Tag: MN03

DFL Chair Calls on Erik Paulsen to Apologize After His Super PAC Calls Constituents ‘Animals’

Paulsen has refused to sign DFL Candidate Dean Phillip’s pledge to keep SuperPACs out of Minnesota’s Third Congressional District

Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party Chairman Ken Martin today called on Republican Representative Erik Paulsen to apologize after his Super PAC called concerned constituents in Minnesota’s Third Congressional District “animals.” In an email ahead of his restricted town halls, Paulsen’s Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF) said concerned citizens will “show up in droves, like the animals they are.”

“This hateful comment embodies exactly why Minnesotans in the Third Congressional District are demanding new leadership. Using the guise of your big-money Super PAC to refer to your own constituents as ‘animals’ is cowardly and abhorrent. It’s time for Erik Paulsen to follow Dean Phillips’s lead, reject PAC influence, and bring civility back to Minnesota’s Third Congressional District.”

DFL Candidate Dean Phillips has challenged Paulsen to sign The Minnesota Way Pledge to reject special interests and PAC influence, value conversations with voters, and commit to running an open, accessible campaign. Paulsen refused at yesterday’s event after 40 days of silence. If Paulsen signs the pledge and return the PAC money he got this cycle, Dean Phillips has agreed not to self-fund his own campaign.

Erik Paulsen Refuses to Sign on to the Minnesota Way Pledge that Includes Proposals He Previously Supported

Hamel, MN – At a hastily noticed town hall meeting that was held at 10:00 AM on a work day and restricted to randomly-selected ticket-holders, Erik Paulsen was challenged by several of his constituents on issues related to campaign finance reform, and asked why he has so far refused to sign The Minnesota Way pledge that includes proposals he himself has supported as recently as 2016.

Paulsen’s response was that he “doesn’t have the latitude of inheriting millions of dollars and spending it on his own campaign” – an apparent reference to Dean Phillips, who has to date contributed $5,400 to his campaign, the maximum allowed by an individual, and in-kinded a total of $19,596.52.

What’s more, Phillips has already stated publicly that if Congressman Paulsen signs The Minnesota Way pledge, he will agree to forego any self-financing of his own campaign.

Continue reading “Erik Paulsen Refuses to Sign on to the Minnesota Way Pledge that Includes Proposals He Previously Supported”

Seven Questions for Seven Years for Congressman Paulsen

Voters in Minnesota’s Third Congressional District get to ask questions for one day after waiting seven years

Excelsior, MN – Congressman Erik Paulsen is hosting one day of town halls for the first time in seven years. After avoiding a public dialogue with his constituents for so long, he announced three meetings taking place in small venues – two during the day during working hours – and voters are only allowed in with a pre-approved ticket and a photo ID.

In contrast, Dean Phillips has made accessibility a hallmark of his campaign, inviting everybody in the district to join him at town hall meetings, open office hours (including on Lake Minnetonka) and community events. Based on countless conversations with voters, it is clear the following questions are on their minds: Continue reading “Seven Questions for Seven Years for Congressman Paulsen”

Paulsen lacks the thick skin of other Republicans

To the editor:

Reader Rofidal (May 17) describes his experience with Erik Paulsen. He receives regular phone calls and mentions office hours. No doubt he has access. He lives here, votes for Paulsen and may contribute time or money. Supporters can always access their candidates. He says this is open to others and says “left-wing protesters” shouldn’t be demanding town hall meetings.

He really cannot speak for those who aren’t known supporters. I have tried and failed. I get form letters that respond to none of the questions in my letters. I have had one robo-call for his invitation-only call-in sessions. Does anyone like them? The script didn’t get to the point. Had I got a non-interruptive email with details I would have read and checked my calendar. However, reading how it is done (questions are screened with no follow-up to non-answers), why bother? Continue reading “Paulsen lacks the thick skin of other Republicans”

Erik Paulsen: Bold Immigration Reformer or Midterm Election Opportunist?

This week, Erik Paulsen joined a coalition of 20 of the most vulnerable house republicans in a stated effort to persuade House GOP leadership to take a vote on the Deferred Action Childhood Arrival (DACA) program. Paulsen’s sudden interest in DACA starkly defies his own well-established voting record on immigration. While the midterms might compel Paulsen to project an empathetic stance, his own record reveals this performative 180° degree turn as last-ditch attempt to persuade angry voters in Minnesota’s Third Congressional District that this issue is one that actually matters to him.

Unfortunately for Paulsen, it’s far too late for this leopard to change his spots on immigration; here are 6 examples of Representative Erik Paulsen efforts that have harmed immigrant families and communities: Continue reading “Erik Paulsen: Bold Immigration Reformer or Midterm Election Opportunist?”

After 2,459 Days, Rep. Paulsen to Finally Hold Small Town Halls

We’ve just become aware of three town halls Rep. Paulsen will be holding on May 30, 2018. The locations will be small, tickets must be requested in advance and a photo ID must be presented before a ticket holder will be allowed into the town hall.

  • May 30, 9:45 AM — Hamel, MN.  No location specifics provided. Request a ticket here.
  • May 30, 1:45 PM — Chanhassen, MN.  No location specifics provided. Request a ticket here.
  • May 30, 6:45 PM — Brooklyn Park, MN. No location specifics provided. Request a ticket here.

This sounds similar to the type of limited town hall Rep. Lewis has recently held. And, they will be Wednesday of Memorial Day weekend when many people are either still out of town on vacation or catching up at work and unable to take time away. So, not a true town hall, but some constituents will still have a chance to gain access to their representative in Congress.

Where’s Erik Paulsen?

Our Representative in Congress held a public town hall September 6, 2011. Since then, there’ve been last minute meetings announced on social media shortly before they happen, tele-town halls where questions can be vetted before being forwarded, appearances at local businesses and school, robocalls that come to you saying he’s sorry you weren’t there to take his invitation to the tele-townhalls — but no traditional town hall until May of 2018.  Then reservations were required and interaction was limited.

Rep. Erik Paulsen held no public town halls for 2,459 days.

Paulsen’s moderate badge is a misnomer

To the editor:

Alice Seagren’s May 3 letter to the Bloomington Sun Current endorsed Rep. Erik Paulsen for Congress.

Paulsen seeks re-election in the Nov. 6 midterm election. Paulsen’s DFL-endorsed challenger is Dean Phillips, a District 3 businessman who is running against Paulsen’s voting record.

Seagren writes that Paulsen is not a partisan, that he is a moderate. The word moderate is a misnomer. There is nothing non-partisan about Paulsen. He has voted with President Trump’s agenda 97 percent of the time according to fivethirtyeight.com’s “Tracking Congress in the Age of Trump.” Continue reading “Paulsen’s moderate badge is a misnomer”

How are progressives misleading in opposing Paulsen?

To the editor:

Please, Sean Boylan, tell me how I and other “progressives” have engaged in misleading or dishonest tactics as we work to support the candidacy of Dean Phillips to replace Erik Paulsen who, among other actions, voted to undermine efforts to provide health care to everyone, who voted for tax breaks for companies that are now buying back their own stocks to further enrich the 1 percent, who voted to allow gun owners from states with less strict laws to roam free in those states with more stringent ownership standards, voted to weaken tools used to conduct background checks, voted to eliminate protection of surface waters in mining districts, and who voted to scrap many consumer protections that were implemented following the 2008 financial crisis.

What is misleading or dishonest about our demanding that Erik Paulsen stand before an open meeting of his constituents and try to justify his votes on these and other matters that are of great concern to of most of us in the 3rd Congressional District? Continue reading “How are progressives misleading in opposing Paulsen?”

Rep. Paulsen’s Staff Refuses to Hear from Constituents

I recently called the D.C. office of my U.S. representative, Erik Paulsen, to express my opinion about cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the farm bill. I identified myself and my ZIP code and proceeded to register my objections to SNAP cuts, citing the problem of hunger in Minnesota for adults and children.

The staffer listened until I said “in light of Mr. Paulsen’s votes on tax reductions, we will be watching his vote to restrict food programs for the hungry.” The phone clicked: I was hung up on! I immediately dialed back and asked why. The staffer said he did not hang up on me; we had said our goodbyes. I said that was not true and asked his name. No response. I stated my right to express my opinion and asked his name. Again, no response. We were still connected, but there was no sound coming from his end. I suspect he muted the line and set the phone down.

At no point did I raise my voice or say anything disrespectful to him or about Paulsen.

Mr. Paulsen is not truly my representative in Congress if he and his staff will not listen to my opinions. Sad to say, but my treatment on the phone from his staff is consistent with Paulsen’s avoidance of constituent town halls. The citizens of the Third Congressional District deserve better.

Rebecca Monson, Plymouth
StarTribune, May 18, 2018