Tag: Rep. Paulsen

Erik Paulsen’s staff showed me lack of respect

To the Editor:

As a senior citizen and long time resident of CD3 I am writing to express my incredulousness about recent interactions I have had with members of Rep. Erik Paulsen’s staff.

The first incident occurred on Jan. 9, when a group of 20 constituents went to Paulsen’s Eden Prairie office to communicate our dissatisfaction with his policy positions. The response? A staff member opened her office door and sprayed air freshener into the hallway where we were standing. I have asthma and did not have my inhaler with me, so I left quickly. The staff member stated that she wanted to “get rid of the stink.” We were stunned. Continue reading “Erik Paulsen’s staff showed me lack of respect”

Paulsen Constituent’s Interaction with Staff After Florida School Shooting

On Thursday, I called the D.C. office of U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen. I identified myself as a constituent, the mother of three children who attend public schools and a substitute teacher in those same schools. I said it’s time to stop with the “thoughts and prayers” and do something about guns.

The person on the other end tried to end the call, but I asked him to take more specific notes about policy measures I would expect the congressman to take, including ending the loopholes in gun-buying laws, retracting the concealed-carry reciprocity that he should not have voted for in the first place given Minnesota’s relatively strong laws and sending back contributions from the National Rifle Association so that he frees himself up to actually work on this problem.

I asked for my notes to be read back so that I’d be sure the message went through correctly. The staffer said, “You are in favor of stronger gun control.” I said: “Wait a minute, I gave you more detail than that.” He hung up on me.

Paulsen’s staffer hung up on me, a mom and teacher devastated by Wednesday’s news of a school shooting. And a constituent. He. Hung. Up.

Anne Holzman, Bloomington
Star Tribune, February 16, 2018

Minnesota now has 4 ‘toss-up’ races for the U.S House

The following article by Adam Uren was posted on the GoMN.com website February 8, 2018:

Erik Paulsen’s seat has shifted from ‘leans Republican’ to a ‘toss-up.’

Credit: FaceBook

What’s happening?

The Cook Political Report has shifted its ratings for 21 U.S. House districts ahead of the November mid-terms.

The independent, non-partisan election analysts use data to predict which will be the most competitive races in the coming elections, highlighting those that are “likely” or “lean” Republican or Democratic, or those that are “toss-up” races.

What’s this have to do with Minnesota?

Minnesota is one of the states to have a ratings change, and it’s Republican Erik Paulsen’s in the 3rd Congressional District. Continue reading “Minnesota now has 4 ‘toss-up’ races for the U.S House”

Erik Paulsen plans to teach his constituents civility. While hiding from them.

The following article by Pete Kotz was posted on the CityPages website February 6, 2018:

Republican Erik Paulsen, Minnesota’s most corrupt congressman, is about to teach you how to be a better human being.


Paulsen is among the most partisan members of Congress, voting with Trump 98 percent of the time and routinely carrying the water of his biggest donors. Credit: Fibonacci Blue

He’s an inaugural member of the Congressional Civility and Respect Caucus, in which the blowhards, ankle-biters, and rabid vermin of America’s most depraved institution will hold themselves out as beacons of social etiquette.

Yes, it will get weird.

Members of the newly formed group plan to tour their districts to “promote the use of a respectful dialogue on tough issues.” This, according to Paulsen, will allow us to live in something akin to peace and togetherness. Or, in other words, not behave anything like Congress.

“No one party has a monopoly on good ideas,” Paulsen announced in the group’s press release. “And I believe this caucus will help foster an environment to cooperate, work together, and find common ground on solutions that help Minnesota and our country.” Continue reading “Erik Paulsen plans to teach his constituents civility. While hiding from them.”

Paulsen votes in line with Trump

It’s the middle of the school year, and I’m reviewing my children’s report cards. It’s also the midpoint of the congressional session, so I thought it’s a good time to also look at my congressional representative’s performance.

A helpful rubric is found at fivethrityeight.com. “Tracking Congress in the Age of Trump” tracks and compares your congressional representative. It provides a score for how often the representative votes in line with Trump’s position. Continue reading “Paulsen votes in line with Trump”

Paulsen should support funding for the Census Burea

To the Editor:

I would like Erik Paulsen, as my representative in Plymouth, to speak out in Congress.  Not just vote and post brewery photo ops.  I would appreciate some leadership.  A voice where I cannot be a voice.

I a upset about the lack of leadership and funding approval for the Census Bureau.  They have a huge census coming up in 2020.  This will determine new election boundaries and distribution of funds.  I do realize that it is in the best interest of his party to not get an accurate census.  However, it is best for our country.  I put country over party  I would like Erik Paulsen to as well.

This President has yet to fill the leadership in the Bureau.  This Congress has yet to approve funding and the Bureau is already losing the ability to perform two of three dress rehearsals.  This is important stuff.  I need Erik Paulsen to please speak out.

Kerry Anderson, Plymouth
Plymouth Sun-Sailor, January 25, 2018

Letter: Behavior of Paulsen staffers crossed the line

To the editor:

On Tuesday, Jan. 9, I joined 20 other constituents from Minnesota’s Third Congressional District in throwing an early retirement party for Erik Paulsen. We arrived at his Eden Prairie office with cake, party hats, noise makers, and dozens of pink slips providing reasons for early termination. Recent passage of the tax reform law, avoiding constituents, weak stances on environmental issues and voting against requiring Trump to release his tax returns were among listed grievances.

Attending such an event was out of character and comfort zone for me. Although I like to think of myself as well-informed and tend to be very outspoken on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, I cannot claim to be terribly politically active. I’ve only called Paulsen’s office once, and Tuesday marked my first visit to his office. In fact, it marked my first visit to any representative’s office. Years of frustration with the disconnect between Paulsen’s words and actions and intense dissatisfaction with the current political climate were the driving forces pushing me to attend. Continue reading “Letter: Behavior of Paulsen staffers crossed the line”

The Congressman That Sold Out Minnesota

The January 17, 2018, morningtake announced that End Citizens United has developed a 15-second ad that will be running on social media.

You can view the post below:

Minnesotans could face significant state tax hike next year in wake of federal changes

NOTE:  Rep. Paulsen voted for this bill in committee and on the floor of the U.S. House.

The following article by J. Patrick Coolican was posted on the StarTribune website January 11, 2018:

Without changes, that’s how much more Minnesotans could pay under new law

Minnesota legislators will have to decide how to respond to the new federal law changes, which will have an impact on the state tax system. Credit: GLEN STUBBE, STAR TRIBUNE

The federal tax overhaul passed late last year could mean a hefty state tax increase for Minnesotans.

If the Legislature simply conforms the state tax code to its federal counterpart — which has been standard practice in recent years — then state government would collect an additional $813 million in taxes next fiscal year, and $1.49 billion during the two years after that, due to major changes in federal tax law approved late last year by the Republican Congress and President Donald Trump.

That’s according to an estimate released this week by the state Department of Revenue. But Sen. Roger Chamberlain, R-Lino Lakes, said Minnesotans shouldn’t worry. Continue reading “Minnesotans could face significant state tax hike next year in wake of federal changes”

Republicans passed their tax bill. Now they’re spending $10 million to promote it.

The following article by Mike DeBonis was posted on the Washington Post website January 3, 2018:

A nonprofit group with ties to Republican congressional leaders is broadcasting TV ads to promote the GOP tax bill and those who voted for it. (American Action Network)

Two weeks ago, Republicans passed their massive rewrite of the federal tax code. Now a GOP group is spending millions to convince voters they will benefit from it.

The American Action Network, a nonprofit group with close ties to Republican congressional leaders, is launching a $2 million round of TV ads promoting the tax bill Wednesday, the first salvo in a $10 million campaign to give key House Republicans a boost going into November’s midterm elections.

The ads, running in 23 districts, feature a couple sitting on their couch extolling the benefits of the bill — “will save a typical family more than $2,000”; “helps create jobs and boost middle-class income” — and thanking the local lawmakers for their votes.

So far, the public is not sold. Several public polls released last month, including surveys from CNN and the Wall Street Journal/NBC News show that pluralities of Americans oppose the GOP tax bill, citing its benefits for corporations and the wealthy. Many Americans, the polls show, believe they will see a tax hike under the bill — not a tax cut.

The centerpiece of the $1.5 trillion bill is a dramatic cut in the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. Many business owners, meanwhile, will be entitled to a new 20 percent deduction on their business income, and wealthy Americans will see more of their assets sheltered from the federal estate tax. Wage earners see comparatively scant benefits — a larger standard deduction and child tax credit, as well as modestly lower income-tax rates, all of which will expire after 2025.

Democrats have been eagerly pointing to the outsize benefits for corporations and top earners, but Republican leaders believe that the public will warm to the bill once they see the benefits. For instance, employers are expected to start withholding less income tax from employee paychecks starting in February. “If we can’t sell this to the American people we ought to go into another line of work,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said after the Senate vote.

Republicans are forging ahead with their promise to overhaul the tax code, even with very little public support for their proposal. (Video: Jenny Starrs/Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

ut sell it they must, said Corry Bliss, who runs the American Action Network and its affiliated super PAC, the Congressional Leadership Fund. Amid major head winds for Republican candidates this year, his theory for doing so is simple: Lawmakers must make the case to voters that they have made a difference in everyday lives, and “grand economic theory” about boosting economic growth won’t get it done.

“It has to be connected to the individual,” he said Tuesday. “People care about themselves and their family, and they will reward people who are looking out for them and they will punish people who are not looking out for them.” Continue reading “Republicans passed their tax bill. Now they’re spending $10 million to promote it.”