Tag: Erik Paulsen

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”

Paulsen caters to the most extreme Republicans

To the Editor:

Erik Paulsen tried to explain why he’s supporting a new immigration overhaul bill in a letter to the Eden Prairie News. But he only proved his loyalty to congressional Republicans.

Despite his references to the legislation as a “compromise,” Democrats haven’t been involved in the negotiations. The compromise is just between establishment Republicans and the far-right wing of the party. That’s the reason the bill hasn’t been able to pass. Continue reading “Paulsen caters to the most extreme Republicans”

Replace Paulsen with someone who listens and responds

To the Editor:

I was taught in my high school government class that political apathy is one of the biggest threats to democracy. Since then, I’ve paid close attention and care deeply about what happens in my community and this country.

Some of our current politicians care more about staying in office than the welfare of the citizens they represent. For example, Congressman Erik Paulsen. He was one of the individuals who authored the recent tax legislation. Continue reading “Replace Paulsen with someone who listens and responds”

An open letter to Paulsen

Dear Congressman Paulsen:

I so appreciate your recent Facebook post about the separation of children from parents at the border. Thank you for taking that stance.

I’m writing today, June 19, about that and about a few other things. The news just came out saying that the U.S. is pulling out of the UN Human Rights Council. I assume it’s because the president can’t handle criticism, and they said that the policy of separating children from their parents was a crime against humanity. However, when we take that step out of the Human Rights Council, we are putting another nail into the coffin of our global standing. Continue reading “An open letter to Paulsen”

Truth and Lies: Erik Paulsen Edition

NOTE:  The following email from the Dean Phillips Campaign was sent to Twin Cities media outlets June 29, 2018:

You may be noticing a dramatic shift in Congressman Erik Paulsen’s rhetoric lately, as he attempts to cast himself as a commonsense moderate despite all evidence to the contrary.

In the attached fundraising letter, in which he derides every journalist receiving this memo as a member of the “leftist mainstream media” – Mr. Paulsen also repeats several falsehoods that have become regular talking points of his and of his staff and surrogates as well.

By way of background, we thought it would be helpful for you to have the following information on his votes – which do not match his quotes – and the truth relative to his lies:

ON HEALTHCARE

QUOTE: Rep. Paulsen’s spokesperson said in a statement, “Rep. [Erik] Paulsen has long supported protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions, and he continues to do so.” (Star Tribune, June 23, 2018)​

VOTES: Erik Paulsen has voted ​over 50 times to undermine or outright repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would’ve eliminated protections for those with pre-existing conditions – including his 2017 ​vote in favor of the AHCA Politifact confirmed that bill ​would have ​weaken protections for those with pre-existing conditions​. And Rep. Paulsen has done nothing of substance to stop the Trump Administration from dismantling pre-existing conditions protections or raising healthcare premiums on millions of Americans.

MONEY: Erik Paulsen has taken $868,301 from insurance industry PACs over his career.

ON IMMIGRATION

QUOTE: “To Democrats in Congress: Don’t let an activist base that hates the president stand in the way of finally getting something done for the young DACA recipients you say you fight for. And to Republican leadership in the House: Have the courage to put this bill on the floor for a vote once and for all. It’s time for Congress to get this done.” (Eden Prairie News, June 25, 2018)

VOTES: Four days before this commentary was published, Erik Paulsen voted against an amendment that, “would grant permanent legal status and a path to citizenship to as many as two million so-called ‘dreamers’ who were brought illegally to the United States as children and face potential deportation under a Trump administration directive.” (Mankato Free Press, June 22, 2018). It’s not the first time; Paulsen has repeatedly voted to end protects for DACA recipients and to make Dreamers eligible for deportation.

MONEY: While he attacked Dean Phillips over mutual fund investments totaling $680, Erik Paulsen received $5,400 from Corey Lewandowski’s Great America PAC, which raises money directly from both CoreCivic and the GEO Group – the very same companies over which he attacked Dean.

ON GUN VIOLENCE

QUOTE: “Based on the tragedies that have happened recently, I recognize there are gaps that are in the system. Both sides need to be honest about that, and those gaps need to be addressed.” (Star Tribune, February 22, 2018)

VOTES: Erik Paulsen received an “A” rating and endorsement from the NRA in the most recent election for his support of their agenda, including his vote for the concealed carry reciprocity bill, a top priority for the gun lobby. Paulsen opposes closing gaps in the system by passing universal background checks on all gun purchases, despite overwhelming support from the public. He’s voted to allow those convicted of felony domestic assault and those with restraining orders for harassing or threatening behavior to own guns. And he’s voted 21 times to bloc legislation that would prevent someone on the terror watch list from owning a gun.

MONEY: Erik Paulsen has taken $21,500 from the NRA and refuses to rule out taking even more.

ON CLIMATE CHANGE

QUOTE: “I’m proud to team up with both Republicans and Democrats on ways to protect our country’s economy, security, water supply and environment​(Press Release, Rep. Carlos Curbelo, May 17, 2018)​

VOTES: Erik Paulsen has ​voted to bar the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. To keep the feds from enforcing limits on CO2 pollution. To ban greenhouse gases from Clean Air Act rules. To allow oil drilling on America’s Outer Continental Shelf …Over the course of his career, the congressman has voted with the League of Conservation Voters just 16 percent of the time. Last year, the Defenders of Wildlife also gave him just 16 percent. He received an absolute zero rating from Clean Water Action. And a zero from EarthRights International.” (City Pages, May 22, 2018)​

MONEY: Erik Paulsen has taken over $500,000 from energy and oil companies, including Koch Industries and Halliburton.

ON NET NEUTRALITY

QUOTE: “I think it would be better to put this into law and to say that you’re not allowed to block certainly and you’re not allowed to throttle people in certain lanes. That’s just my general philosophy.” (Lakeshore Weekly News, June 5, 2018)

VOTES: Erik Paulsen was not a co-sponsor of the bill to restore net neutrality rules earlier this year – and he blocked a legislative effort to preserve net neutrality rules the day before the FCC voted to repeal them.

MONEY: Erik Paulsen has taken at least $226,996 from the telecom industry over his career.

ON DEAN PHILLIPS

LIE: “Nancy Pelosi hand-picked my opponent.” (attached letter)

TRUTH: There is absolutely no basis for this claim. Dean Phillips decided to run in response to the 2016 election and Erik Paulsen’s vote for the AHCA in early 2017. He was not recruited to run, and has never spoken with Leader Pelosi.

LIE: Dean Phillips “has already pledged to flood his own vast inherited wealth into his race to supplement the $1.6 million he raised from his liberal friends so far.” (attached letter)

TRUTH: On April 14th of this year, Dean Phillips challenged Erik Paulsen to join him in signing The Minnesota Way pledge, which is an agreement to forego all PAC money and self-funding in this race. Dean Phillips is one of the only candidates in the country who doesn’t accept any special interest money or contributions from current members of Congress. All of the nearly $2 million raised in the race so far is from individuals, many of them prominent Republicans and business leaders from the 3rd District – including several who had previously supported Paulsen. Meanwhile, Erik Paulsen has taken more PAC money than all but a handful of people in Congress.

LIE: “You’d never know it from the leftist mainstream media, but the House of Representatives has been busy doing the work of the people.” (attached letter)

TRUTH: We searched and couldn’t find any evidence to back this claim up.

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Dean Phillips Invites Erik Paulsen to Join Him in Contributing to Organizations Helping Families Separated at the Border

EXCELSIOR, MN – Dean Phillips today released the following statement in response to false claims from Erik Paulsen’s campaign that Philips is directly invested in two companies, GEO Group and CoreCivic, who own and operate detention facilities along the border:

“Yesterday, Rep Erik Paulsen advised me and the general public that some of the mutual funds in which my investment advisor placed my savings had bought stock in companies whose practices are not aligned with my values.
Continue reading “Dean Phillips Invites Erik Paulsen to Join Him in Contributing to Organizations Helping Families Separated at the Border”