2 October 2020
DEEPHAVEN, MN — The 2020 election is heating up in Minnesota and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Eyes are primarily focused on the presidential election, but voters will also decide the outcome of seats in the United States House.
Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.
Dean Phillips, a Deephaven resident, is running for U.S. House of Representatives District 3.
Age: 51
Party affiliation: Democratic Party
Family: Daughters: Daniela (22) and Pia (20). Wife: Annalise
Occupation: Congressman for Minnesota’s Third Congressional District (two years)
Co-owner, Penny’s Coffee
Former Chairman, Talenti Gelato
Former CEO, Phillips Distilling
Previous elected experience: Current: Congressman for Minnesota’s Third District since January, 2019
Family members in government: no
Campaign website: https://phillipsforcongress.or…
The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
I’m on a mission to help get our state and country through the pandemic as healthy, economically-sound, and prepared for the future as possible – and have earned the endorsements of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, and numerous labor, healthcare, and climate organizations for my strategies to do so.
We must redesign our healthcare delivery model to incentivize prevention over procedures and people over profits. We must ensure more Americans are covered by insurance by opening Medicaid as a portable and affordable buy-in option while allowing those who prefer their employer-sponsored insurance to keep it. And we must allow Medicare to negotiate pricing with pharma companies to reduce the cost of prescription drugs and the burden on American taxpayers.
As a lifelong Minnesotan and entrepreneur, I know that small businesses are the engines of our economy – and money in the pockets of consumers is the fuel. My bipartisan bill, the PPP Flexibility Act, helped save thousands of struggling small businesses and jobs in Minnesota and around the nation. Now I’m working with Republican and Democrat colleagues in Congress on a bipartisan covid relief package to support people and businesses in need and safely reopen and revitalize our economy.
I’m also committed to inspiring and working to achieve more equity and opportunity for all Americans. We’re stewards for future generations counting on us to build a clean energy economy, invest in world-class education, and ensure we do so in a fiscally responsible manner. I believe anything is achievable once we’re able to reduce the corrupting influence of special interest money in our politics and return power to where our founders intended it – the American people.
What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
My opponent voted for Donald Trump in Colorado in 2016 and continues to support his 2020 re-election. I did not vote for Donald Trump and will not vote for Donald Trump.
And unlike my opponent, I don’t accept money from PACs, special interests, Washington lobbyists, or even other members of Congress. In fact I’m the only member of Congress to take such a strong position on campaign finance. It’s how I remain a totally independent voice, beholden only to the Constitution and the people who elected me.
Unlike my opponent, I prioritize addressing climate change, reducing gun violence, and ensuring everyone can access high quality, affordable healthcare when necessary – no matter your age, wage, or zip code.
Representation begins with listening – to the people I represent and community in which I was born and raised, not special interests and political consultants.
What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I’ve dedicated myself to improving the lives and livelihoods of Minnesotans for more than three decades. As an entrepreneur, I’ve helped build Minnesota businesses that support families and communities through livable wages, benefits, and sharing success. As a civic leader, I helped launch Bike Cops for Kids in North Minneapolis, chaired the board of Allina Health, served as a regent at Saint John’s University, and co-chair the Phillips Family charitable foundations – which have been sharing resources throughout the Twin Cities since 1944.
In Congress, I’m on a mission to inspire a new era of collaboration and cooperation. I’ve already authored 24 bills and co-sponsored 450 more, of which ⅓ were introduced by a Republican. I’m proud of my 100% in-person voting record and my rank as the 27th most bipartisan member of Congress. I’m a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Jefferson Hamilton Award winner for bipartisanship, and my bipartisan bill, the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act, was signed into law by the President this summer and helped keep countless small businesses and employees afloat during the pandemic.
What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?
We’re facing the worst economic recession and public health emergency of our lifetimes – at the same time. I have been in close contact with state officials since the beginning of the pandemic. I commend their science-based leadership, which has saved many lives, and also empathize with small businesses and employees whose lives and livelihoods have been so disrupted. That’s why we must continue to listen to needs and ensure we come together in a bipartisan fashion to provide additional federal relief.
My bipartisan bill, the PPP Flexibility Act, passed almost unanimously through a divided Congress and was signed into law by the President. It helped millions of American small business owners keep their doors open, and it was only possible because Chip Roy (R, TX) and I listened to our constituents, committed to work together to write sound policy, and built a strong coalition to ensure fast passage to the President’s desk.
More recently, my friend and colleague Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) led a working group of the Problem Solvers Caucus in developing a bipartisan framework to break the impasse on COVID-19 relief negotiations and inspire leadership from both parties to return to the table. It’s imperative that support be provided to our state and our cities, schools, hospitals, healthcare workers, small businesses, the unemployed, and American families who are struggling with their rent and putting food on the table. And the only way we can do that is if both parties come together and find common ground.
How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?
Racial disparities are real and we have a responsibility to ensure every American is afforded safety, justice, and opportunity. I have never walked in the shoes of a person of color, but I’ve spent considerable time listening and learning about what it’s like to be Black or Brown in America. If we hope to realize the true potential of America, we must recognize the economic, civil, and social inequities that Black and Brown Americans experience – and make a plan to do better. From criminal justice reforms to ensuring that every child graduates high school ready to succeed, it’s time for action. Centuries of injustice cannot be rectified overnight, but it’s a moral imperative to begin that journey and I intend to do my part.
Every Minnesotan and every law enforcement officer deserves to feel safe at home, at work, and in their community. I have great reverence and respect for men and women who wear a uniform and put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and I am humbled to have earned the endorsement of the Minnesota Peace and Police Officers Association, the state’s largest organization representing law enforcement professionals. Many of our Third District police departments are innovating new approaches to public safety – from embedded social workers who assist officers responding to delicate family situations to investing in community relations to build trust with those they serve and protect.
I am pleased that Minnesota came together in a bipartisan fashion to pass criminal justice and police reforms, most recently in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. I remain hopeful that Congress can do the same. We need national standards to ensure equal protection and equal justice under the law. We also need to listen to the Chiefs and police officers in the Third District who are telling me that officers are being asked to deal with a wider array of difficult issues than should be reasonably expected. I’m committed to investing in more efficient and more effective public safety – for everyone.
List other issues that define your campaign platform:
Special interest money in politics is a root cause of the gridlock and partisanship that is eroding Americans’ trust in our government. I’m on a mission to restore that faith through government reform, anti-corruption legislation, and electoral reform. And no matter your number one issue, I ask that campaign finance reform become your number two.
To that end, I authored three amendments included in the historic H.R.1, For The People Act, that strengthen the independence, diversity and bipartisanship of the Federal Election Commision, as well as bolster ethics standards by closing loopholes that allow for former government officials to lobby after serving the public.Unfortunately, it is sitting with other democracy reform bills gathering dust on Mitch McConnell’s desk in the Senate. We deserve a transparent, efficient government that works for the people. All people.
What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
As I reflect on my first term in Congress, there are three objectives I wish to achieve during my service in the House of Representatives.
The first is to inspire innovation in Washington. It is the lifeblood of American business and must be the same for our government. Congress is an 18th century institution trying to solve 21st century problems. And while our founders intentionally designed a system to make change difficult to achieve — I’m afraid it works too well. We must redesign Congress to work more efficiently and more transparently.
The second is to foster a community of collaboration. Regardless of party affiliation, we must nspire members of Congress to find common ground and reward them for working together to deliver results. I’m proud of my bipartisan record, and hope to inspire others in Congress to take a similar approach to governing.
Finally, I hope to inject a much-needed dose of optimism into our country. This has been an unprecedented year filled with discouraging and anxiety producing news. Though it may be easy to conclude that change isn’t possible, rest assured it is.
This election provides us with a clear choice: we can allow fear to divide and diminish us or we can unite in the spirit of American optimism and pave the way for a brighter future for all of us. I hope you’ll join me. Everyone’s invited!
Source: patch.com