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Tick … Tick … Tick …Twenty-One Days Later, Rep. Erik Paulsen Still Silent on the Minnesota Way Pledge

Dean Phillips challenged Erik Paulsen to sign The Minnesota Way pledge on April 19

Excelsior, MN – Today marks three weeks since Dean Phillips asked Rep. Erik Paulsen to sign The Minnesota Way pledge in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District. So far, Paulsen has refused to sign the pledge, which includes at least two provisions he once favored.

“The Minnesota Way is about restoring integrity and decency to our political process. It would dramatically reduce – or even eliminate – outside special interest money, and put the people of our district first,” said Dean Phillips. “Erik Paulsen is already on record supporting the People’s Pledge and eliminating PAC contributions. If committing to public interactions with his constituents is what’s stopping him from signing the pledge, then I would argue he’s failing at the core responsibility of representation, which is listening.”

Campaign finance reform has long been a top priority for Phillips. In October of last year, he laid out his “Government RepairPlan” – a five part policy proposal to begin addressing the problem of money in politics.

Reports show Erik Paulsen is a leading recipient of contributions from Political Action Committees, having received the 9th-most PAC dollars so far this election cycle. Paulsen also received the 8th most in the 2016 election cycle.

Two different polls show Phillips already leading Paulsen, most recently by a three-point margin (46 to 43), and three different national election experts have designated Minnesota’s 3rd District a “Toss Up” for the first time.

Additional Background Materials:

Erik Paulsen on PAC Contributions: “Two years later, he authored a bill to prohibit candidates from receiving money from political action groups. “We must act to negate the very perception that special interest money controls the way our government is run,” he explained.”  The Cowardly Lion: Minnesota needs a hero. It has Erik Paulsen instead. City Pages, October14, 2017.

Erik Paulsen refuses to agree to public town hall meetings. Petitioners ask Paulsen to hold town hall meetings. Eden Prairie News, Feb. 15, 2017.

Paulsen challenges Senator Bonoff to sign the People’s Pledge in 2016: “Paulsen said he signed a pledge to reject campaign spending from outside third-party political groups and challenged Bonoff to do the same. “The people of this district deserve a race that’s going to be about issues and about our records,” he said.” Congressional candidates square off in Chamber debate. Southwest NewsMedia, August 17, 2016.

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