Tag: Rep. Paulsen

Not this time, Erik

To the Editor:

I’d be receptive to Sean Boylan’s recent letter to the editor (“Phillips’ investments demonstrate hypocrisy,” July 12) if it wasn’t so clearly from the mouth of Erik Paulsen’s campaign. For heaven’s sake, the letter cites “the news section of pauslenforcongress.com.”  After years of watching Erik’s campaigns, I know better than to trust him for accurate information.

Take his campaign ad that appeared last week promoting himself as an environmentalist. Somehow, in the midst of all his Boundary Water babble, he forgot to mention his 16 percent rating from the League of Conservation Voters or his dismal 0 percent rating from Clean Water Action.

Erik Paulsen thinks he can mislead and obfuscate his way to re-election. Not this time, Erik. The people are watching — and we don’t like what we see.

Daylon Prochaska, Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie Sun-Current, August 2, 2018

3 reasons not to vote for Paulsen

To the editor:

Rep. Erik Paulsen will not be getting my vote this autumn for three big reasons.

First, his recent town hall was only the first such event in seven years. That’s right: until the three town hall events he hosted in May, Paulsen hadn’t held a real town hall in seven long years – and my neighbors and I won’t forget that.

Second, while he positions himself as a moderate, he votes in line with President Donald Trump over 97 percent of the time, according to political data site FiveThirtyEight.com. But Trump and his radical policies don’t represent Minnesota; that’s why he lost our district by 10 points in 2016. And I don’t want anyone who votes like Trump representing me in Washington.

Finally, despite re-imagining himself as an environmentalist in his recent TV spot, in which he claimed to love the outdoors, Paulsen’s record on environmental issues has been abysmal. He holds a 16 percent score from the League of Conservation Voters, and when he was asked in 2008 if humans were contributing to climate change, he said he was “not smart enough to know if that’s true or not.”

If he wasn’t smart enough to know that humans are driving climate change, then he’s not smart enough to deserve my vote now.

Joseph Rapacki, Edina
Edina Sun-Current, August 2, 2018

Dean Phillips’ donations from individuals, not PACs

The Star Tribune reported the other day that the Paulsen-Phillips race is shaping up to be one of the most expensive in the state. As reported, this is largely thanks to the efforts of PACS (political action committees), who have poured millions into the race — over half of Erik Paulsen’s $3.7 million come from PACs. And no wonder they’re giving him so much money.

Congressman Paulsen has shown himself to be a reliable vote for his donors, as indicated by his support for bills that benefit Big Pharma, Big Oil, and the insurance industry.

Unlike with Erik Paulsen, the money funding Dean Phillips comes entirely from individuals. He’s refused every cent from PACs and special interests and takes six times the number of small money donations that Erik Paulsen does. Congressman Paulsen may call this a “gimmick,” but he’s received $2 million from PACs. Giving up that kind of fundraising isn’t a gimmick. It’s conviction — something Erik Paulsen could use a little more of in my opinion.

Heather Kurth Flesland, Maple Grove
Press & News, August 2, 2018

Paulsen mimics Mrs. Trump

To the editor:

Our congressman, Republican Erik Paulsen, had his own “Melania Moment” at the Edina Fourth of July parade.

Melania Trump made headlines a week earlier when she visited immigrant children, presumably to show them that someone cared.

But she wore a fashionable coat that said on the back, “I really don’t care; do U?” Continue reading “Paulsen mimics Mrs. Trump”

Paulsen’s joining of climate caucus rings hollow

To the editor:

The writer who stated that Rep. Paulsen’s joining the Climate Solutions Caucus brings him credit fails to note that, even if sincere, such an act is too little and too late. His record on the environment is abysmal and making a show of interest in climate issues is but a play for votes. A look at just three of his votes helps one understand how the League of Conservation Voters can assign him a lifetime score of 16 percent on its Environmental Scorecard.

On Dec. 1, 2015, Paulsen voted with the majority to disapprove or invalidate the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units. This was an attempt to prevent the EPA from taking stronger action to reduce greenhouse gases.

On July 18, 2017, Paulsen voted with the majority to pass the Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2017 which basically pushed back the implementation of parts of the Clean Air Act by five or more years and doubled the interval between certain assessments of air quality from five to ten years. These changes can only have damaging effects on the quality of air we breathe. Continue reading “Paulsen’s joining of climate caucus rings hollow”

WCCO’s Pat Kessler’s Reality Check of Erik Paulsen’s Boundary Waters Ad

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A television campaign ad featuring Minnesota 3rd District Congressman Erik Paulsen highlights his work to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

The ad also serves to put distance between the Republican Congressman and President Donald Trump.

The Congressman is featured enjoying the outdoors with his family in the ad.

View the complete article here.

Walmart halts sale of perfect gag gift: Erik Paulsen’s deep thoughts

The following article by Pete Kotz was posted on the CityPages website July 20, 2018:


For a brief moment, the searing profundity of Minnesota’s greatest statesman could have been yours for just $13. Your bathroom wall would have thanked you. Credit: Walmart

For a brief moment last week, Walmart took the early lead in the perfect gag gift standings for the coming holiday season.

Among its wares, the discount goliath trades in motivational posters. They’re the kind you often find in Aunt Kathy’s bathroom, featuring scenes of sunsets and nature’s wonders, overlaid with quotes meant to comfort or inspire.

But one seemed more designed to evoke laughter. Or perhaps consternation.

It featured a scene from what appears to be the California coast, replete with this heartrending gem: “Spending more time with my colleagues outside the Capitol helps build bipartisan relationships.”

View the complete article here.

Erik Paulsen campaign manager posts racist-looking tweet

The following article by Hannah Jones was posted on the CityPages website July 26, 2018:

Twitter

Republican Congressman Erik Paulsen is fighting to keep his seat representing suburban Minneapolis. Democrat Dean Phillips, heir to the Phillips Distilling empire, is trying to take it from him.

The two have been locking horns for a while, but a tweet posted Wednesday by Paulsen campaign manager John-Paul Yates seems to take that competition to a weird, possibly offensive place.

It included a link to a Star Tribune story about Phillips’ campaign, with a photo that showed him high-fiving a young child while a woman looked on. Both the child and the woman had brown skin.

Yates’ caption: “Come on down to the Family Detention Dock and hop a ride on the old Pipeline Pontoon!”

View the complete article here.

Rep. Erik Paulsen and Southwest Light Rail

Asking Paulsen to take a position on this is clearly asking too much

The July 26 editorial “Southwest LRT needs friend in GOP” calls on U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen to become a supporter of this rail line, which would largely run through his district. It is also a highly contentious matter.

A couple of months ago, I called Paulsen’s Eden Prairie office and asked his staff person about Paulsen’s position on Southwest LRT. He responded that Paulsen had no position because it was not a federal matter. I responded that this was curious, since a billion dollars of federal money is involved. He reiterated that Paulsen had no position.

Paulsen has obviously been walking a narrow plank because he knows that either pro or con on Southwest LRT will alienate many in his district.

Bill Hay, Edina
Star Tribune, July 27, 2018