Tag: Erik Paulsen

Here’s what you need to know about preexisting conditions in the GOP health plan

The following article by Glenn Kessler was posted on the Washington Post website May 4, 2017:

With House Republicans prepared to take a vote Thursdayon yet another version of a plan to overhaul the 2010 Affordable Care Act, attention has been especially focused on whether Obamacare’s popular prohibition against denying coverage based on preexisting medical conditionswill remain in place. Republicans, from President Trump to lawmakers pushing for the bill, insist that it remains intact, just in different form. Democrats and opponents of the bill say the guarantee is gone or greatly weakened.

Here’s a tweet by House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), referring to an amendment added to the bill to attract votes. Continue reading “Here’s what you need to know about preexisting conditions in the GOP health plan”

Erik Paulsen Voted To Hurt My Mom: Rep. Peggy Flanagan

The following article by William Bornhoff of the Patch Staff posted the following on the St. Louis Park Patch website May 4, 2017:

St. Louis Park’s state representative took to Twitter Thursday to criticize Congressman Erik Paulsen’s vote for American Health Care Act.

ST. LOUIS PARK, MN — Republicans in the House of Representatives, including Minnesota Third District’s Erik Paulsen, voted to pass the American Health Care Act Thursday by the slim margin of 217-213 with no Democratic votes. GOP leadership has partially recovered its wounded pride after its embarrassing first attempt to pass the bill ended in abject failure in March.

In response, St. Louis Park state Rep. Peggy Flanagan, who represents an area within Paulsen’s district, issued a series of critical tweets at the Republican: Continue reading “Erik Paulsen Voted To Hurt My Mom: Rep. Peggy Flanagan”

Rep. Erik Paulsen Votes For Health Care Act; Twitter Reacts

The following article by William Bornhoft of the Patch Staff was posted on the St. Louis Park Patch website May 4, 2017:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Erik Paulsen, who represents the west Twin Cities metro, released the following statement on the passage of the American Health Care Act: “With millions in Minnesota and the United States in need of relief from skyrocketing costs, diminishing choices, and limited access, the status quo under Obamacare is no longer acceptable,” said Paulsen.

“This is just the latest step in reforming our health care system to be more patient-centered, and my focus remains on finding solutions that will make sure Americans have access to high quality, affordable health care. I’m also pleased to see the permanent repeal of the medical device tax included in this effort, which is critical to encourage medical innovation and make life-saving technologies accessible to patients.” Continue reading “Rep. Erik Paulsen Votes For Health Care Act; Twitter Reacts”

#badvotes Paulsen Vote Tracker: H.R. 1180 Working Families Flexibility Act of 2017

SUMMARY:  Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to allow private-sector employees the option of selecting compensatory time off in lieu of cash for overtime wages. An employee will be able to choose, based upon a voluntary agreement with his or her employer, to have his or her overtime compensated with paid time off.

H.R. 1180 is an empty promise.  It is designed to look like it will help families but it will harm workers.  It gives employers more control over their employees’ time and money. If an employer asks an employee to take comp time instead of overtime – can they really refuse?  Probably not!

This bill gives employers the right to hold on to their employees overtime wages for months, while giving employees no guarantee that they will be able to take their “comp” time.  Under the Working Families Flexibility Act, if the worker’s request to use comp time is denied, there is no recourse. The worker would have to report to work, or risk being fired. Workers can request that the unused time be cashed out – but, even then, the employer would have up to 30 days to comply..  Also, there is no remedy available if an employer were to go bankrupt or shut down. The bill is now headed to the Senate for further consideration.

Paulsen voted:  YES

TAKEAWAY:  This bill should be renamed “Employer Flexibility Act.”  Of course Erik Paulsen voted for it.

Sources:  http://www.natlawreview.com/article/house-passes-working-families-flexibility-act; http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/331395-working-families-need-higher-wages-and-guaranteed-time-to

What a Trumpcare Nightmare: Just About Everyone With Health Care Is Going to Pay More, Get Less and Face Chaos

The following article by Steven Rosenfeld was posted on the AlterNet website May 4, 2017:

The good news is that the reception in the Senate is decidedly cold.

The final total on the vote on the Republicans health care bill was displayed at the Capitol in Washington on Thursday, May 4, 2017. Relieved Republicans muscled their health care bill through the House, taking their biggest step toward dismantling the Obama health care overhaul since Donald Trump took office. HOUSE TELEVISION VIA AP

The buzz hadn’t even worn off the Republican fratboys chugging beers to celebrate the House’s passage of its latest Obamacare repeal before the political hangover started surfacing.

While this motley crew was drinking Bud Light before trekking to the White House to bask in President Trump’s winner’s circle, the Washington Post’s editorial page—no bastion of liberalism—trashed the flock as lying hacks. House Republicans “betrayed” Americans by promising they would “maintain access to health insurance for people with preexisting medical conditions, and then on Thursday press[ed] a bill through the House that would eliminate those guarantees,” the Post said. Continue reading “What a Trumpcare Nightmare: Just About Everyone With Health Care Is Going to Pay More, Get Less and Face Chaos”

Math Guy Paulsen Votes FOR the AHCA

Second vote on a major bill affecting large numbers of people in the country he says he represents — without having any idea of the social or monetary impact of the bill

Yes, Mr. Invisible did it. He cast his vote in favor of damaging coverage for millions of people nation-wide — hundreds of thousands in his home district. All without knowing how deep the impact will be on these people.

Remember this, folks.  He isn’t a moderate.  He’s never been one, but has hidden in plain site as one for years. Don’t return this person to office in 2018.  He doesn’t care about you, he only cares about getting enough money to keep himself in office. It will be interesting to watch how his large donations come in moving forward. We think we know.  (He had no time to meet with his constituents in a public town hall, but did have time to meet with organizations that are made up of businesses and executives who’ve given him big bucks.)

We’ll have to watch what happens with coverage changes (it WILL trickle down to those with employer coverage from what we’ve read and will impact any child in special education with a massive funding cut).

 

Why were people not paying attention?

My letter is in response to Rick Wall’s letter questioning why people are now challenging Rep. Erik Paulsen. You asked by we were all “crawling out of the woodwork” and where we have been for the last eight years. I am ashamed to admit that I wasn’t paying attention. I thought our country was doing OK.

It wasn’t perfect, and I didn’t agree with everything, but I thought in general the democratic process was working and the people in public office were mostly concerned with the good of the country. And then Donald Trump was elected, and I woke up to find we are living in a political nightmare that could have a far-reaching, chilling effect on everything we hold dear. Continue reading “Why were people not paying attention?”

Trump is reason for Paulsen bashing

To the writer of “Sure is a lot of Paulsen bashing,” you had some questions about letters criticizing Erik Paulsen, and as the author of one of those letters, I wanted to answer. Why are there so many people speaking out since the election?

Perhaps it’s because that event elevated to office a man who the majority of voters didn’t cast their ballot for, who makes claims that are demonstrably false false, whose stated policies are harmful to women, minorities, the poor and the sick, and who, as his administration crosses the 100-day threshold, polls show is historically unpopular, according to Gallup. Continue reading “Trump is reason for Paulsen bashing”

Paulsen Doesn’t Seem to Respect His Constituents

To the Editor:

Rep. Erik Paulsen does not seem to respect his constituents. Take the American Health Care Act. Asked the Congressman’s position, staff in DC and Eden Prairie don’t know or haven’t spoken with him.

But wait, according to The Hill Senior Staff Writer Scott Wong’s tweet of May 1, Mr. Paulsen whipped this bill. It’s unlikely he whipped votes without supporting the bill.

Pretending to be undecided is disrespectful. Third District voters were falsely led to believe Paulsen might care about their opinion. Continue reading “Paulsen Doesn’t Seem to Respect His Constituents”