Reps. Paulsen, Lewis under pressure over town halls

The members of Congress have opted for "telephone town halls," business tours or private meetings rather than general public meetings this year.

March 26, 2017 at 2:24AM
Rep. Erik Paulsen addressed the Republican victory party crowd in November with his wife at his side.
Rep. Erik Paulsen addressed the Republican victory party crowd in November with his wife at his side. (Jeff Wheeler - Star Tribune file/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Indivisible groups in Minnesota focused initial bursts of political organizing on the state's three Republican members of Congress, particularly the two who have not recently appeared in public back home.

Hundreds turned out to events that sought appearances by Rep. Jason Lewis of the Second Congressional District or Rep. Erik Paulsen of the Third. Both opted for "telephone town halls," business tours or private meetings rather than general public meetings this year.

That's been a point of contention for progressive groups and frustrated voters, who turned out in big numbers to a town hall by Minnesota's other Republican in Congress, Rep. Tom Emmer of the Sixth District.

Lewis and Paulsen both told the Star Tribune they intend to hold town halls in the future.

Paulsen, in office since 2009, said he's not surprised by the political outpouring of the early Trump era. He thinks it would have been similar if Democrat Hillary Clinton had been elected president. He said he's held over 100 meetings throughout his congressional career, though it's unclear how many were large public meetings as opposed to phone meetings or his smaller "Congress on Your Corner" events.

Paulsen's critics insist the congressman has not held a formal town hall in several years. His office did not respond to repeated requests for clarification about when the last such event was held.

"In a time when there's a lot of bombast and posturing and emotion, I'm focused on being productive and getting stuff done," Paulsen said.

Lewis, a first-termer, said he's open to holding an event. He said he believes many concerns raised by members of Indivisible and other groups are genuine, but suggested some are angling to make political points for the next election.

"I'll be honest with you: I'm not looking forward to doing a town hall because it's going to go great, and I'm not avoiding them because it's going to go bad," Lewis said.

Jason Lewis ] GLEN STUBBE * gstubbe@startribune.com Thursday, November 19, 2015 GOP candidates at debate on CD2 race at the Gateway Christian Church, Inver Grove Heights.
"I'll be honest with you: I'm not looking forward to doing a town hall because it's going to go great, and I'm not avoiding them because it's going to go bad," Rep. Jason Lewis said. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Erin Golden

Cities team leader

Erin Golden is a cities team leader at the Star Tribune, working with reporters who cover Minneapolis, Hennepin County and metro suburbs. She was previously a reporter at the Star Tribune and other newspapers covering topics ranging from state politics to education to business. 

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