Tag: 3rd CD

Paulsen Doesn’t Seem to Respect His Constituents

To the Editor:

Rep. Erik Paulsen does not seem to respect his constituents. Take the American Health Care Act. Asked the Congressman’s position, staff in DC and Eden Prairie don’t know or haven’t spoken with him.

But wait, according to The Hill Senior Staff Writer Scott Wong’s tweet of May 1, Mr. Paulsen whipped this bill. It’s unlikely he whipped votes without supporting the bill.

Pretending to be undecided is disrespectful. Third District voters were falsely led to believe Paulsen might care about their opinion. Continue reading “Paulsen Doesn’t Seem to Respect His Constituents”

GOP’s Erik Paulsen spent big on last cycle, on track to do so again

The following article by Maya Rao was posted on the Star Tribune website April 30, 2017:

Democrats targeting seat with attack ads over ACA.

GLEN STUBBE • STAR TRIBUNE
In 2015 and 2016, U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen more than doubled his campaign spending.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen, who spent more on his own re-election last year than any other Minnesotan in Congress, is continuing to spend big this year as he prepares for what is likely to be another competitive race in 2018.

According to recent Federal Election Commission filings, Paulsen laid out $198,087 from his campaign account during the first three months of this year — more than any other federal representative from Minnesota except for Rep. Keith Ellison, whose $879,852 in spending so far in 2017 was mostly tied to his unsuccessful bid to lead the Democratic National Committee.

Now Minnesota’s senior elected Republican in Washington, Paulsen in the previous election cycle spent far more defending his congressional seat last year than any other Minnesotan in Congress: $5.8 million. Most of that was on media advertising — more than any of the 435 other members of the U.S. House, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington, D.C. Continue reading “GOP’s Erik Paulsen spent big on last cycle, on track to do so again”

Paulsen is not a moderate

To the Editor:

Reaons why Erik Paulsen does not reflect the values of the Minnesota Third Congressional District:

Vote Smart, formerly called Project Vote Smart, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States. See http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/3833/erik-paulsen. Continue reading “Paulsen is not a moderate”

Paulsen’s votes have little to do with his Earth Day persona

To commemorate Earth Day, my congressman, Rep. Erik Paulsen, posted appealing photo ops on social media and bland positive statements about national parks on his website.

However, his actual voting record bears no resemblance to the persona he creates online and in my district. Few are aware of his terrible record on the environment, as documented by the League of Conservation voters (16% lifetime environmental voting record).

Just this year he has already voted to repeal a regulation that protected thousands of miles of streams from coal mining debris, and to devalue federal lands to make them easier to sell off for sale, mining or development.

His constituents deserve a representative who presents himself honestly. Something doesn’t match — either Paulsen needs to stop dissembling or change his votes to match his public persona.

Jena Martin, Minnetonka
MinnPost, April 24, 2017

Killing the medical device tax hasn’t boosted jobs as Erik Paulsen claimed it would

The following article by Cory Zorwoski was posted on the CityPages website April 21, 2017:

The Minnesota Republican sometimes dresses as a surgeon while playing the role of a lawmaker who’s supposed to represent the people.

Zimmer Biomet, an Indiana-based manufacturer of artificial joint orthopedics and dental prostheses, has a BFF in Minnesota Congressman Rep. Erik Paulsen.

The tax took effect in January 2013. Its two-year respite started in December 2015.

Coming off his successful November reelection, Paulsen’s “first initiative” in 2017 was introducing legislation that would permanently repeal the tax. Continue reading “Killing the medical device tax hasn’t boosted jobs as Erik Paulsen claimed it would”

Erik Paulsen has 306,400 Reasons Why He Doesn’t Do Town Halls

The following article was posted on the MN Political Roundtable site April 19, 2017:

On March 29, 2017, the Paulsen For Congress Committee recorded two donations from COMCAST PAC … totaling $3,500.

A donation to political campaigns is not shocking … just read Ken Buck’s (R-CO-04) book Drain the Swamp: How Washington Corruption is Worse than You Think

Congressman Ken Buck is blowing the whistle on the real-life House of Cards in our nation’s capital. Continue reading “Erik Paulsen has 306,400 Reasons Why He Doesn’t Do Town Halls”

Families of disabled wait in vain in the rain for Erik Paulsen’s ear on healthcare

The following article by Susan Du was posted on the City Pages website April 19, 2017:


Residents followed their elusive congressman to a Bloomington Chamber of Commerce event in hopes of having a chance to speak with him. Paulsen ignored them.

While Congressman Erik Paulsen (R-Eden Prairie) headlined an exclusive forum hosted by the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday morning, some of his constituents stood outside, waiting for him in the thickening downpour.

Bearing signs asking, “Where’s Erik?” they say Paulsen’s office has ignored their phone calls and emails requesting a town hall to talk about healthcare.

In January, Paulsen voted to begin the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act before Congress had come up with a replacement for it. House Republicans’ proposed alternative eventually failed to get enough votes. Continue reading “Families of disabled wait in vain in the rain for Erik Paulsen’s ear on healthcare”

Patients can’t go back to pre-ACA

I am twice a cancer survivor.  With my first diagnosis in 1999 and my second in 2001, I felt lost.  I couldn’t see what the future would hold.  My fears lessen as time passes and my treatment has been successful, but a new concern has emerged.  I now have a pre-existing condition that health insurance companies used to claim made people too risky to insure.

The Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, prohibits such discrimination and implemented many other positive patient protections, that often get lost when we talk about its downsides. The ACA isn’t perfect. But cancer patients and survivors cannot afford to return to a time when insurance is unaffordable, coverage is inadequate and their treatment is at risk. Continue reading “Patients can’t go back to pre-ACA”

It’s time for a real town hall meeting

Thanks to John Mallo for posing questions to Rep. Erik Paulsen; my hope is that we have the opportunity to hear or see thorough answers to these questions, and not by way of “phone” town meetings. Constituents like me would like to meet with him, perhaps in a real town hall meeting. It’s an important part of what it means to be a democracy.

I would like to add questions about an additional area of concern:  health care legislation. Prior to the withdrawal of the Republican proposal (which I assume Paulsen would have voted for*) his position was:  “After many years and countless stories of patients facing skyrocketing premiums, losing their health care plan and not being able to see their doctor, we are replacement Obamacare with a plan that will lower costs and give patients immediate relief.” Continue reading “It’s time for a real town hall meeting”

Trump’s budget built on greed, fear

Former Vice President Joe Biden said:  “Don’t tell me what you value. Show me your budget, and I will tell you what you value.”

Republican President Trump has just released the short version of his proposed budget. The Trump administration proposes a $54 billion increase in military expenditures. This budget moves us to the ideals of the Roman Empire. Peace through military strength. Rebellions were ruthlessly put down by military might. The wealthy ruled, and the ordinary people were heavily taxed. Continue reading “Trump’s budget built on greed, fear”