Category: The Real Erik Paulsen

Americans to Republicans: Your tax bill scam is terrible

The following article by Dan Desai Martin was posted on the ShareBlue.com website April 17, 2018:

A new Gallup poll shows the Republican tax bill scam is wildly unpopular.

Credit: Evan Vucci, AP

The tax scam championed by Republicans is doing exactly what critics warned: showering the wealthy with deficit-financed tax breaks, while leaving workers and the American middle class behind. The latest Gallup poll confirms, once again, a majority of Americans disapprove of the GOP tax bill.

It makes sense that Americans continue to hold a negative view of the bill. For one, the overwhelming majority of the benefits are going to the already wealthy. In 2018, the richest 1 percent will see a tax break of more than $50,000, or almost $1,000 per week. The poorest 20 percent will see a mere $60 spread out over the course of the entire year, slightly more than $1 per week. Continue reading “Americans to Republicans: Your tax bill scam is terrible”

Agree that voters have clear choice

I am writing in response to an article from a writer who suggested that voters should embrace Rep. Erik Paulsen for his support of recent tax cuts while warning that any support of Democrats in the mid-term elections would result in the stifling of the truth about what is happening in Washington (“Candidate will follow marching orders,” April 19).

I completely agree with the writer when he points out that voters will have a clear choice this fall between Rep. Paulsen and Democratic Dean Phillips.

I found it amusing that the writer pointed out that he had attended a town hall meeting in which he felt that Dean Phillips had not adequately answered a question. What a novel idea, candidates holding town hall meetings with the citizens of their district.

But then, I am certain that they have never attended at town hall meeting with Rep. Paulsen, because he refuses to hold them. The writer met with and asked questions to Mr. Phillips, while our own congressional representative refuses to give citizens that same opportunity.

It is often hard to keep track of all the different investigations that are going on at once because of the ethics issues and open corruption of this administration. And the reader wants us to believe that we should support Rep. Paulsen so that he and the current administration can continue to do wonderful things for the citizens of the Third District.

There is a reason why 40 GOP members of Congress, including the Speaker of the House, have chosen to leave office this fall. There is a reason why over 35 cabinet members and employees within the White House have either been fired or quit.

This president is reckless and, at times, unhinged. The only safeguard that we, as citizens in the Third District have, is to stand up, vote, and elect officials who listen and who are not afraid to meet with voters and truly represent us. That is certainly not Rep. Paulsen. His 100 percent voting record in support of President Trump clearly reflects who he represents.

The voters in the Third District do have a clear choice, and come November expect long lines at the voting locations that will reflect what our choice will be.

Michael Fitzgerald, Chaska
Chaska Herald, May 4, 2018

The Balanced-Budget Amendment Threatens Americans’ Health Care, Social Security, and Jobs

The following article by Seth Hanlon and Alex Rowell was posted on the Center for American Progress website April 11, 2018:

The Capitol dome in Washington. (Brendan Smialowski/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)

With the House, Senate, and White House in Republican hands, GOP leaders have taken every opportunity to enact massive tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy as well as to pay for the tax cuts by cutting health care and other middle-class priorities. First, they sought to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—which would have eliminated health care for millions of Americans—while cutting taxes on high-earners, wealthy investors, and health care companies. When that effort stalled, the majority regrouped and passed even bigger tax cuts that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates will add nearly $1.9 trillion to the federal deficit over the next 10 years, even after taking into account potential growth effects. As Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) and other lawmakers have explained, the Congressional majority ultimately plans to pay for the tax cuts by cutting “entitlements,” or in other words, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Continue reading “The Balanced-Budget Amendment Threatens Americans’ Health Care, Social Security, and Jobs”

Political representation: Daschle’s example shows why you meet constituents face to face

The following article by Steve Kinsella was posted on the Star Tribune website April 4, 2018:

The lesson from the former senator is one that some of Minnesota’s U.S. representatives should learn.

Former Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. He served in the Senate from 1987 to 2005. Credit: Olivier Douliery, ABACA Ppress/TNS

It was late 1987 or early 1988, and my boss at the time, then-U.S.-Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota, had just arrived back in the state from Washington, D.C., as he did roughly every two weeks. He was headed to north central South Dakota for a series of face-to-face constituent meetings.

I was nervous and had repeatedly contacted the staff person who would accompany Daschle on the trip, to make sure everything would go as smoothly as possible. My anxiety was due to the fact that he had recently taken a couple of controversial votes in the eyes of many of the people who lived in that region of South Dakota, a state that has never been overly embracing of Democrats.

But this region of the state was particularly tough for Democrats, even for South Dakota. As a longtime Democrat activist from the area told me once, “you could run Jesus Christ on the Democrat side of the ballot against a dog on the Republican side, and Jesus wouldn’t pull over 30 percent of the vote.” His analysis wasn’t far off. Continue reading “Political representation: Daschle’s example shows why you meet constituents face to face”

Rep. Paulsen’s Staff and Constituents

I have contacted Rep. Paulsen’s office several times during the past year on issues I felt strongly about. The most recent contact did not go well. When I tried to explain to his aide that he was not understanding my issue, his aide actually snapped and me and told me, “I will be done talking to you when I’m ready to be done talking to you.” My email to Rep. Paulsen’s office reporting this event went unanswered. My conversations with others indicate that this is not an uncommon response from Rep. Paulsen’s office staff.

Rep. Paulsen, your constituents deserve better.

Michelle Hayden Soderberg, Plymouth
Lakeshore Weekly News, April 15, 2018

Other town hall meetings are civil

On Saturday, March 23, I attended a town hall meeting sponsored by Sen. Steve Cwodzinski and Rep. Lori Pryor. It was a well-advertised event in local newspapers, and there were more than 50 people in attendance.

For 90 minutes, we listened to our state government representatives address our questions and concerns. We learned their positions on many issues and heard about their plans to move legislation forward. They talked about how they are seeking common ground with others who have different opinions. It was civil, even pleasant, as people stayed around after speaking face to face with their representatives and each other.

So I ask: What is U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen afraid of that he refuses to host similar events — for more than six years? Continue reading “Other town hall meetings are civil”

Erik Paulsen’s campaign funded almost entirely by corporations and the wealthy

The following article by Peter Kotz was posted on the CityPages website April 12, 2018:

Pundits nationwide are citing Congressman Erik Paulsen’s race for re-election in Minneapolis’ western suburbs as among the tightest in the nation. But if he wins a sixth term this fall, it will be almost entirely due to large corporate patrons.

The question is whether the congressman can buy his way to another victory after turning his office into a corporate lobbying firm. Credit: Fibonacci Blue

Thus far, Paulsen (R-Eden Prairie) has raised an impressive $1.9 million. Yet only a meager 2 percent of that comes from the little people, those donating less than $200. By comparison, his neighbor to the east, Minneapolis Congressman Keith Ellison, has accumulated 54 percent of his war chest through these small donations.

It should come as no surprise that Paulsen is shorn of support from anyone below the highest castes. It’s been six long years since he openly met with them in public, offering the chance to ask questions uncensored. They’re not exactly on a first-name basis. Continue reading “Erik Paulsen’s campaign funded almost entirely by corporations and the wealthy”

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”