Category: The Real Erik Paulsen

Constituents lose in the town call lottery

Tuesday, June 13, there was another Paulsen Town Call lottery in Minnesota’s Third Congressional District.

For years now Rep. Erik Paulsen claims to have had many town hall events. What most constituents would label a Town Hall — a public, in-person meeting with plenty of notice and no entrance fee — doesn’t seem to happen. As a lottery winner on Tuesday, you would have received an unexpected, dinner-time call from an unidentified caller. Thus, to really win, you must be both available and willing to pick up that call.

Earlier this year I left my number with Paulsen’s Eden Prairie office to increase my chances of getting a call. So far, indicating an interest hasn’t garnered a call. At that time I asked about a transcript, but was told they do not have that capability. The staff member I spoke with said ‘someone’ may be recording these calls so I could try a search online. To me that suggests Mr. Paulsen is checking off a box labelled Constituent Contact with no concern for quality, accuracy or real communication. Continue reading “Constituents lose in the town call lottery”

Paulsen constituents concerned over healthcare future

The following article by Meghan Davy Sandvold was posted on the Eden Prairie News website June 22, 2017:

Source: Eden Prairie News

EDEN PRAIRIE — Faith leaders and constituents of District 3 recently gathered outside U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen’s Eden Prairie office. They said they were mourning the potential deaths of those who may not be alive for long if significant changes are made to their health care plans.

Clergy and faith leaders from Congressional District 3 gathered outside of Paulsen’s o􀃕ce at 250 Prairie Center Drive in Eden Prairie, on Wednesday, June 21, to raise awareness of the impact the proposed American Health Care Act could have on thousands of Minnesotans. Continue reading “Paulsen constituents concerned over healthcare future”

Erik Paulsen’s partisan votes don’t match his ‘nice guy’ image Email logo Email Share logo Share Tweet logo Tweet Print logo Print

To the Editor:

True confession: I voted for Erik Paulsen — twice! He seemed like a nice guy, was a fellow St. Olaf graduate, and a friend vouched for him. That was enough to get this Democrat to back the “moderate” Republican. I felt comfortable with him as my representative. Are you comfortable with him? If so I encourage you to dig deeper: The truth about Erik Paulsen may surprise you.

An examination of Paulsen’s voting record reveals the truth about Erik, who works hard to maintain his “nice guy” image, even as his votes betray our trust. Paulsen has voted in favor of every single policy put forth by President Trump — even those that are devastating: the wildly unpopular AHCA, loss of our internet privacy, and stripping environmental protections. These votes are far from moderate or “nice” — some are literally deadly. Continue reading “Erik Paulsen’s partisan votes don’t match his ‘nice guy’ image Email logo Email Share logo Share Tweet logo Tweet Print logo Print”

Voices cast into a vacuum

To the Editor:

Our elected U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen hasn’t had an in-person town hall with us constituents since 2011. He only comes out in public under circumstances where he can control the narrative.

Even his visit to a Chaska High School class saw him dodging important questions from students. Think about that. He won’t even be honest to our children. Continue reading “Voices cast into a vacuum”

G.O.P. Senators Might Not Realize It, but Not One State Supports the Republican Health Bill

The following article by Christopher Warshaw and David Broockman was posted on the New York Times website June 14, 2017:

It’s no secret that the American Health Care Act is unpopular. In recent national polls, only about 29 percent of Americans support the bill. It is the most unpopular piece of major legislation Congress has considered in decades — even more unloved than TARP (“the bailout”), and much more unpopular than the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Will Republican senators vote yes on a bill this unpopular? To hang on to their jobs, senators have to keep only voters in their own states happy, not the whole nation. Perhaps red-state senators, or even some senators in swing states, might think their states are friendlier to the bill than the nation as a whole. Continue reading “G.O.P. Senators Might Not Realize It, but Not One State Supports the Republican Health Bill”

Erik Paulsen, you insulted me

As a constituent of CD3 my most direct avenue to Washington is Congressman Erik Paulsen. I was fortunate enough to have two in-person meetings with him in April. I say fortunate because, according to District Director John-Paul Yates, “it’s been a few years” since his last in-person town hall.

At my first meeting, I expressed my sleepless nights thinking about President Trump and his ties to Russia. I pleaded with him to exercise his abilities on the House Ways and Means Committee to start the process of exposing his tax returns. Unfortunately, he has voted “no” several times on this request telling me if this request is made to President Trump it could set the precedent for “any civilian.” Really, our president is “any civilian?” During my second meeting our topic was internet security. I left this meeting questioning Erik’s knowledge on the difference between ISPs and apps like Google and Facebook. He continued to ask if companies in question were “opt-in” or “opt-out.” Continue reading “Erik Paulsen, you insulted me”

House passes sweeping legislation to roll back banking rules

NOTE:  Rep. Erik Paulsen voted for this bill, which impacts bank financial health and consumer protections from banks (as Wells-Fargo did with their bogus accounts).

The following article by Renae Merle was posted on the Washington Post website June 9, 2017:

The Republican-led House on Thursday voted to free Wall Street from many of the constraints put in place after the 2008 financial crisis, the opening salvo in what is likely to be a protracted battle over deregulation of the powerful banking industry.

Big banks, from Goldman Sachs to Bank of America, would face less scrutiny, and other large financial institutions, such as insurance giant MetLife, could escape tougher rules all altogether under the legislation approved largely along party lines. Continue reading “House passes sweeping legislation to roll back banking rules”

House Republicans Vote to Remove Consumer Protections & Risk Another Financial Crisis

NOTE:  Minnesota CD3 Representative Erik Paulsen vote to enact this bill.


 

MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP

This week, House Republicans passed the Wrong Choice Act, which would dismantle consumer protections and allow Wall Street to engage in the same kind of risky practices that led to the financial crisis in 2008. The bill would gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has returned $12 billion to 29 million Americans who were wronged by financial institutions, as well as eliminate rules of the road to prevent another financial crisis and taxpayer bailouts.

Unfortunately, the Wrong Choice Act is another example of Republicans rolling back protections for workers, consumers, investors, teachers and students, public health, and others – instead of addressing the priorities of the American people. Republicans have had control of both chambers of Congress and the White House for nearly six months, and they have failed to deliver for the American people. Among other failures, they haven’t yet put forward a single jobs bill or an infrastructure bill; they haven’t proposed a budget or started the process to fund the government; and they haven’t introduced comprehensive tax reform.

In the Senate, FBI Director Comey testified before the Intelligence Committee yesterday, and he reiterated that Russia interfered in the election and that they will do it again if we do not get to the bottom of what happened. He was right – this isn’t a partisan issue. We must work together to protect the integrity of our democracy. That is why I continue to call for an independent, bipartisan commission to investigate Russia’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 election and ties between Russia and President Trump’s campaign.  The American people deserve a public investigation and the full truth, and Democrats will continue to urge Republicans to work with us to establish such a commission.

Sincerely yours,

How the Financial Choice Act Hurts Americans

NOTE:  Minnesota CD3 Representative Erik Paulsen voted to enact this bill June 8, 2017.

The following article by Aaron Klein was posted on the Fortune Magazine website June 7, 2017:

Shoppers peruse supermarket aisle. Photograph by Tim Boyle—Getty Images

Congress this week is considering the Choice Act, which would roll back regulations enacted after the 2007 financial crisis, particularly those designed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Yet, the legislation goes even further and limits consumer access to information that could help them make better choices.

One of the hallmarks of conservative regulatory philosophy is that educated and empowered consumers are preferable to government bureaucrats, regulations, and prohibitions. Yet, the conservatives in the House of Representatives appears ready to pass the CHOICE Act this week and in the process legally prohibit publishing data the government collects on consumer complaints on financial services. This is a mistake and would cost consumers and businesses. It would also go against the universal values of fair markets and informed consumers. Continue reading “How the Financial Choice Act Hurts Americans”

Paulsen Vote Tracker H.R. 10 Financial Choice Act of 2017 #badvotes

Status:  Passed in the House of Representatives

SUMMARY:  Rolls back the Dodd-Frank regulatory protections that were implemented following the 2008 economic crash.  The bill weakens the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).  The CFPB would be restructured as an executive branch agency with a single director who could be removed at will by the President.  The bill would remove the CFPB’s authority to police abusive acts and practices, including removing oversight of payday loans and arbitration agreements.

The bill removes the authority that provides regulators with a process for winding down large financial institutions in distress.  It would eliminate the ability of regulators to designate large non-banking financial institutions as systematically important, a label that comes with heightened oversight. Continue reading “Paulsen Vote Tracker H.R. 10 Financial Choice Act of 2017 #badvotes”