Jim Meffert won the DFL endorsement for the U.S. House seat by acclamation at the 3rd Congressional District Convention April 10. In his acceptance speech, Meffert emphasized the importance of diversity, community, and responsibility. “We need to fight for each other. That’s what community is all about. That’s what neighbors do. I’m running for Congress for the chance to fight for you. . .
I will be the voice
for the 140,000 Minnesota children living in poverty, for the 480,000 uninsured Minnesotans, for the families and the people who have lost their jobs and are concerned about losing their homes, and for patients who are struggling to pay their medical bills. I'll be a voice for our children and their future. . . We are all in this to build strong communities and help our neighbors build better lives."
Jim Meffert is a stark contrast to first term incumbent Erik Paulsen who has voted against middle class tax cuts, against extension of unemployment benefits in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, against extending the same protections to homeowners facing foreclosures that already apply to owners of luxury yachts and vacation homes, against the Wall Street Accountability and Consumer Protection Act, against the Health Reform Bill that extends health insurance to 32 million more Americans and stops the most serious insurance industry abuses, and even against the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act that prevents pay discrimination against women. Paulsen received a grade of F assigned to Senators and Representatives who vote less than 40% of the time for the middle class and those who aspire to be middle class . Paulsen's score was a very low 28%.
Jim Meffert is currently the chief executive of the Minnesota Optometric Association. He worked for the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons on coverage for reconstruction after mastectomy, cleft lip and palate repair and to ensure access to burn care and reconstructive surgery were included in the Clinton Health Plan proposals. He has fought to improve Minnesota's public schools as past President of the Minnesota Parent Teacher Association and as a parent representative for the Alliance for Student Achievement and for the Growth and Justice Foundation Smart Investments in Public Education Steering Committee.
It is time for the people of the Third Congressional District to have a Representative in Washington who stands up for them. With your help, Jim Meffert will be that Representative who "never stops fighting for you."
Jim Meffert Addresses State DFL Convention
Tuesday, 27 April 2010 Videos Recorded by the UpTake
Introducing himself as the Candidate who is going to beat Erik Paulsen, Jim Meffert told the delegates, "Make no mistake. The Third District is our turf. It's DFL ground. It's our house. And we're about to give Erik Paulsen an eviction notice. . . We're going to win this election by standing up for what we believe in, by believing in we the people, by standing in the face of fear and division and bringing back hope. We're going to win by standing up for our neighbors, by giving voice to those who are overlooked, by building bridges instead of walls, by empowering the diverse communities in our district."
Meffert - Can't Allow Enormous Step Forward in Health Care to Be Dismantled
Jim Meffert
Further, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports that the bill will reduce the federal deficit by $1.2 Trillion over the next two decades. The reforms in this bill will help reduce Minnesota's health care taxes by nearly 5% because we will no longer need MinnesotaCare. We can get rid of the assessments, premiums and provider taxes.
This bill is a first step towards achieving universal and affordable health care as a right, not a privilege.
Yet there will be a great deal of resistance as we continue the fight for better health care for all. The insurance industry, highly paid specialists and health company CEOs have plenty of advocates in Congress who will attempt to reverse or block further reform at every turn. Congressman Erik Paulsen has collected over $198,000 from health care interests and has consistently opposed reform in the state legislature and now in Congress according to Alliance Minnesota. We cannot allow Rep. Paulsen and the extreme right to succeed in dismantling the progress we have made.
Find out more on Jim Meffert at the Jim Meffert for Congress website and by listening to Tim O'Brien interview Jim on Democratic Visions.
