting the media. The president has, in two short years undermined the belief of an estimated 30 percent of our voting public in the validity of our television media except for FOX.

By saying nothing, Paulsen has shown himself to be complicit about how damaging and destructive the “fake news” claims are to the future of our country. That belief will take decades to undo, if an attempt is even started. Continue reading “We need a representative who will champion gun safety”

Question Paulsen’s support of Trump

In a recent fundraising letter, Congressman Erik Paulsen went beyond his usual partisan talking points and sprinkling of half-truths and waded into the territory of unfounded conspiracy theory.

He warned against a “flood” of outside “paid liberal activists” and labeled opposition in his district as “all the paid volunteers George Soros’ money can buy”. This is the same language used by extreme-right conspiracy theory sites like Info Wars and Breitbart.

Of course, there’s no evidence to back up these claims, and it’s insulting to his constituents to dismiss their concerns this way. It’s deeply cynical and un-American to falsely claim that those engaged in the political process are only doing so because they’re being paid. Continue reading “Question Paulsen’s support of Trump”

Paulsen Constituent’s Interaction with Staff After Florida School Shooting

On Thursday, I called the D.C. office of U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen. I identified myself as a constituent, the mother of three children who attend public schools and a substitute teacher in those same schools. I said it’s time to stop with the “thoughts and prayers” and do something about guns.

The person on the other end tried to end the call, but I asked him to take more specific notes about policy measures I would expect the congressman to take, including ending the loopholes in gun-buying laws, retracting the concealed-carry reciprocity that he should not have voted for in the first place given Minnesota’s relatively strong laws and sending back contributions from the National Rifle Association so that he frees himself up to actually work on this problem.

I asked for my notes to be read back so that I’d be sure the message went through correctly. The staffer said, “You are in favor of stronger gun control.” I said: “Wait a minute, I gave you more detail than that.” He hung up on me.

Paulsen’s staffer hung up on me, a mom and teacher devastated by Wednesday’s news of a school shooting. And a constituent. He. Hung. Up.

Anne Holzman, Bloomington
Star Tribune, February 16, 2018

Minnesotans respond with horror, anger at Florida school massacre

The following article by Adam Uren was posted on the GoMN website February 15, 2018:

Seventeen people – most of them students – died in the mass shooting.

Credit: AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee

The tragic massacre at Parkland High School in Florida has been met with sorrow and pleas for change from Minnesotans.

The horrific aftermath of a mass shooting that has left at least 17 dead – most of them students – is once again leading to calls for those in power to take action on gun control.

It is now one of the top 10 deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history, CNN reports. Continue reading “Minnesotans respond with horror, anger at Florida school massacre”