40 Facts About Erik Paulsen

Erik Philip Paulsen was born on May 14,1965 and is an American businessman and politician who represented in the United States House of Representatives from 2009 to 2019.

In 1994, Paulsen was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives from District 42B, which covered part of suburban Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

Erik Paulsen was reelected six times and, in addition, he was elected by his fellow house Republicans to serve as majority leader from 2003 until 2007.

Erik Paulsen won the 2008 election to the US House of Representatives in Minnesota's 3rd congressional district, which covers the western suburbs of the Twin Cities, and succeeded retiring Republican incumbent Jim Ramstad.

Erik Paulsen easily won reelection four times, but was defeated in his 2018 reelection bid by Democrat Dean Phillips.

Erik Paulsen attended St Olaf College, and received a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics in 1987.

Erik Paulsen then took a staff position with Republican Representative Jim Ramstad in Washington, DC He worked on Ramstad's local congressional campaign in 1992 before seeking election to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1994.

From 2007 to 2009 Erik Paulsen worked as a part-time business analyst for Target Corporation while a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Erik Paulsen served on the Commerce and Labor, Rules and Legislative Administration, Taxes, and Ways and Means committees.

In 2017 a group of constituents sought signatures on a petition asking Erik Paulsen to hold public town hall meetings.

Erik Paulsen was invited to attend a "With or Without Him" town hall meeting but declined.

On May 30,2018, Erik Paulsen held three in-person town hall meetings in the 3rd district.

Erik Paulsen was a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership, the Republican Study Committee, the Congressional Arts Caucus, the United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus and the Climate Solutions Caucus.

Erik Paulsen opposed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.

Erik Paulsen introduced the Text a Tip Act to the House in 2010.

In 2010 Erik Paulsen cosponsored a draft of the Small Business Assistance and Relief Act intended to provide increased lending and aid for small businesses and ease their financial burden.

Erik Paulsen supported the special investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and Trump's dismissal of James Comey.

In February 2017 Erik Paulsen voted against requesting Trump's tax returns from the Treasury Department.

Erik Paulsen helped to author the Republican tax reform of 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Erik Paulsen supported continuing the Bush-era tax cuts and global free trade agreements.

Erik Paulsen voted for the fiscal 2012 federal budget plan that provided for substantial overhaul of Medicare, including replacement of the traditional program with a premium support payment for private health insurance coverage for Americans under age 55.

Erik Paulsen voted against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and Dodd-Frank.

In 2009 Erik Paulsen expressed opposition to a public health insurance option and instead supported a Republican alternative plan.

On May 4,2017, Erik Paulsen voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and for the American Health Care Act.

In February 2018 Erik Paulsen sponsored legislation to repeal caps on Medicare outpatient services such as physical therapy.

Erik Paulsen introduced legislation to combat opioid abuse by educating seniors about non-opioid alternative pain treatments and ways to safely dispose of addictive painkillers.

In May 2018 Erik Paulsen joined House Democrats in signing a "discharge petition" to force the House to vote on a series of immigration bills, including one that would provide permanent legal status to those who came to the country illegally as children.

Erik Paulsen did not support building a wall along the US border with Mexico, citing its projected multi-billion-dollar cost.

Erik Paulsen voted against allowing copper-sulfide mining in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

In 2010 Erik Paulsen voted against a bill repealing the US military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

From 2007 through 2018 Erik Paulsen received $21,150 in campaign contributions from the NRA Political Victory Fund, which gave him an "A" rating.

In February 2018 Erik Paulsen said he would support a ban on bump stocks, strengthened background checks, a lifting of the ban on federal research for gun violence, and gun violence restraining orders.

In May 2018 Erik Paulsen co-sponsored the Jake Laird Act, which provides grants to encourage states to adopt gun violence restraining order laws.

In December 2017 Erik Paulsen voted for the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, which allows people with a concealed carry permit in one state to legally travel with hidden guns to any other state.

Erik Paulsen strongly supported a bill that would make it easier for nonbank financial institutions such as money service businesses to provide remittance payments internationally.

Also in 2015 Erik Paulsen authored a bill to provide tax incentives to encourage food donations and wrote a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act that requires the Department of Defense to return all military working dogs to the United States after completing their service.

Erik Paulsen serves as a board member of the Eden Prairie A Brighter Day Foundation, Habitat for Global Learning, Habitat for Technology and the Southdale YMCA.

Erik Paulsen is a member of the American Council of Young Political Leaders and the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, and volunteers for Learning Exchange.

Erik Paulsen has participated in the inaugural two-year class of the Aspen Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership, the German Marshall Memorial Fellowship, the Young Leaders Forum of the National Committee on US-China Relations, and the American Council of Young Political Leaders.

Erik Paulsen has been granted an Aspen Institute Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership, and a Marshall Memorial Fellowship from the German Marshall Fund of the United States.