Erik Paulsen: Trying to hide his terrible environmental record

by: Jeff Rosenberg

Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 09:45:37 AM CDT

The worst part, though, is that Paulsen seems to know that 3rd district voters won't like his views on the environment. As a seasoned career politician, he knows that he can only win by sweeping his real policies under the rug. He's no moderate like Jim Ramstad was, but he hopes he can appear like one just long enough to fool you.

Always the pandering politician, Paulsen is even happy to take credit for environmental efforts he opposed! Just this year, Paulsen put out a press release saying:

State Representative Erik Paulsen today [April 25, 2008] passed legislation that will study the impact road salt and other de-icing methods have on Minnesota's streams, rivers and lakes.... The amendment was unanimously added to the Transportation Policy bill in Minnesota House on Thursday, April 24.

Simply put, Paulsen consistently tries to disguise his record with shady tactics like this. He often votes for environmental bills, once he has failed to kill them with amendments. But I'm not fooled. Here's some research I've done on the worst of Paulsen's record.  

I've already asked whether Paulsen believes in global warming. His record calls that even further into question. In 2008, Paulsen voted to require public hearings on the scientific evidence for global warming.(House Journal pp. 10550 - 10551). He also voted to require a study on gloval warming to include "a summary of findings from credible scientists, researchers, and higher educational institutions that attribute causes other than human activity as causes of climate change language" (House Journal p. 10553).

Paulsen voted FOR a bill creating a greenhouse gas emission reduction coordinated process (SF3337) (House Journal p. 10552), but not before trying to kill it by deleting all of the definitions (including the definition of Global Warming), as well as sections requiring the disclosure of greenhouse gases sold and leaked, and a required report identifying emission sources and options for reducing or eliminating them.  (House Journal p. 10548)

He also voted to remove language that would have Minnesota participate in the Midwest regional cap and trade program (House Journal p. 10554).

Paulsen votes for renewable energy once it becomes politically popular

Paulsen voted FOR the Next Generation Energy Act of 2007 (SF145) (House Journal p. 7518), but it looks like, once again, he's just trying to fool you. Why? Because he opposed this policy in the past. In 2005 he voted AGAINST an amendment which would have required 20 percent of energy to be produced from renewable sources by 2020 (House Journal p. 4197). In 2001 he voted against an amendment which would have required a small amount of Minnesota's energy to be produced from renewable technologies (House Journal p. 4554).

Paulsen consistently voted against testing for contaminants in drinking water.

Paulsen twice voted against language that would have required anyone selling real estate to provide buyers with the results of drinking water tests, in 2001 and 2003 (2001 House Journal p. 3063, 2003 House Journal p. 4363)

In 2007, he also voted against language that would require Xcel energy to provide tests of drinking water for communities near the Prairie Island nuclear plant (House Journal pp. 3829 and 3836):

Paulsen voted against the creation of a park that would be completely voluntary, relying on private donations of land.

In 2000, Paulsen voted AGAINST a bill establishing the Big Woods heritage forest (SF2949) (House Journal p. 8455)

The forest is an effort to conserve what remains of the "Big Woods" deciduous forest that once covered much of southern-central Minnesota. Only 4 percent (PDF link) remains forested today. Unlike most state forests, with large tracts of publicly owned land, the Big Woods Heritage Forest relies largely on voluntary partnerships with private landowners. It's hard to see how this would have been problematic for Paulsen.

In the 3rd CD, there are two parks that are included in the Big Woods Heritage Forest: Wolsfeld Woods Sensitive Natural Area, which is 220 acres; and Wood-Rill Sensitive Natural Area, which is 150 acres and where old-growth forest varies from 120 to 400 years old. The majority of Wood-Rill was gifted by Bruce and Ruth Dayton. Both are open to the public for hiking, and are located in the Orono area.

Originally posted to the Twin Cities Daily Liberal