Category: The Real Erik Paulsen

PACs and special interest groups own American politics

To the editor:

On the eve of our primary elections, I started doing some research and was astounded to find that my representative in Congress, Erik Paulsen, has received 53 percent of his campaign money from political action committees. For more information, visit bit.ly/2HuGBTe.

These groups are consistently corrupting our Congress by spending millions of dollars to buy favors with our democratic institutions. They shift politicians’ priorities from serving everyday constituents to satisfying mysterious, multi-million dollar corporations.

We’ve seen it recently with the much-publicized plea from a devastated Parkland student to the many recipients of National Rifle Association donations in Congress (including, notably, Erik Paulsen). In this televised, emotionally-charged event, Sen. Marco Rubio from Florida refused to say that he would stop being beholden to the NRA.  Continue reading “PACs and special interest groups own American politics”

Pro-Paulsen Television Ad Info

There’s an ad appearing on television these days that’s touting how wonderful the GOP tax cut (for the rich) is for everyone, how we should thank Rep. Erik Paulsen for voting FOR the bill and how big, bad, nasty Nancy Pelosi wants to take the tons of money the tax cut bill puts in Middle Class Minnesotans’ pockets.

What’s the reality?

Who Paid for this Ad?

First, the ad is produced and paid for by CFL. Want to know who that organization is?  It’s a super PAC aligned with House Republican leadership.

Here’s a link to an article in Roll Call talking about the media buy. Continue reading “Pro-Paulsen Television Ad Info”

Republicans admit they’ll slash Medicare, Social Security to pay for their tax cuts

The following article by Rebekah Entralgo was posted on the ThinkProgress website August 21, 2018:

“I do think we need to deal with some of our spending.”

Republicans who supported the trillion dollar Trump tax bill are revealing their true motivations: Slashing Medicare and Social Ssecurity. Credit: Getty Images

Slowly but surely, Republicans that supported the trillion dollar Trump tax bill are revealing their true motivations: slashing Medicare and Social Security.

During a Sunday interview with CNBC’s John Harwood, Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) urged entitlement reform as the deficit continues to balloon as a result of the GOP tax cuts.

“I do think we need to deal with some of our spending,” Stivers said. “We’ve got try to figure out how to spend less.”

View the complete article here.

Phillips has more integrity for refusing PAC money

To the editor:

I remember watching Erik Paulsen’s campaign ads in the 2010 election cycle, in which he lectured his daughters from a whiteboard, called himself “a numbers guy,” and promised to “protect our wallets from politicians.” These promises seem preposterous in 2018, after Paulsen voted for a bill that will increase the national debt to $11.7 trillion by 2027. As a mom of three kids, I’m not comfortable with shifting our nation’s burden from corporations to our families now and in the future. Paulsen was a powerful advocate for this bill, and now we all pay the price.

Paulsen had gone more than six years without holding a town hall. In May, he acquiesced and held three small, ticketed town halls. I did not win the lottery to attend these meetings, and suspect I’ll never have the opportunity to tell him face-to-face what I think of his cavalier attitude toward the national debt. Continue reading “Phillips has more integrity for refusing PAC money”

Feisty debate kicks off Paulsen-Phillips race for Congress

The following article by Mark Zdechlik was posted on the MPRNews.org website August 21, 2018:

Rep. Paulsen responds to a question during a debate with DFL congressional candidate Dean Phillips at the DoubleTree Park Place in Minneapolis, Minn. on Aug. 21, 2018. Credit: Lacey Young, MPR News

Republican U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen and his DFL challenger Dean Phillips tangled over taxes, health care and campaign finance reform in their first debate Tuesday.

Paulsen said Phillips would derail economic growth by voting to repeal the Republican tax cut law. Paulsen argued the tax cut was needed and that it’s helping ordinary Minnesotans.

“Weak growth, which was what we were seeing under the last eight years, was not acceptable,” he said. “Sure, people like Dean Phillips and those who are well off will do fine under those circumstances. But the rest of us, we won’t do well in an economic depression, and that was only just around the corner.”

View the complete article here.

Rep. Erik Paulsen and Dean Phillips face off in first debate for Third District seat

The following article by Jessie Van Berkel was posted on the Star Tribune website August 21, 2018:

The debate at a St. Louis Park hotel quickly grew testy, with both candidates attacking the other almost immediately.

DFL challenger Dean Phillips and Rep. Erik Paulsen greeted each other at the end of Tuesday’s 3rd Congressional District debate in St. Louis Park. Credit: Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen and DFL challenger Dean Phillips clashed over health care, tax reform, immigration and other issues, trading barbs Tuesday in the first debate of their increasingly heated fight for a Minnesota House seat.

The debate at a St. Louis Park hotel quickly grew testy, with both candidates attacking the other almost immediately. Paulsen, a Republican, referenced Phillips’ personal wealth when he said that people who are not millionaires should be able to run for Congress, while Phillips pressed Paulsen to reject campaign donations from interest groups and hit him for voting for most of President Donald Trump’s agenda.

“I’ll stand up to my own party,” Paulsen said, whether that’s protecting the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, opposing “misguided tariffs” or pushing for a vote on immigration legislation.

View the complete article here.

Paulsen should not accept donations from opioid manufacturer

To the Editor:

I wholeheartedly agree with Erik Paulsen’s stance against opioids that he took in his recent Medium article. His facts and efforts in Congress are much appreciated. It is unfortunate however that he may be beholden to many of those same pharmaceutical special interests and PACs being sued that inadvertently assist in distributing some of these harmful opioids to Minnesotans.

This makes me more than uneasy. How can you claim to be fighting for the opioid crisis while simultaneously being propped up by their donations? Until Paulsen distances himself from the pharmaceutical companies that are being sued by the state of Minnesota, I’ll be taking everything he says with a grain of salt. He should show that he’s serious about fixing the opioid crisis at all levels, and that includes rejecting money from the purveyors of the problem. I would urge him to go still further. I like the idea of a separate corporate tax on opioids for the pharmaceutical companies. This would dissuade them from condoning overprescribing as they have in the past.

John Hetterick, Plymouth
Plymouth Sun-Current, August 21, 2018

Paulsen owes constituents access to a debate

To the editor:

I’ve been looking forward to seeing Congressman Erik Paulsen and challenger Dean Phillips on the debate stage for months now.

To my disappointment, I found out that it costs $60 for non-members to attend the Aug. 21 TwinWest Chamber of Commerce debate. How is this fair? People need to make an informed decision about who to vote for, but how can they do that if they can’t afford to go to the event.

Dean Phillips has agreed to multiple free debates around the district sponsored by bipartisan organizations such as the League of Women Voters and other local chambers. Despite this, Paulsen has only agreed to the paid debate so far. Continue reading “Paulsen owes constituents access to a debate”

We want voter-centered representation

To the Editor:

Since my first vote in 1972, I’ve witnessed money increasingly erode our democracy. This year I’m relieved to see so much excitement for Dean Phillips. His decision to refuse PAC or special interest money recently made the New York Times. Phillips knows we must restrain the use of “big money” (set loose by the Citizens United decision) in order to bring back balance and accountability to our government.

The Minnesota Way Pledge proposed by Phillips included the People’s Pledge, which works to limit negative, personal attack ads. Incumbent Paulsen suggested this in 2016; in 2018 he’s no longer interested. By agreeing, he could have spared Minnesota much mudslinging by outside groups. Instead, Paulsen chose to keep his big money contributions.

Constituents are eager for a candidate who will be responsive to voters because that candidate chose to fund his campaign the Minnesota Way – no money from PACs, Federal lobbyists or Congress members. Many Third District folks support Dean Phillips with their small dollar contributions. They also proudly march with Phillips at local parades as well as phone bank, door knock and more. Continue reading “We want voter-centered representation”

MN03 Paulsen-Phillips TwinWest Debate

If you weren’t able to attend the above debate August 21, the UpTake.org has posted a replay on their website.  Here’s a link:  http://theuptake.org/2018/08/21/mn-cd3-debate-erik-paulsen-and-dean-phillips/