Tag: Erik Paulsen

GOP’s Erik Paulsen spent big on last cycle, on track to do so again

The following article by Maya Rao was posted on the Star Tribune website April 30, 2017:

Democrats targeting seat with attack ads over ACA.

GLEN STUBBE • STAR TRIBUNE
In 2015 and 2016, U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen more than doubled his campaign spending.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen, who spent more on his own re-election last year than any other Minnesotan in Congress, is continuing to spend big this year as he prepares for what is likely to be another competitive race in 2018.

According to recent Federal Election Commission filings, Paulsen laid out $198,087 from his campaign account during the first three months of this year — more than any other federal representative from Minnesota except for Rep. Keith Ellison, whose $879,852 in spending so far in 2017 was mostly tied to his unsuccessful bid to lead the Democratic National Committee.

Now Minnesota’s senior elected Republican in Washington, Paulsen in the previous election cycle spent far more defending his congressional seat last year than any other Minnesotan in Congress: $5.8 million. Most of that was on media advertising — more than any of the 435 other members of the U.S. House, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington, D.C. Continue reading “GOP’s Erik Paulsen spent big on last cycle, on track to do so again”

Responding to “Sure is a lot of Paulsen Bashing” Letter to the Editor

The following letter to the editor was submitted to, but did not appear in, the Eden Prairie News on April 26, 2017:

Thank you for printing “Sure is a Lot of Paulsen Bashing” by R Wall in the April 271, 2017 Letters to the Editor. The writer adeptly illustrates several examples of America’s political engagement that can be improved: citizen participation in the electoral process and the quality of political discourse.

The writer is correct in questioning “where were all the concerned citizens” in previous elections. The Trump administration has rightly heightened citizen concern and has positioned Erik Paulsen, by association, under a policy microscope. My opinion of Paulsen had been he was a moderate just a bit right of center. After a thorough review of his voting record and campaign financing it is clear that he is not. His votes have all the appearances of being dictated by party leadership and allegiance to corporate donors and PACs. He has voted 100% for Trump’s agenda since inauguration, which is far from representative of our district. If more voters, regardless of party affiliation, had been observant of Paulsen’s allegiances in his first term, his tenure as a congressman would have been much shorter. Continue reading “Responding to “Sure is a lot of Paulsen Bashing” Letter to the Editor”

Paulsen lacks concern for privacy

Dear Eden Prairie News and to the person who kindly pointed out all the letters “bashing” U.S. Rep Erik Paulsen:

When Paulsen was elected, there was a Democrat in the White House, a Democratic majority in both U.S. House and Senate.

He was part of a vote for moderate and progressive values.. I think we all thought he was progressive.

Now that we have a Republican in the White House and a Republican majority, those of us who thought he was moderate are just so dismayed to see his voting record in this environment.  I really do worry about President Donald Trump’s finances and what he’s hiding, and Erik is on the committee that decides whether anyone sees them.  He personally has voted to help Trump maintain his privacy. Continue reading “Paulsen lacks concern for privacy”

Paulsen is not a moderate

To the Editor:

Reaons why Erik Paulsen does not reflect the values of the Minnesota Third Congressional District:

Vote Smart, formerly called Project Vote Smart, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States. See http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/3833/erik-paulsen. Continue reading “Paulsen is not a moderate”

GOP health plan is awful and Americans know it: Andy Slavitt

The following article by Andy Slavitt was posted on the USA Today website April 23, 2017:

Recess showed the public is engaged, knowledgeable and ready to hold lawmakers accountable.

Oscar Gronner

President Trump is in a big rush for House Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act by the time he reaches the 100-day mark on Saturday. This revives what for many Americans has been an agonizing process of watching their access to health care become a political football in the worst tradition of Washington dealmaking — secretive drafting, rushed votes, multiple closed-door sessions and minimal debate. Continue reading “GOP health plan is awful and Americans know it: Andy Slavitt”

Paulsen’s votes have little to do with his Earth Day persona

To commemorate Earth Day, my congressman, Rep. Erik Paulsen, posted appealing photo ops on social media and bland positive statements about national parks on his website.

However, his actual voting record bears no resemblance to the persona he creates online and in my district. Few are aware of his terrible record on the environment, as documented by the League of Conservation voters (16% lifetime environmental voting record).

Just this year he has already voted to repeal a regulation that protected thousands of miles of streams from coal mining debris, and to devalue federal lands to make them easier to sell off for sale, mining or development.

His constituents deserve a representative who presents himself honestly. Something doesn’t match — either Paulsen needs to stop dissembling or change his votes to match his public persona.

Jena Martin, Minnetonka
MinnPost, April 24, 2017

Killing the medical device tax hasn’t boosted jobs as Erik Paulsen claimed it would

The following article by Cory Zorwoski was posted on the CityPages website April 21, 2017:

The Minnesota Republican sometimes dresses as a surgeon while playing the role of a lawmaker who’s supposed to represent the people.

Zimmer Biomet, an Indiana-based manufacturer of artificial joint orthopedics and dental prostheses, has a BFF in Minnesota Congressman Rep. Erik Paulsen.

The tax took effect in January 2013. Its two-year respite started in December 2015.

Coming off his successful November reelection, Paulsen’s “first initiative” in 2017 was introducing legislation that would permanently repeal the tax. Continue reading “Killing the medical device tax hasn’t boosted jobs as Erik Paulsen claimed it would”

Erik Paulsen has 306,400 Reasons Why He Doesn’t Do Town Halls

The following article was posted on the MN Political Roundtable site April 19, 2017:

On March 29, 2017, the Paulsen For Congress Committee recorded two donations from COMCAST PAC … totaling $3,500.

A donation to political campaigns is not shocking … just read Ken Buck’s (R-CO-04) book Drain the Swamp: How Washington Corruption is Worse than You Think

Congressman Ken Buck is blowing the whistle on the real-life House of Cards in our nation’s capital. Continue reading “Erik Paulsen has 306,400 Reasons Why He Doesn’t Do Town Halls”

Families of disabled wait in vain in the rain for Erik Paulsen’s ear on healthcare

The following article by Susan Du was posted on the City Pages website April 19, 2017:


Residents followed their elusive congressman to a Bloomington Chamber of Commerce event in hopes of having a chance to speak with him. Paulsen ignored them.

While Congressman Erik Paulsen (R-Eden Prairie) headlined an exclusive forum hosted by the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday morning, some of his constituents stood outside, waiting for him in the thickening downpour.

Bearing signs asking, “Where’s Erik?” they say Paulsen’s office has ignored their phone calls and emails requesting a town hall to talk about healthcare.

In January, Paulsen voted to begin the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act before Congress had come up with a replacement for it. House Republicans’ proposed alternative eventually failed to get enough votes. Continue reading “Families of disabled wait in vain in the rain for Erik Paulsen’s ear on healthcare”

Was Erik Paulsen Duped By Medical Devicemakers Or Is He Promoting Alternative Facts ?

The following post on the Minnesota Political Roundtable website was posted April 17, 2017:

It wasn’t alternative facts when Congressman Tom Price R-GA-06 offered H.R. 4848 “Healthy Inpatient Procedures Act of 2016” or the “HIP Act” … it was greed.

Background :
Medicare had announced a new regulation – Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model. The CJR model’s goal was to give hospitals a financial incentive to work with physicians, home health agencies, skilled nursing facilities and other providers, promoting coordinated care. Continue reading “Was Erik Paulsen Duped By Medical Devicemakers Or Is He Promoting Alternative Facts ?”