Tag: Erik Paulsen

The Case Against Erik Paulsen

Dean Phillips

“First-time candidate and successful businessman Dean Phillips is running an inclusive campaign that starts with listening,” said DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján. “While Dean tours the district in his 1960’s milk truck, his opponent has lost his way in Washington and is selling out to the highest bidder. Dean is bringing a refreshing approach to fix a broken Republican-controlled Washington and bring people together to flip this seat in November.”

The primary results in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District set up a competitive race between successful businessman and entrepreneur Dean Phillips and vulnerable Rep. Erik Paulsen.

Given Paulsen’s track record of putting special interests ahead of his constituents, it’s no wonder enthusiasm and energy is on the side of Phillips, who is running an innovative campaign centered on coffee and conversation.

Phillips believes our politics are broken and that representation begins with listening. While he’s been crisscrossing the district in his 1960’s Government Repair Truck, Paulsen has been gallivanting around the country with his donors. Phillips is making campaign finance a top campaign issue. He’s one of a handful of candidates in the country who refuses PAC money of any kind, while Paulsen is the 6th highest recipient of PAC money in Congress.

The contrast between Phillips and Paulsen couldn’t be more clear. While Paulsen desperately tries to paddle away from his loyalty to President Trump, he’s been voting to advance his agenda 98 percent of the time in D.C. This will be a huge liability in this suburban, well-educated district that voted for Hillary Clinton and is looking for a different direction in Washington. Continue reading “The Case Against Erik Paulsen”

Dean Phillips on Rep. Collins and Corruption

EXCELSIOR, MN – Dean Phillips, candidate for Congress in Minnesota’s Third Congressional District, released the following statement on the indictment of Congressman Chris Collins and the ever-worsening culture of corruption in Washington:

“The indictment of Congressman Chris Collins for insider trading is yet another example of the greed that dominates Washington’s pay-to-play system. It is unfortunate – but not surprising – that Congressman Erik Paulsen, who accepted a $1,000 contribution from Congressman Collins earlier this year and has taken the 6th most special interest money in Congress, remains complicit in this culture of corruption.

“Time and time again, Congressman Paulsen has proven that his votes are bought and sold by special interests – when he refused to return contributions from the NRA after the shootings in Parkland, and again when he refused to return contributions from private prisons after the Trump administration’s family separation policy. Voters in Minnesota deserve more than empty quotes; the time for meaningful action is now.

“That’s why I am calling today for a ban on Members of Congress serving on for-profit boards, and also on the committees that govern the industries in which they work.”

 

Dean Phillips Invites Rep. Erik Paulsen to Public Voter Forum in Coon Rapids

Phillips reinforces his commitment to answering questions from the public at free events

EXCELSIOR, MN – Dean Phillips will participate in a public voter forum on Monday, August 13 in Coon Rapids. Phillips has repeatedly called for open and accessible public forums where voters would have the opportunity to hear from and as questions of both candidates in the neck and neck race for Congress in Minnesota’s third district.

Phillips invited Congressman Erik Paulsen to join him in answering questions from the public at Monday’s free event. Neither Paulsen nor his campaign manager have indicated their intention to participate.

Despite saying “we’ll have other debates,” Congressman Erik Paulsen has yet to commit to any other than the TwinWest Chamber debate, a $60 ticketed event. In addition to Monday’s public forum in Coon Rapids, Phillips has accepted invitations from several organizations, including local chapters of the League of Women Voters, a local church, and local Chambers of Commerce who wish to host additional free public debates between the two candidates.

“Candidates running for public office should participate in open forums at which they take questions from the public, and such forums should be free of charge and accommodate all those who wish to attend,” said Phillips. “My entire campaign is based on the notion that representation begins with listening, and I am eager to do just that. Erik Paulsen should listen to his constituents who are rightly demanding the opportunity to hear from the two of us and share their perspectives with us – without having to pay. We are all awaiting his response.”

In April of 2018, Phillips invited Congressman Paulsen to join him in signing The Minnesota Way pledge, a mutual pact which includes a promise to hold two public events per month – while also committing to no PAC funding or self-financing, and to limiting or eliminating spending by outside groups.

WHAT: Free Public Voter Forum
WHERE: Coon Rapids Civic Center
11155 Robinson Dr NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
WHEN: Monday, August 13, 2018
6:00 pm -8:00 pm

Paulsen is failing his constituents

To the editor:

This letter is a reply to Douglas Seaton’s recent letter, “Paulsen serves his constituents well.” While I can’t speak for Mr. Seaton’s personal experiences with the congressman, I will happily respond to his broader points.

Congressman Paulsen’s work on tax legislation hasn’t been good for Minnesota — far from it. He was an architect of the GOP tax bill, which capped the state and local tax deduction of $10,000. As a result, many 3rd District families who itemize their taxes have seen tax increases. And his relentless attacks on affordable healthcare have led to average premium increases in Minnesota of over $500 (bit.ly/2LutYwL).

And since when was Erik one to conduct an “independent review” of issues? In my time in this district, I’ve only seen two things change his mind, and neither one is facts. He either changes his mind because it’s election season (like his recent decision that he believes in climate change) or because he’s been given enough money (lobbying group FP1 Strategies once bragged to its clients about successfully influencing Erik).

Mr. Seaton says we ought to send letters to those we “really oppose.” Let me speak for myself when I say: I really oppose Erik Paulsen. And I won’t be quiet about it.

Miles Anderson, Minnetonka
Minnetonka Sun-Sailor, August 8, 2018

Not this time, Erik

To the Editor:

I’d be receptive to Sean Boylan’s recent letter to the editor (“Phillips’ investments demonstrate hypocrisy,” July 12) if it wasn’t so clearly from the mouth of Erik Paulsen’s campaign. For heaven’s sake, the letter cites “the news section of pauslenforcongress.com.”  After years of watching Erik’s campaigns, I know better than to trust him for accurate information.

Take his campaign ad that appeared last week promoting himself as an environmentalist. Somehow, in the midst of all his Boundary Water babble, he forgot to mention his 16 percent rating from the League of Conservation Voters or his dismal 0 percent rating from Clean Water Action.

Erik Paulsen thinks he can mislead and obfuscate his way to re-election. Not this time, Erik. The people are watching — and we don’t like what we see.

Daylon Prochaska, Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie Sun-Current, August 2, 2018

3 reasons not to vote for Paulsen

To the editor:

Rep. Erik Paulsen will not be getting my vote this autumn for three big reasons.

First, his recent town hall was only the first such event in seven years. That’s right: until the three town hall events he hosted in May, Paulsen hadn’t held a real town hall in seven long years – and my neighbors and I won’t forget that.

Second, while he positions himself as a moderate, he votes in line with President Donald Trump over 97 percent of the time, according to political data site FiveThirtyEight.com. But Trump and his radical policies don’t represent Minnesota; that’s why he lost our district by 10 points in 2016. And I don’t want anyone who votes like Trump representing me in Washington.

Finally, despite re-imagining himself as an environmentalist in his recent TV spot, in which he claimed to love the outdoors, Paulsen’s record on environmental issues has been abysmal. He holds a 16 percent score from the League of Conservation Voters, and when he was asked in 2008 if humans were contributing to climate change, he said he was “not smart enough to know if that’s true or not.”

If he wasn’t smart enough to know that humans are driving climate change, then he’s not smart enough to deserve my vote now.

Joseph Rapacki, Edina
Edina Sun-Current, August 2, 2018

Dean Phillips’ donations from individuals, not PACs

The Star Tribune reported the other day that the Paulsen-Phillips race is shaping up to be one of the most expensive in the state. As reported, this is largely thanks to the efforts of PACS (political action committees), who have poured millions into the race — over half of Erik Paulsen’s $3.7 million come from PACs. And no wonder they’re giving him so much money.

Congressman Paulsen has shown himself to be a reliable vote for his donors, as indicated by his support for bills that benefit Big Pharma, Big Oil, and the insurance industry.

Unlike with Erik Paulsen, the money funding Dean Phillips comes entirely from individuals. He’s refused every cent from PACs and special interests and takes six times the number of small money donations that Erik Paulsen does. Congressman Paulsen may call this a “gimmick,” but he’s received $2 million from PACs. Giving up that kind of fundraising isn’t a gimmick. It’s conviction — something Erik Paulsen could use a little more of in my opinion.

Heather Kurth Flesland, Maple Grove
Press & News, August 2, 2018

Paulsen mimics Mrs. Trump

To the editor:

Our congressman, Republican Erik Paulsen, had his own “Melania Moment” at the Edina Fourth of July parade.

Melania Trump made headlines a week earlier when she visited immigrant children, presumably to show them that someone cared.

But she wore a fashionable coat that said on the back, “I really don’t care; do U?” Continue reading “Paulsen mimics Mrs. Trump”

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”

WCCO’s Pat Kessler’s Reality Check of Erik Paulsen’s Boundary Waters Ad

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A television campaign ad featuring Minnesota 3rd District Congressman Erik Paulsen highlights his work to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

The ad also serves to put distance between the Republican Congressman and President Donald Trump.

The Congressman is featured enjoying the outdoors with his family in the ad.

View the complete article here.