Category: The Real Erik Paulsen

Minnesotans could face significant state tax hike next year in wake of federal changes

NOTE:  Rep. Paulsen voted for this bill in committee and on the floor of the U.S. House.

The following article by J. Patrick Coolican was posted on the StarTribune website January 11, 2018:

Without changes, that’s how much more Minnesotans could pay under new law

Minnesota legislators will have to decide how to respond to the new federal law changes, which will have an impact on the state tax system. Credit: GLEN STUBBE, STAR TRIBUNE

The federal tax overhaul passed late last year could mean a hefty state tax increase for Minnesotans.

If the Legislature simply conforms the state tax code to its federal counterpart — which has been standard practice in recent years — then state government would collect an additional $813 million in taxes next fiscal year, and $1.49 billion during the two years after that, due to major changes in federal tax law approved late last year by the Republican Congress and President Donald Trump.

That’s according to an estimate released this week by the state Department of Revenue. But Sen. Roger Chamberlain, R-Lino Lakes, said Minnesotans shouldn’t worry. Continue reading “Minnesotans could face significant state tax hike next year in wake of federal changes”

Republicans passed their tax bill. Now they’re spending $10 million to promote it.

The following article by Mike DeBonis was posted on the Washington Post website January 3, 2018:

A nonprofit group with ties to Republican congressional leaders is broadcasting TV ads to promote the GOP tax bill and those who voted for it. (American Action Network)

Two weeks ago, Republicans passed their massive rewrite of the federal tax code. Now a GOP group is spending millions to convince voters they will benefit from it.

The American Action Network, a nonprofit group with close ties to Republican congressional leaders, is launching a $2 million round of TV ads promoting the tax bill Wednesday, the first salvo in a $10 million campaign to give key House Republicans a boost going into November’s midterm elections.

The ads, running in 23 districts, feature a couple sitting on their couch extolling the benefits of the bill — “will save a typical family more than $2,000”; “helps create jobs and boost middle-class income” — and thanking the local lawmakers for their votes.

So far, the public is not sold. Several public polls released last month, including surveys from CNN and the Wall Street Journal/NBC News show that pluralities of Americans oppose the GOP tax bill, citing its benefits for corporations and the wealthy. Many Americans, the polls show, believe they will see a tax hike under the bill — not a tax cut.

The centerpiece of the $1.5 trillion bill is a dramatic cut in the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. Many business owners, meanwhile, will be entitled to a new 20 percent deduction on their business income, and wealthy Americans will see more of their assets sheltered from the federal estate tax. Wage earners see comparatively scant benefits — a larger standard deduction and child tax credit, as well as modestly lower income-tax rates, all of which will expire after 2025.

Democrats have been eagerly pointing to the outsize benefits for corporations and top earners, but Republican leaders believe that the public will warm to the bill once they see the benefits. For instance, employers are expected to start withholding less income tax from employee paychecks starting in February. “If we can’t sell this to the American people we ought to go into another line of work,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said after the Senate vote.

Republicans are forging ahead with their promise to overhaul the tax code, even with very little public support for their proposal. (Video: Jenny Starrs/Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

ut sell it they must, said Corry Bliss, who runs the American Action Network and its affiliated super PAC, the Congressional Leadership Fund. Amid major head winds for Republican candidates this year, his theory for doing so is simple: Lawmakers must make the case to voters that they have made a difference in everyday lives, and “grand economic theory” about boosting economic growth won’t get it done.

“It has to be connected to the individual,” he said Tuesday. “People care about themselves and their family, and they will reward people who are looking out for them and they will punish people who are not looking out for them.” Continue reading “Republicans passed their tax bill. Now they’re spending $10 million to promote it.”

LETTER: Don’t vote for Erik Paulsen

To the Editor:

Once again, voters in CD3 must choose a representative for Congress.

The representative should be responsive to constituents and accountable for his representation. Our current representative, Erik Paulsen is neither. Since his election in 2008, he has refused to hold open town halls where anyone can ask a question and everyone can hear the answer. His preferred methods of avoiding constituents are “Congress on the Corner” events where it’s one on one, “Drive By Town Halls” where your phone rings and you find yourself on a conference call and country club and corporate locations where you aren’t invited.

I’ve called the congressman’s office many times during his term. I have never once gotten a straight answer from anyone. The staff never knows his position on any issue. Occasionally I get a letter that doesn’t answer any of my questions and is written in such an ambiguous way as to completely obscure whatever position he might actually have. Continue reading “LETTER: Don’t vote for Erik Paulsen”

Years of Attack Leave Obamacare a More Government-Focused Health Law

The following article by Robert Pear was posted on the New York Times website December 27, 2017:

Volunteers in the Maine People’s Alliance office before going door to door to urge voters to back Medicaid expansion in Bangor, Me., in October. Credit Sarah Rice for The New York Times

WASHINGTON — The Affordable Care Act was conceived as a mix of publicly funded health care and privately purchased insurance, but Republican attacks, culminating this month in the death of a mandate that most Americans have insurance, are shifting the balance, giving the government a larger role than Democrats ever anticipated.

And while President Trump insisted again on Tuesday that the health law was “essentially” being repealed, what remains of it appears relatively stable and increasingly government-funded.

In short, President Barack Obama’s signature domestic achievement is becoming more like what conservatives despise — government-run health care — thanks in part to Republican efforts that are raising premiums for people without government assistance and allowing them to skirt coverage. Continue reading “Years of Attack Leave Obamacare a More Government-Focused Health Law”

Reciprocal conceal and carry will allow more guns

To the editor:

This month, the House of Representatives passed HR 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. The companion bill in the Senate is S 446. This bill would force Minnesota to allow anyone who has a conceal carry permit from another state to carry in Minnesota – regardless of the requirements, or lack thereof, from the home state. For example, consider the laws in Georgia. That state recommends, but does not require safety training and exempts license holders from NICS background checks when buying a gun for the five-year duration of the license. Currently, a total of 19 states do not allow Georgia conceal carry license holders to carry in their state – including Minnesota. Continue reading “Reciprocal conceal and carry will allow more guns”

Live: How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill

NOTE:  Rep. Erik Paulsen voted FOR the GOP tax bill, as he did for the GOP health insurance bill.  Both didn’t put the interests of the majority of his constituents first, but those of the ultra rich and large corporations.

The following article by Sarah Almukhtar, Audrey Carlsen, K.K. Rebecca Lai, Blacki Migliozzi, Alicia Parlapiano, Jugal K. Patel and Rachel Shorey was posted on the New York Times website December 19, 2017:

Live: How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill

The House voted on Tuesday to pass the Republican tax overhaul bill. The Times tracked how every representative voted, live from the House chamber.

Continue reading “Live: How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill”

Why I’m opposed to the ‘Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’

To the Editor:

I recently called Rep. Erik Paulsen’s office, regarding H.R.1 — the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” urging him to vote against this act.  I would have preferred to present my views in a town hall meeting, but since Rep. Paulsen does not hold open public meetings where constituents can publicly express their views on legislation, I’ll share them here.

They jobs act that Rep. Paulsen supports and voted for creates no jobs but will transfer US treasury dollars to the top 1-percent earners by increasing taxes on the middle class.  If signed into law, it will basically re-distribute wealth from the middle class to the super rich. Continue reading “Why I’m opposed to the ‘Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’”

What happened to Erik Paulsen, deficit hawk?

To the Editor:

On April 15, 2011, Congressman Erik Paulsen issued a press release with the headline, “Paulsen Votes to Reduce Deficits, Pay Down the Debt.”  In the release, he touted his votes in favor of the federal government living within its means and the importance of fiscal responsibility.

Fast forward to 2017 and now we observe that Paulsen is a strong advocate for the GOP tax bill that is about to become law.  He used his powerful position on the Ways and Means Committee to help craft it; he tweets about it daily; and he speaks passionately in favor of it in local and national interviews. Continue reading “What happened to Erik Paulsen, deficit hawk?”

Paulsen not entitled to his own facts

To the Editor:

Congressman Erik Paulsen released the following statement following the House of Representatives passed (sic) of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

“After more than 31 years, the House passed tax reform that will allow our economy to grow and benefit American individuals, families, and businesses,” said Paulsen.  “Tax reform for me is about one thing:  Restoring the hope for a prosperous future for ourselves, our parents, and — most importantly — our children.”

Paulsen to varying degrees, has committed to “alternative facts.” Continue reading “Paulsen not entitled to his own facts”

Support for Tax Plan Could Hurt Candidates

The following article by Taegan Goddard was posted on the Political Wire website December 13, 2017:

A new Quinnipiac poll finds American voters disapprove of the pending Republican tax plan by a wide margin, 55% to 26%, and 43% say they are less likely to vote for a U.S. Senator or Congressperson who supports the plan.

Key finding: “Only 16% of American voters say the tax plan will reduce their taxes, while 44% say it will increase their taxes and 30% say the tax plan will have little impact.”

For members: Where’s the Political Upside in the GOP Tax Plan?

View the post here.