Category: The Real Erik Paulsen

House Budget Would Raise Borrowing Costs for the Middle Class

The following article by Antionette Flores and Michela Zonta was posted on the Center for American Progress website July 31, 2017:

College students walk across campus for class, February 2017. Credit: AP/Bebeto Matthews

The budget proposed by the U.S. House of Representatives last week would put fundamental aspects of the American dream—attending college and buying a home—further out of reach for many families. By using a budgeting gimmick called “fair-value accounting,” instead of the accounting methods prescribed by the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (FCRA), House Republicans are intentionally making the costs of federal lending appear more expensive. The latest House budget plan, for example, would add $326 billion in fictional costs to the federal deficit due to fair-value accounting.

This column explains what fair-value accounting is, why it’s an inaccurate way to estimate costs, and what it could mean for Americans with student loans and home mortgages. Instead of undermining federal lending through budget trickery, Congress should focus its energy on solidifying the programs and lowering costs for working families. Continue reading “House Budget Would Raise Borrowing Costs for the Middle Class”

Paulsen Support from Super PAC

When it comes to “bad news, good news,” it’s hard to find good news in the article regarding the arrival of a super PAC in the Third Congressional District. The only good news I see is that we are already a quarter of the way through the run-up to the midterm election. The bad news is out-of-state special interests continue pouring in dark money to support Paulsen. We could ask who is donating the money and what strings are attached, but … .

What we do know, according to Paulsen’s Federal Election Commission filings, is that he raised $1,061,000 in the first half of 2017. A review of his filings shows that: 23 percent of donations came from only 166 individuals living in the district, 16 percent from individuals living out of the district or state, and 60 percent from out-of-state PACs. As the 2018 campaigning kicks into high gear, the disparity between individual constituent contributions and out-of-state special interests will increase significantly. Dark money will exceed reason. And this is the problem with Congress. Continue reading “Paulsen Support from Super PAC”

As super PAC arrives, who will ultimately have Paulsen’s ear?

“Super PAC sets up shop” (July 28) is a chilling precursor to the 2018 election. According to the article, the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF) will be working to encourage U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen to “take tough votes on issues like health care.” It reports that “when Iowa Rep. David Young announced he would vote against the replacement House bill, CLF closed its office in his district.”

So despite the shiny young people working for CLF, where does this leave Paulsen’s constituents, who may have diametrically opposite views? Will Paulsen hold in-person town hall meetings in order to discover the wishes of those he represents, or will he vote with the CLF and all the money it promises for his votes?

Arthur and Jane Price, Coon Rapids
Minneapolis Star Tribune, July 29, 2017

Shooting Victim Steve Scalise Would Go Bankrupt With Republican Health Care Plan

NOTE:  We’re glad Rep. Paulsen’s roommate Rep. Scalise has been released from the hospital. We wondered what would happen if Rep. Scalise was faced with healthcare as they have voted to implement for the rest of the country.

The following article by Ben Cohen was posted on the Daily Banter website June 23, 2017:

If you think that the Republican health care bill proposed in the Senate only affects poor people and minorities, you would be completely wrong. The New Republic’s Brian Beutler makes a powerful point about just how important the Affordable Care Act has been for everyday Americans by pointing out that Virginia shooting victim Rep. Steve Scalise would likely be uninsurable after he recovers, and liable for long term care costs until he’s eligible for Medicare. Writes Beutler:

The House and Senate Trumpcare bills gut protections for people with pre-existing conditions in different ways: the former by allowing insurers to price gouge sick people; the latter by allowing insurers to exclude the treatments sick people need from covered benefit schedules, creating adverse selection. Both would destabilize insurance markets for people with pre-existing conditions in at least some states. The Senate bill does not exempt members of Congress, and House Republicans have gone on record with the promise that Trumpcare will apply to them, too.

Continue reading “Shooting Victim Steve Scalise Would Go Bankrupt With Republican Health Care Plan”

U.S. Senate Republicans breathe life into health reforms that deserved to die

The following commentary by the Star Tribune Editorial Board was posted on their website July 25, 2017:

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell kicked off Tuesday’s debate on the Republican health reform plan by promising “We can do better than Obamacare.” It’s only fair that consumers and patients in Minnesota and elsewhere hold the Senate majority leader from Kentucky — and his party — to his word as debate barrels forward in Congress over plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Will the GOP plan lower monthly premiums for health insurance? Will it lower deductibles that force policyholders to shell out thousands of dollars before coverage kicks in? Will the plan ensure affordable coverage for those with serious medical conditions, expand the number of plans to choose from, and strengthen Medicaid for kids, the elderly and the disabled?

This is what it means to do “better than Obamacare,” and there shouldn’t be any dispute about that. Health reform ought to serve consumers, not political needs. On Tuesday, Republicans selfishly cast aside this responsibility with a vote that breathed new life into their party’s secretive, shapeshifting reforms. Continue reading “U.S. Senate Republicans breathe life into health reforms that deserved to die”

Citizens have questions for Rep. Paulsen

Thank you to reporter Patty Dexter for the June 22 edition by providing Congressman Erik Paulsen’s reaction to the attempted murder of congressmen in Washington, D.C. This terrible assault on our democracy is a local issue because it was an attack on all Americans.

The also also demonstrated access community news organizations have to our elected representatives. This is important because Congressman Paulsen ignores rank-and-file constituents.

Lakeshore Weekly News is well-positioned to promote political discourse due to its access to Paulsen — access that has not been afforded, or is affordable, to district residents.  Lakeshore Weekly can raise the bar in reporting on Paulsen by asking him rigorous questions on his positions that affect our district and demand complete and truthful answers. Continue reading “Citizens have questions for Rep. Paulsen”

Hits on federal retirement advance as bill is introduced to fire feds for ‘no cause at all’

The following article by Joe Davidson was posted on the Washington Post website July 21, 2017:

House Budget Committee Chairwoman Diane Black (R-Tenn.) listens as budget committee lawmakers deliver statements on the American Health Care Act during a meeting in March. (Shawn Thew/EPA)

House Republicans greeted current and future federal employees with two controversial body blows in recent days — one amounts to a pay cut and the other would allow new feds to be fired for “no cause at all.”

The House Budget Committee approved a spending plan that would save the government $163.5 billion over 10 years by taking that amount from federal employees. They would pay that in the form of “greater contributions to their own defined benefit retirement plans,” according to the panel’s budget document.

Republicans call their plan “Building a Better America.”  But the Americans now working to build a better country through their federal jobs would be called on to sacrifice again, as they have repeatedly over the years.

“Since 2010, these employees have already lost $182 billion in pay and benefits,” Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said in a letter to the committee. Those losses occurred through measures including a partial three-year pay freeze and previous retirement hits under the Obama administration. Continue reading “Hits on federal retirement advance as bill is introduced to fire feds for ‘no cause at all’”

Where was Paulsen for Edina parade?

While excited parade-goers lined the 50th Street in Edina, back in the staging area, Section 16 was curiously empty. That was the spot Rep. Erik Paulsen had reserved, and it was the position in which the parade information materials listed he would be marching.

But as a large group gathered nearby in Section 17, where Rep Keith Ellison and his supporters would march, still not one supporter or staffer for Rep. Paulsen appeared. Let alone the representative himself. And so the parade went on without him.

So where was Erik Paulsen? Continue reading “Where was Paulsen for Edina parade?”

Russia sanctions stall in the House as Democrats object to being frozen out of restraining Trump

NOTE:  If you have questions about this situation, please contact Rep. Erik Paulsen’s offices to ask them. You can reach them here:  202.225.2871 (DC) or 952.405.8510 (MN).

The following article by Karoun Demirjian and Mike DeBonis was posted on the Washington Post website July 10, 2017:

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) has said he is in favor of the Russia sanctions bill. The measure is mired in a partisan dispute in the House — with Democrats saying a recent change weakens the legislation. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Popular legislation that would limit President Trump’s ability to lift financial sanctions on Russia is mired in a partisan dispute in the House, with Democrats charging that a recent change would weaken the bill.

The surprising roadblock emerged in recent days as Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Group of 20 summit in Germany and floated the possibility of joining forces with Russia on a cybersecurity initiative, to objections from both parties.

The pending legislation, which passed the Senate on a 98-to-2 vote last month, is effectively a congressional check on Trump: any time the president wants to make a change to sanctions policy on Russia, lawmakers would have a chance to block him. Continue reading “Russia sanctions stall in the House as Democrats object to being frozen out of restraining Trump”

What will happen to my mom?

My mom is 97 years old and has severe dementia.  She has been in a memory care unit for three years.  My mom loved reading, loved book, but now can’t recognize even one written word.  She can’t hold a conversation or count past one.

And mom has outlived her live savings.

The skilled nursing care she is receiving is being paid for by Medicaid.  So if the present GOP health care bill becomes law, Medicaid will be cut. Continue reading “What will happen to my mom?”