Minnesota is a key battleground this election day. With more than half of the state’s Congressional districts up for grabs, Minnesota could decide which party controls Congress. NBC’s Kasie Hunt joins Craig Melvin with details on why this could be the true bellwether come November 6th.
Tag: Rep. Paulsen
Watch: New DCCC Ad Warns Minnesotans About the “Paulsen Way”
Today, the DCCC launched a new ad in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District, warning voters that Rep. Erik Paulsen is a bought-and-sold politician who has lost touch with Minnesotans. Paulsen, who ranks 5th in the country for the most special interest money taken, has banked more than $2 million dollars from special interests while voting their way in D.C.
Since Paulsen can’t defend his own record, he’s using that special interest cash to launch false attacks on his opponent Dean Phillips. Paulsen and his allies have come under fire for launching a series of attack ads that have been condemned by business leaders, fellow Republicans and the media: Continue reading “Watch: New DCCC Ad Warns Minnesotans About the “Paulsen Way””
Dean Phillips: In U.S. House race, Paulsen’s negative campaign puts party over voters’ interests
A return to decency is possible, but it will take a new generation of independent-minded leaders in Congress — from both parties.
When I entered the race for Congress 18 months ago, I was fulfilling a promise I made to my teenage daughters after the 2016 election to do something to help repair our politics — and our government.
I believe our Constitution anticipated a president like Donald Trump, but it surely did not anticipate a Congress filled with so many career politicians who lack courage, who place party before principle, and who favor special interests that finance their campaigns over the common interests they’re elected to serve.
Unfortunately, among the worst practitioners of such misrepresentation is Erik Paulsen, the current congressman from Minnesota’s Third District.
Despite representing a district in which only 41 percent voted for Donald Trump, Paulsen votes with the president’s agenda 98 percent of the time. Despite taking an oath to represent his constituents, he went almost seven years before holding an in-person town hall meeting. And despite once sponsoring a bill to ban special-interest PAC money from elections, he is now the fourth biggest taker of special interest money in the entire 435-member House of Representatives. Continue reading “Dean Phillips: In U.S. House race, Paulsen’s negative campaign puts party over voters’ interests”
Erik Paulsen Earns Trump’s Endorsement
President backs a loyal footsoldier in competitive race in moderate MN03
Excelsior, MN – Just before midnight last night, President Donald Trump delivered a glowing endorsement to one of his most loyal members of Congress — faux moderate Erik Paulsen.
“Congressman Erik Paulsen of the Great State of Minnesota has done a fantastic job in cutting Taxes and Job Killing Regulations,” President Trump tweeted. “Hard working and very smart. Keep Erik in Congress. He has my Strong Endorsement!”
This endorsement should not come as a surprise. Despite attempting to paint himself as a moderate, Congressman Paulsen votes with Trump 98% of the time, the highest rate in the entire Minnesota delegation, despite the fact that only 40% of voters supported Donald Trump in 2016.
“Donald Trump doesn’t endorse moderates. Congressman Paulsen’s record of voting with the President 98% of the time has earned him the Trump seal of approval,” said Zach Rodvold, campaign manager for Phillips for Congress. “And Congressman Paulsen doesn’t just vote with Trump 98% of the time, he’s beginning to behave like him too, using personal insults and slander and telling lie after lie in his ads and in public appearances. Voters are finally getting to know the real Erik Paulsen — and they don’t like what they see.”
Paulsen takes campaign to a new low
I was sitting in the waiting room at the Allina Radiology and Oncology center when I first saw Erik Paulsen’s ad demonizing Dean Phillips and the Allina Health Care system. The feeling of gratitude that had filled my heart as I was waiting for my last visit with my radiologist for my breast cancer treatment was replaced with disgust and anger as I watched this dark and vulgar video. I looked around the room at the others waiting for care and I wondered how they would feel if they happened upon the ad as I just did. When you are being treated for a life threatening condition and you have hope you have won the battle with the excellent care of the hospital and their staff, your gratitude makes you want to fight for their honor and reputation.
I am appalled that Erik Paulsen trashes Dean Phillips in one ad after another, but now Paulsen is trashing a place where thousands have found cures and help at the most difficult times of their lives. Erik Paulsen has taken the dark ads to a new low. It is simply disgusting.
Erik Paulsen will be leaving Congress with a disgraced reputation rather than one that honors him for serving. He must be desperate to be willing to tarnish his service in this way. The only ads I see from Paulsen’s team are ones trashing Dean Phillips. Has Paulsen nothing positive to say about himself? Continue reading “Paulsen takes campaign to a new low”
Paulsen’s Dishonest Campaign Barrels on with No Regard for Truth in Final MN03 Debate
When asked, Erik Paulsen has a misleading or flat out false answer for everything
Excelsior, MN — At the final debate between Erik Paulsen and Dean Phillips today, Congressman Paulsen doubled down on the lies and distortions that have come to be a hallmark of his campaign. Erik Paulsen deceived at every turn, wrapping up a negative campaign the likes of which is unprecedented in Minnesota political history.
“Congressman Paulsen’s dishonest tactics were on display again today,” said Zach Rodvold, campaign manager for Phillips for Congress. “Not only is Congressman Paulsen voting with Trump 98% of the time, he’s beginning to behave like him too, using personal insults and slander and telling lie after lie in his ads and in public appearances. That’s why more and more former Erik Paulsen supporters are joining the Dean Team every day.”
“I’ve simply had it,” said one of Paulsen’s former supporters, David Hawes from Minnetonka, who has voted for Paulsen four times. “Erik Paulsen is running the worst smear campaign Minnesota has ever seen – and this year I am switching my vote to Dean Phillips.”
Here are a few of Congressman Paulsen’s deviations from the truth from today’s KSTP debate: Continue reading “Paulsen’s Dishonest Campaign Barrels on with No Regard for Truth in Final MN03 Debate”
Medical costs transparency
Erik Paulsen has failed us in healthcare cost containment.
In his position on the Health Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee, he has been presented with numerous ideas to contain costs. He has chosen instead to promote Health Savings Accounts.
Since we have no choice but to pay whatever bill shows up, having an HSA does nothing to check rising healthcare costs. Minnesota did pass a law this year that will require primary care physicians to post the prices of their 25 most common procedures, so next year we will be able to compare the cost of wart removal and a sore throat exam. Where we need the cost comparisons is for a hip replacement, cancer treatment, and heart valve replacement surgery.
I checked and found that other states already require different levels of transparency. Even my home state of Nebraska has had hospitals posting their fees for years now. Minnesota is behind in this commonsense, competitive way to lower the costs of healthcare.
We are the home of big healthcare insurance companies, who have given politicians lots of money to promote ideas that don’t contain costs.
Dean Phillips has pledged not to take this kind of money. I am ready to give him the chance to go to Washington and change Congress, to be responsive to people again.
Working people run this economy. It is time we recognize our value and vote to take care of ourselves and our families.
Sally Johnson, Chanhassen
Chanhassen Villager, October 20, 2018
Erik Paulsen Repeats False and Misleading Claims in TPT Debate
Paulsen’s historically dishonest and negative campaign is beginning to backfire
Excelsior, MN – Throughout the course of last evening’s Third District Congressional debate, Congressman Erik Paulsen repeatedly made false claims about both his own record and Dean Phillips’s policy priorities. For those watching, it was again clear that the incumbent Congressman is out of ideas and instead is waging one of the most dishonest campaigns in Minnesota history in order to hold onto power at all costs.
“Congressman Paulsen’s dishonest campaign is starting to backfire,” said Zach Rodvold, campaign manager for Phillips for Congress. “Not only is Congressman Paulsen voting with Trump 98% of the time, he’s beginning to behave like him too, using personal insults and slander and telling lie after lie in his ads and in public appearances. That’s why more and more former Erik Paulsen supporters are joining the Dean Team every day.”
“I’ve simply had it,” said one of Paulsen’s former supporters, David Hawes from Minnetonka, who has voted for Paulsen four times. “Erik Paulsen is running the worst smear campaign Minnesota has ever seen – and this year I am switching my vote to Dean Phillips.”
Continue reading “Erik Paulsen Repeats False and Misleading Claims in TPT Debate”
VERIFY: Paulsen attack ad misleading
Truth Test: Paulsen Attack on Phillips Gets D-
A new television ad by Republican 3rd District Congressional candidate Erik Paulsen exaggerates and misleads in an attempt to tie Democratic opponent Dean Phillips to another candidate accused of domestic abuse.
“Sleazy Keith Ellison and Shady Dean Phillips both caught up in another sexual harassment scandal,” says the new ad, making it sound like the two are caught up in the same sexual harassment scandal.
“Ellison accused of physical abuse,” the ad continues. “Phillips charged with ignoring sexual harassment and discrimination at his companies.”