Tag: Minnesota Way

Paulsen’s Final Refusal to Sign “Minnesota Way” Pledge Prompts a Loan from Dean Phillips to His Campaign

Phillips fulfills commitment made at the beginning of his campaign to compete against Paulsen’s special-interest millions

EXCELSIOR, MN – Today Dean Phillips announced that he has loaned his campaign $1,316,568.50 – exactly half the sum Erik Paulsen has taken from special interest PACs as of September 30th of this year. Paulsen has raised nearly $100,000 more since then, and is now the 4th biggest taker of special interest PAC dollars in the entire Congress.

Erik Paulsen and the outside special interest groups who support him are outspending Phillips by a 3:1 margin. Phillips, who refuses to accept money from special interest PACs, federal lobbyists or members of Congress, has raised over $4 million from more than 66,000 individuals at an average of just $36 per contribution. Phillips stated at the very beginning of his campaign that he would rather help resource his own campaign than be bought off by the special interest groups that bankroll representatives like Erik Paulsen.

“I offered Congressman Paulsen the opportunity to run this campaign the Minnesota Way – without special interest money and without self-funding – but he refused time and time again,” said Phillips. “Congressman Paulsen is benefitting from millions more being spent on his behalf on despicable ads filled with lies and objectively misleading claims. On behalf of a district that demands principled representation, I will not let Erik Paulsen and out-of-state special interests buy this election.” Continue reading “Paulsen’s Final Refusal to Sign “Minnesota Way” Pledge Prompts a Loan from Dean Phillips to His Campaign”

Erik Paulsen Refuses to Sign on to the Minnesota Way Pledge that Includes Proposals He Previously Supported

Hamel, MN – At a hastily noticed town hall meeting that was held at 10:00 AM on a work day and restricted to randomly-selected ticket-holders, Erik Paulsen was challenged by several of his constituents on issues related to campaign finance reform, and asked why he has so far refused to sign The Minnesota Way pledge that includes proposals he himself has supported as recently as 2016.

Paulsen’s response was that he “doesn’t have the latitude of inheriting millions of dollars and spending it on his own campaign” – an apparent reference to Dean Phillips, who has to date contributed $5,400 to his campaign, the maximum allowed by an individual, and in-kinded a total of $19,596.52.

What’s more, Phillips has already stated publicly that if Congressman Paulsen signs The Minnesota Way pledge, he will agree to forego any self-financing of his own campaign.

Continue reading “Erik Paulsen Refuses to Sign on to the Minnesota Way Pledge that Includes Proposals He Previously Supported”

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