By Derek Brigham

We are at that time we see every ten years, and although it is not set in stone, I would say we are fairly safe the new CD3 district boundaries will look something like this.

We will be having a full committee meeting on Monday, Jan 23rd in Room 322.  Sorry, we don't have a room number yet nor an agenda. Margaret and Rick will get the agenda out by Monday, but wanted to give you good notice since we were going to meet in February.  We probably still will meet in Feb as well as we will have our redistricting info by then.  We thought we should meet in Jan as a last chance to discuss any questions with caucus. 

Thanks everyone. Below are the tentative dates for the 2012 meetings. After the 23rd We will get a final calendar posted

These are the 2012 meeting dates:
Jan 23 Full
Feb 27 
April 23 Full
May 28 Memorial Day  or May 21?
June 25
July 23   OR
Aug 27 Full to be voted on
Sept 24
Oct 22   OR
Nov 26 Full to be voted on
Dec No meeting

Senate District 47 is excited to announce our upcoming fundraiser and "let's get physical" social event - the "Winter Square Dance Party"!

The date is Saturday, February 25, 2012. The fun starts at 6pm with dancing starting at 7pm. We'll be at the Coon Rapids VFW, just north of Coon Rapids  Blvd and east of Hanson Blvd.

Don't worry if you have two left feet (as long as your politics are right) - our caller Dick Rueter (pronounced "reeder") is a whiz with newbies.

Buy tickets at:   http://sd47squaredance.eventbrite.com/?ref=ebtn

or linked from our web site at:   http://www.sd47gop.org

There will be a cash bar. You may eat at the VFW from 5:30-7:30pm if you wish.

By Congressman Erik Paulsen

Want to hear about the latest tax proposal from President Obama?  It seems the Obama administration's idea of tax reform is to get the government into the business of preparing tax returns.   The Obama Administration has embraced the idea of the "Simple Return" - where the IRS prepares your tax returns and sends you the tax bill.

Allowing the IRS to do your tax return is like asking the fox to guard the hen house.  This proposal would require a massive expansion of the IRS.  The IRS would face a conflict of interest between collecting the most taxpayer dollars possible and fairly filling out tax returns.  Currently, the burden to challenge a tax return rests on the IRS.  This proposal would place the burden on the taxpayer to challenge the IRS if they disagree with the IRS' prepared return.

The only thing simple about the "Simple Return" is the way it simply fleeces taxpayers.  That's why I am cosponsoring H.R. 2528 which would prohibit the IRS from getting into the business of preparing tax returns.  We cannot allow the IRS from further intruding into the lives of regular citizens.

We have a special election in SD 46, which includes part of Brooklyn Park & Brooklyn Center.  Please check your schedule & let us know when you can help your neighbors & fellow Minnesotans.  Each seat we gain in the MN Senate & House, brings us one step closer to having a veto proof majority & the ability to get legislation like 21st Century Voter ID passed without the Governor's obstruction.  80% of MNs want Voter ID.

Cory Jensen is a quality candidate, he is pro business, pro family & for smaller government. Get out the vote phone calling is crucial to Cory Jensen's success in this race, as the Democrats turned out in greater numbers in the primary.  We really need to make sure all Republicans in this District get out & vote.  Historically Republicans have won the last 2 special elections in this Senate District.
Cory can win this & with your help!

Please sign up for a shift: Thursday, Oct 13 - Tuesday Oct 18, 9 am to noon, noon to 3 pm, 3pm to 6pm or 6pm to 8:30pm.  Sunday, Oct. 16, hours start at 1pm.

Location: Rains Property: 624 Central Ave, Osseo, MN on the corner of Central Ave & 93rd Ave, just a few blocks West of Hwy 169.
GOTV Phone calls will be made on the second floor of this office building.

Please contact Kelly Janssen, 612-619-5453 to schedule a time or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Learn more about Cory Jensen at his website www.jensen4senate.com
He is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Jensen4senate
Twitter @jensen4senate

By Reps. Erik Paulsen and Jim Gerlach

At a time when our greatest priority needs to be creating jobs for our unemployed citizens, the government is on the verge of implementing a new medical device excise tax that will eliminate more than 40,000 well-paying jobs and imperil America’s global competitiveness in one of our leading industrial and technological sectors.

When asked earlier this year in a House committee hearing about the new tax on medical devices that will take effect in 2013, the secretary of Health and Human Services called the $20 billion tax “modest” and said, essentially, that it was so inconsequential that it would barely be noticed.

Now, we have verification of the damage this measure will do. A new study by two noted economists — one who was a former chief economist of the Labor Department and the other who was previously the chief economist of the House Energy and Commerce Committee — has found that, under reasonable assumptions, the medical device excise tax will result in 43,000 lost jobs and $3.5 billion in vanished wages and benefits. That’s a tremendous blow to a reeling economy.

This may be the most anti-innovation piece of legislation to come along in some time. The tax hits well-established companies and startup businesses that are suffering losses in their initial years while they invest heavily in the research and development of their first innovation for patients.

Thanks to this tax, companies could be forced to close factories in this country and look overseas where foreign governments are extremely eager to jump-start their high-tech sectors.

In worst-case scenarios, those potentially lifesaving and life-changing medical devices might never find their way to hospital beds and operating rooms.

The new device tax hits Americans in two extremely painful ways.

Read the rest at Roll Call

By Erik Paulsen

“A nation that does not control its debt does not control its destiny”

President George Washington:

"As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible." — Farewell Address, 1796

Alan Greenspan

"I have long argued that paying down the national debt is beneficial for the economy: it keeps interest rates lower than they otherwise would be and frees savings to finance increases in the capital stock, thereby boosting productivity and real incomes." — April 27, 2001

President Ronald Reagan:

"Only a constitutional amendment will do the job. We’ve tried the carrot, and it failed. With the stick of a Balanced Budget Amendment, we can stop government squandering, overtaxing ways, and save our economy." — April 29, 1982

Admiral Mike Mullen

"[Debt is] the single greatest threat to national security."  — 2010

Since our country was first conceived, the issue of debt and government spending has been at the forefront of the minds of our political leaders, national security advisors, business owners, and citizens, alike.  It’s obvious that our $14.7 trillion debt is not a Democrat problem, nor is it a Republican problem - it’s an American problem, and we’re all going to have to start speaking out in order to do something about it.

Over the last decade, our economy has stumbled.  It’s affected everyone.  Entrepreneurs aren’t creating businesses, and businesses aren’t creating jobs.  American competitiveness is at an all time low and we’re losing jobs to overseas competitors.  Families are making tough decisions and have cut down on their spending to live within their means.  However, one thing hasn’t changed is the way government spends your tax dollars.  We must work together now to resolve our spending-driven debt crisis.

In 1995 a Balanced Budget Amendment passed the House of Representatives, but was just one vote short of passing in the Senate.  Since then, our debt has increased by $9 trillion, a 180% increase!  Can you imagine how different our economy and, more importantly, our country would look today if the Balanced Budget Amendment passed?

The simple truth is Washington must stop spending money it doesn’t have.  If government begins to live within its means, just as Minnesota families do, we will begin to level the playing field for our job creators.  If businesses can gain confidence to invest, they will invest in manpower, which means jobs for Minnesotans and Americans.  It’s time to work together, take real action, and produce real results.  It’s time to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to get government spending under control.

This fall, Congress will once again consider passing a Balanced Budget Amendment.  Nearly all 50 states have been operating under either a constitutional amendment or statute requiring a balanced budget; the Federal Government should do the same.

This initiative won’t be easy.  It will take work, and it will be a bipartisan effort to put our economy back on track.  But, with some effort, confidence will restored in the markets, businesses will create more jobs and Americans will get back to work.

Our debt crisis is a legitimate threat to our nation’s security and future.  A nation that does not control its debt does not control its destiny.  In order to give our children and grandchildren a secure future and economic stability, we need to balance the budget.

There is no other issue that affects the livelihood of more Americans than the need to keep our debt, and therefore government spending, low.

From the desk of Rep.Erik Paulsen (MN-03)

I’m excited to have arrived in Israel this afternoon. I will try and provide some updates and thoughts on my meetings periodically.

There’s lots happening here, as always. In fact, it was characterized to us on my bus ride to Jerusalem, these are not only interesting times (because they’re always interesting here), but these are also unusual times. Unusual because of the 8 months of the Arab Spring, which is seeing “the street” engaged in democratic decisions in these countries. A first for these countries that have been run by dictators.

Tonight I received a briefing on the Iron Dome System, which is Israel’s new mobile missile defense system begun after the 2006 Hezbollah rocket attacks from Lebanon that reigned 8,000 rockets into the civilian population.

The first tests were just this last April and the interceptions were 100 percent effective. So the Iron Dome development is complete and with the rocket attacks launched from Gaza just in the last few days, there will be a renewed emphasis on using it. However there are only two Iron Dome defense batteries so far because of the cost. They said it’s been a three year development with minimal red tape.

Join Us and Visit for an Evening Wednesday August 31st

Social hour 7 pm, Program 8 pm

Requested Donation $60 (proceeds go to SD43 Republicans

U.S. Congressman Erik Paulsen will discuss the recent debt ceiling negotiations, potential reductions in spending and other current events in Washington.

Republican National Committeeman Jeff Johnson will discuss current activities of the Republican National Committee.

State Representative Sarah Anderson will discuss the recent State shutdown, the resulting budget and potential redistricting.
Join us 

Location BLVD Kitchen & Bar
11544 Wayzata Rd
Minnetonka, MN 55305

In order to pre-register, Click here.

SAVE THE DATE - SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

SENATE DISTRICT 33 FIFTH ANNUAL GALA
Hosted by Senate District 33 Republican Executive Committee

Thursday September 22, 2011
6:30-9:30 PM
Lafayette Club
2800 Northview Road   Minnetonka Beach   55391

• Informative Speakers
• Fabulous Hors d’ouvres  
• Browse and bid at our silent auction