Thank you, Adam Jennings

Want to know what class looks like and sounds like? It sounds and looks like Adam Jennings.

Adam, thank you for running and showing us your heart. Megan, thank you for standing with Adam and being the amazing person you are (as well as a fabulous first responder today for a delegate with a medical condition).

To everyone who supported Adam, thank you. Thank you for standing up and working hard to support your choice. We know Adam and Megan are not going anywhere. CD3 thanks you.

DFL Endorses Dean Phillips for U.S. Congress

Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party Chairman Ken Martin today released the following statement congratulating Dean Phillips on his DFL endorsement for the Third Congressional District.

“Congratulations to Dean Phillips on his endorsement for Minnesota’s Third Congressional District. While Erik Paulsen dodges his constituents, Dean has brought his historic grassroots campaign directly to the people. He has spent the last ten months traveling the Third District and engaging in meaningful conversations with people of all backgrounds.”

“Dean Phillips understands that representation begins with listening. The DFL is excited to work with him to usher in a new era of courageous, bold leadership for the Third Congressional District.”

Statement on April 14 CD3 DFL Convention:

The CD3 convention must be held tomorrow; the outcome is determined by those delegates and alternates who arrive.

Both campaigns were notified of this today. Preconvention committee members will set up the facility tomorrow morning and be prepared to staff the convention.

We are in touch with the school district in the event that the delegation determines that we should convene again at a later date.

We are cognizant that driving may slow down arrivals and will avoid conducting any business until we’re satisfied that enough delegates (and alternates) have received credentials.

Location information:

Maple Grove Senior High School
9800 Fernbrook Ln N
Maple Grove, MN 55369

Here’s a link to a map showing the school’s location:https://goo.gl/maps/Rk8b7Uebe5U2

Erik Paulsen misleads his constituents

To the Editor:

I’m responding to Gene Stageberg’s letter in the March 29 Sun Sailor, where he describes Rep. Erik Paulsen as a thoughtful, middle-of-the-road conservative.

I’d like to highlight just one example where “Rep. Thoughtful” Erik Paulsen fully thought out how to mislead his constituents, all to benefit his most supported constituents. Not us, but businesses. Continue reading “Erik Paulsen misleads his constituents”

Suburban voters angry with Trump threaten GOP’s grip on House

The following article by Kari Lydersen and Michael Scherer was posted on the Washington Post website March 26, 2018:

Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), a six-term congressman, faces a tough challenge in November’s midterm elections, as Democrats and moderates opposed to President Trump are energized in his suburban Chicago district. Credit: J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Control of the U.S. House will be decided in America’s next political battleground of aboveground pools, bike trails, and oversized Tudor and Victorian houses full of working professionals like Karrie Sullivan, a Republican voter who cast her primary ballot last week for a Democrat.

In a suburb outside of Chicago, Sullivan is determined to replace her congressman, six-term Rep. Peter J. Roskam (R), whom she has supported in the past. His sin, she said, was his affiliation with President Trump.

“Just the lack of respect for women, the authoritarianism, it’s too much,” said Sullivan, 47, a digital consultant. “As a professional woman, it’s very difficult for me to reconcile.” Continue reading “Suburban voters angry with Trump threaten GOP’s grip on House”

Listen up, Rep. Erik Paulsen

To the Editor:

Representative Paulsen, how many more lives will it take? You already know what we want, and it still isn’t going to change.

I don’t want to be scared of school anymore. I don’t want to lose any of my friends or siblings or peers, and I do not want to talk to my teachers about what to throw at a shooter first or what to hide behind. Continue reading “Listen up, Rep. Erik Paulsen”

The 3rd District needs accountability

At a recent Polar Plunge fundraising event in Eden Prairie, I was standing next to a very dear friend when Congressman Erik Paulsen approached the launching pad.  My friend clapped loudly, and said something akin to “He’s a good man.”  I’ve never met Mr. Paulsen, but my friend has, so I’m inclined to trust his judgement.

What I struggle with is reconciling my friend holding Mr. Paulsen in high regard to two distinctive but perhaps related observations.  One s a well-documented record of Mr. Paulsen not conducting face-to-face, on-the-record town hall meetings with his constituents.  The other is a dearth of public commentary regarding the personal conduct of the current president of the United States. Continue reading “The 3rd District needs accountability”

Paulsen’s Phone Town Halls Aren’t Scheduled

It is disingenuous of Erik Paulsen to state that he is not going to host real town halls because people will “grandstand.”  He is denying us the right, his constituents as a group, to have a discussion with him as a community.  Given that he was elected to represent the community from which he comes, is it not within all our right to expect town hall meetings together with him as that community?

Erik tries to skirt the system by claiming that he meets with citizens and holds phone call “town halls.”  To be honest, it’s a rigged system.  He or his staff vet who gets to meet in person with him, for the most part, and when they do it is private and the citizen is not allowed to record the encounter. Continue reading “Paulsen’s Phone Town Halls Aren’t Scheduled”

Income Taxes Aren’t Going to Go Down

Rep. Erik Paulsen sure is busy telling everyone how great he thinks the tax reform act is.  Erik, if the plans is so fantastic why don’t you plan an in-person town hall and have a conversation with your constituents so you can hear what we think?

We all understand that the tax reform act will reduce taxes overall, but it appears to be a gift to the wealthiest individuals and corporations, not working families.  Home-owning Minnesotans, especially in cities like Eden Prairie, will see limited benefit or even tax increases while narrow interests, like real estate businesses will have windfall.  Republicans used to abhor government picking winners and losers.  No more. Continue reading “Income Taxes Aren’t Going to Go Down”

Don’t be fooled by short-term gains

Erik Paulsen paints a very rosy picture for “American families and hard working taxpayers across the nation” in his commentary on tax reform, in the March 15 edition of the Eden Prairie News. This is the rest of the story.

It is important to keep in mind that the tax-reform provisions related to corporations are permanent, while those affecting individual taxpayers expire in 2025. As a result many individuals will have higher paychecks in the near term, thanks to the new tax bracket levels and several increased tax credits. However, the tax bracket levels will return to their previous rates after 2025, while many tax credits will expire. Therefore, depending on one’s personal situation, taxes may increase substantially in 2026. Continue reading “Don’t be fooled by short-term gains”