Tag: CD3

Dean Phillips Announces $0 Raised From PACs and Special Interests

Phillips fundraising The Minnesota Way, with more than 8,000 individual contributors

Excelsior, MN – Today, Dean Phillips for Congress announced having raised more than $2.2 million this election cycle, far more than any previous Democratic candidate has ever raised in this district at this point in a race. All $2,253,204 was raised from individuals, as Dean is the only congressional candidate in the country that refuses to take money from PAC’s, special interests, federal lobbyists or members of Congress.

“Out of 435 members of Congress, Erik Paulsen has raised the 8th most money from special interests – including another $500,000 in the last three months alone. Simply put, his votes are being bought and sold,” said Dean Phillips. “I am proud that more than 8,000 individuals have invested in our campaign – and last week I began personally thanking many of them in person at their doors. One of them was Norbert – and it’s people like him that fill me with hope.” Continue reading “Dean Phillips Announces $0 Raised From PACs and Special Interests”

Erik Paulsen Votes Against Protections for Pre-Existing Conditions

Original Photo: Craig Lassig, MinnPost

Yesterday, Congressman Erik Paulsen voted along with all of his Republican colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee against a measure to protect individuals with pre-existing conditions from discrimination. In Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District, there are 310,200 people with pre-existing conditions. DCCC spokesperson Rachel Irwin released the following statement:

“Congressman Erik Paulsen has once again sided with party bosses and special interests in Washington over his constituents, voting to allow insurance companies to deny coverage to the hundreds of thousands of people in his district with asthma, diabetes, and other pre-existing conditions. Minnesotans will remember this betrayal in November as healthcare is top of mind for voters.”

This vote comes just a few weeks after Rep. Paulsen’s spokesperson, said in a statement to the Star Tribune that, “Rep. [Erik] Paulsen has long supported protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions, and he continues to do so.”

Here are the facts: Paulsen has taken more than $1.2 million from the insurance industry and voted dozens of times to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would’ve eliminated protections for those with pre-existing conditions. In 2017, he voted for the AHCA, which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and Politifact confirmed would gut protections for those with pre-existing conditions, including making health insurance unaffordable for older Americans and jack up premiums. Paulsen has also failed to stand up to Trump’s administration ongoing efforts to dismantle pre-existing conditions protections.

Dean Phillips on Erik Paulsen and Special Interest Money

“Erik Paulsen has taken more special interest money than nearly any other member of Congress, and that buys him nice TV ads. Unfortunately, this is just another misrepresentation of truth from Rep. Paulsen – who has consistently voted against environmental protections during his 30 year political career. To understand why, you just have to follow the money. I believe voters will see through this election year posturing and vote this November for someone who is not beholden to special interests or party leadership.”

FACTS:

League of Conservation Voters: Erik Paulsen has a 16% lifetime score.

Clean Water Action 2016 Scorecard: Erik Paulsen 0%.

Environment America: Erik Paulsen has a 15% score for 2017.

FiveThirtyEight: Erik Paulsen votes with President Trump 97.6% of the time.

Open Secrets: Erik Paulsen has taken the 8th most PAC money in the US House of Representatives.

Don’t blame this on the Democrats

To the Editor:

Congressman Erik Paulsen says that to get something done for DACA recipients, we can’t “let an activist base that hates the president stand in the way.”

Really? Does the Congressman need to be reminded that President Donald Trump is the one who ended DACA? Or that the Republican Party has been holding DREAMers hostage to achieve their policy goals?

If Erik Paulsen truly cared about giving DREAMers a path to citizenship, he would have insisted on a solution long ago, one independent of any other legislation. Instead he caters to the extremes of his party, only acting on DACA in conjunction with new, far-right border security policies.

Don’t blame this on the Democrats, Erik. It’s your party and your president that created this crisis

Sarah Eigenmann, Plymouth
Plymouth Sun-Sailor, July 10, 2018

Paulsen is a talented politician, but Phillips has more enthusiasm

To the Editor:

I have lived in the 3rd Congressional District for many years now and have seen Erik Paulsen serve as our congressperson for the last 10 years. There is no question that he is a talented politician, having won re-election five times now, against talented challengers. That said, I believe that this is the year that his winning streak ends. I don’t have any secret polling or information, but rather I draw on my recent experience at the Edina Independence Day Parade.

While Congressman Paulsen walked with a respectable group of 20 or so supporters, Dean Phillips led a raucous group of more than 200 people. I believe that kind of enthusiasm reflects the energy within the Dean Phillips campaign. It is fitting that this was at the Independence Day parade, since Dean Phillips has pledged to be an independent leader for all of the 3rd District. Not just Republicans or Democrats, but everyone. And that’s the kind of leadership that wins races!

Rick Bloomfield, Minnetonka
Minnetonka Sun-Sailor, July 10, 2018

Paulsen’s column raises questions

Regarding Erik Paulsen’s self-congratulatory column of June 25, Erik Paulsen has, among others, a problem with the truth,

In his “look at me” piece, he claims that the immigration bill that he big, bad Democratic “activist base” and recalcitrant Republicans — about time — won’t pass provides for “a permanent solution for young DACA recipients.” Continue reading “Paulsen’s column raises questions”

Dean Phillips believes in health care for all

To the editor:

President Donald Trump and our own Rep. Erik Paulsen have tried and failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act several times.  Failing that, they weaken and impair it through executive actions and bill amendments.  While the Affordable Care Act is an imperfect bill, it has still provided millions of Americans with access to healthcare.

The Republican Party is risking the heathcare of millions with pre-existing conditions, low income or limited options.  This goes beyond policy disputes — for many, it’s a matter of choosing between dinner and medicine.  Last year, 45,000 people in the U.S. died due to lack of healthcare. Continue reading “Dean Phillips believes in health care for all”

Rep. Erik Paulsen is all talk and no action

To the editor:

This past week Rep. Erik Paulsen has talked a big game with no action.  He “hoped” Trump would change his policy on family separation, but wasn’t brave enough to tell Trump directly.  He avoided trump’s visit by hiding in Washington D.C., claiming he was there to work on immigration policy.

Despite all of Paulsen’s “hard work” we have no immigration bill yet.  The dreamers still aren’t protected and to add to that, there are now over 1,000 immigrant children who have been separated from their families.  Many of these children are to young to identify their parents by name, making reunification extremely complicated. Continue reading “Rep. Erik Paulsen is all talk and no action”

Paulsen follows party lines, doesn’t stand up for what is right

To the Editor:

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”

These are the words that lie in stone at the base of the Statue of Liberty. And on our southern border, the tired, poor and huddled gather, looking for a better life. Instead, they’re ripped from their families, insulted and demeaned by the president and kept in hellish conditions. Continue reading “Paulsen follows party lines, doesn’t stand up for what is right”