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Rep. Dean Phillips wins Minnesota’s 3rd District over GOP challenger Kendall Qualls
Freshman Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips will return to Congress for a second term, representing a western suburban seat he flipped from Republican control two years ago.
He won over voters by highlighting his bipartisan credentials, defeating political newcomer Kendall Qualls. The GOP candidate had also made appeals to moderate voters as he tried to return the seat to Republican hands.
Read the article on the StarTribune »
Why Democrat Dean Phillips is considered a safe bet to win Minnesota’s formerly solid Republican Third District
To Phillips, most issues are not just Republican or Democratic, even if they are often used that way. He pointed to masks as an example: “This notion of every issue being binary and that if one party stands for something, then the other feels it must be opposed to it [doesn’t make sense],” he said.
“Masks. It’s a perfect example of the risks to human life and to economic life in America by these political divisions. Masks should have been something on which every American agreed. And in which each American participated from day one, because if we had done so, we would have been able to better maintain our economy without as much disruption.”
Read the article on MinnPost »
St. Louis Park childhood center recognized as an Outstanding Disability Employer
Westwood Early Childhood Center in St. Louis Park has been recognized with a statewide award during National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, who hosted a disability roundtable with members of Partnership Resources in August that included Henley, participated in the event along with St. Louis Park Councilmember Rachel Harris and representatives of Westwood Early Childhood Center, Partnership Resources and the Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation.
Read the article on Sun Sailor »
Rep. Dean Phillips On $1.5T Stimulus Package: ‘It Is A Bill That Could Pass’
Phillips is a member of the bi-partisan Problem Solvers Caucus, which has backed a $1.5-trillion stimulus compromise. He was a guest on WCCO Sunday Morning.
“We came up with a framework called the March to Common Ground Bi-Partisan COVID Relief Framework. It has been celebrated by Democrats and Republicans, endorsed by our entire caucus of 25 Democrats, 25 Republicans. [Treasury Secretary] Steve Mnuchin … has endorsed it. Even the president has spoken thoughtfully about it. It is a bill that could pass,” Phillips said.
Watch the story on WCCO »
U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer’s fortunes ride on GOP outlook in Congress
Emmer has had several personal confrontations with Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., over NRCC attacks, most recently against a New Jersey Democratic congressman that resulted in death threats from QAnon supporters. Phillips called the ads “grotesque, irresponsible and dangerous;” Emmer declined to disavow them.
“If one member of Congress is at risk, we all are,” Phillips said. “When one member of Congress receives death threats, we all do.”
Read the story on the StarTribune »
Third District’s Dean Phillips deserves another term in Congress
Minnesota’s Third Congressional District, long in Republican hands, swung to a Democrat in the last election, businessman Dean Phillips. Voters liked his message of innovation, pragmatism and a commitment to working across the aisle.
Phillips, 51, has delivered on those ideals in his first term and deserves to continue his work in a second term. He is part of the House Problem Solvers Caucus, where some 50 lawmakers from both parties sit down to figure out where they can find common ground.
Read the article on the StarTribune »
Minnesotans were waiting for more COVID-19 relief. Trump says it’s not coming.
Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips, who represents Minnesota’s Third District, worked on a compromise bill with his bipartisan group, the Problem Solvers Caucus. That bill is not up for debate in either chamber, but Phillips said the president backing off from negotiations is inexcusable.
“I implore the President and leaders in both parties to return to the table immediately and come to terms on a relief package for America now,” he said on Twitter. “Not after the election and not in the new year. The suffering is too great, the urgency is too real, and inaction is not an option.”
Read the article on MinnPost »
Dean Phillips and Kendall Qualls vie for moderate voters in Twin Cities swing suburban district
“I cannot sit by and watch if we let standing by our number prevent anything from happening, and that happens too often here,” said RePhillips, a Deephaven businessman with a marketing background, ended the Republicans’ decadeslong reign in the western suburbs two years ago with a promise to bring a positive bipartisan attitude to a gridlocked Washington. His bid for a second term in the U.S. House remains centered on the same theme, even as a pandemic, a summer of reckoning over race and policing and a divisive presidential campaign renders the nation more fractured than ever.
“There’s a palpable sense right now that for the first time in many of our lives, the concerns are legitimate,” Phillips said as he drove his signature blue “Government Repair Truck” around the district on a recent Saturday. “The fear isn’t just about policy. The fear is about division and fear itself and the sense that the country is being intentionally ripped apart. And people want to mitigate that.”
Read the article on The StarTribune »
Senators and members of the House introduce bipartisan resolution honoring Rabin
Phillips likewise praised Rabin for “laying the groundwork for peace” and noted his “considerable personal and political transformation.”
“I will continue to honor those who come together to build bridges of understanding and cooperation,” he added.
Read the article on Jewish Insider »
Why Nancy Pelosi Lost 18 Democrats in Her Stimulus Bill Vote
House Democrats narrowly passed their own $2.2 trillion stimulus measure on Thursday evening by a 214-207 vote. While Republicans were unanimous in opposing it, 18 Democrats crossed party lines to vote against the bill.
At least 17 of those that broke with their party’s position were moderate Democrats who represent red-leaning districts. They joined their Republican colleagues in opposing the bill—that has virtually no chance of becoming law—because they believed that the House should have waited for a bipartisan deal to be reached before pushing through the vote.
Read the article on Newsweek »
Dean Phillips: 2020 Election Guide
“I cannot sit by and watch if we let standing by our number prevent We reached out to all Minnesota candidates running for U.S Senate and U.S Congress this fall. Candidates were asked to provide a two-minute video discussing their platform as well as answer a set of our viewers’ questions.
Responses from Dean Phillips, Democratic candidate for the 3rd District.
Read the article on WCCO »
Economic relief talks between White House, Pelosi suddenly resume as House Democrats make new offer
“I cannot sit by and watch if we let standing by our number prevent anything from happening, and that happens too often here,” said Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), part of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus that unveiled an approximately $1.5 trillion proposal earlier this month that was partially endorsed by Trump.
Read the article on The Washington Post »
The curse of the 116th Congress
For freshman lawmakers, careening from crisis to crisis is all they know. Having been sworn in during the longest government shutdown in history, their political careers were essentially born into, and molded by, the fire. “There are days where you feel like everything bad that could have happened, has. And there are other days you recognize it always can get worse,” said freshman Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.). “My dad used to say, ‘You’ve got to turn chicken crap into chicken salad.’”
Read the article on Politico »
New Bill Looks to Mandate Payer Coverage for Telehealth Services
The latest bill introduced on Capitol Hill aims to level the playing field for payers by ensuring that all telehealth services be covered if those services are also furnished in person.
HR 8308, unveiled last week by US Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN), wades into a hotly contested arena in connected health legislation: Who gets to decide how healthcare providers are reimbursed for their telehealth services.
Read the article on mHealth Intelligence »
ABC11: White House signals support for bigger coronavirus relief bill
“Time is short, the needs are urgent, the suffering is immense, and trading zero for less than what we had aspired is not a reasonable alternative,” Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minnesota, said.
“The caucus is having a robust conversation publicly and privately about how to proceed, and most importantly, that we must proceed,” he said.
Read the article on ABC11 »
NYT: Amid Stimulus Impasse, Bipartisan Group Offers $1.5 Trillion Compromise
A bipartisan group of 50 centrist lawmakers plans on Tuesday to present a $1.5 trillion plan to prop up the coronavirus-ravaged economy, making a last-ditch attempt to broach a compromise in hopes of breaking a stalemate in stimulus talks before November’s elections.
In addition to Mr. Gottheimer and Mr. Reed, Representatives Dean Phillips, Democrat of Minnesota, and Dusty Johnson, Republican of South Dakota, helped write the framework, which took about six weeks to draft.
Read the article on The New York Times »
Restaurants brace for chilly season, hope to survive to spring
Touted as a more targeted and comprehensive solution for restaurants than the ongoing Paycheck Protection Program through the Small Business Administration, the “RESTAURANTS Act” has some bipartisan support with a Democratic sponsor in the U.S. House and a Republican sponsor in the U.S. Senate. Three Minnesota representatives – Democrats Angie Craig, Betty McCollum and Dean Phillips – have signed on as co-sponsors to the House version. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar co-sponsors the bill in the Senate.
Watch the story on KARE11 »
2020 Watch: How long can Trump ride ‘law and order’?
We recently spoke to first-term Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips, who tells us Democrats should be taking very seriously the possibility of losing his state’s 10 electoral votes — the same number Wisconsin offers. He also called on Biden to visit his suburban Minneapolis district as soon as possible.
Read the article on the StarTribune »
Unions, business groups shift alliances in 2020 campaign
Citing their candidates’ real-world experience as executives before coming to Congress, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce threw its backing behind Minnesota U.S. Reps. Angie Craig and Dean Phillips last week, two of the new class of suburban House Democrats.
Read the article on the StarTribune »
Chamber of Commerce backs freshmen House Dems, marking shift
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has decided to endorse 23 freshmen House Democrats in this fall’s elections, a bipartisan move by an organization that has long leaned strongly toward Republicans.
Read the article on the StarTribune »
Amber Spalek column: Empowering youth at home and around the world: Here’s how we can do it
In March, the bipartisan Youth, Peace and Security Act (H.R. 6174) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., Susan Brooks, R-Ind., Dean Phillips, D-Minn., and John Curtis, R-Utah. A Senate version is expected to be introduced soon. The bill would require the U.S. to implement a comprehensive policy to promote the inclusion of youth in peace building.
Read the article on the Richmond Times-Dispatch»
Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips says Minnetonka campaign office burglarized
Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips tweeted the news of the break-in on Sunday, along with a photo of a shattered glass door.
“To the thieves stealing campaign signs from my supporters’ lawns across the district and the criminals who broke into our Minnetonka campaign office overnight, the irony isn’t lost on me,” Phillips wrote. “Your disregard for law and stoking of fear and disorder, only increases my resolve.”
Read the article on the StarTribune »
Campaign to Fix the Debt Recognizes Fiscal Heroes in Congress
These members are being recognized for going the extra mile to develop and endorse solutions to the nation’s budget crisis. They have distinguished themselves by casting fiscally responsible votes, drafting and pursuing legislative solutions, pushing their party leaders to make addressing the debt a priority, and engaging and educating their constituents.
Read the article on the Tampa Dispatch »
Amhara Association of America Applauds Congressional Letter to Secretary Pompeo Urging Action on Growing Unrest in Ethiopia
On August 21, 2020, Congressman Dean Phillips (MN-3rd District) led a letter to United States Secretary of State Michael Pompeo requesting his engagement with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, along with political opposition and activists, to address the recent unrest in Ethiopia this summer.
Read the article on Borkena »
New Bill Seeks to Bring Lobbying Out of the Shadows
“[Phillips and Cline] have shown real leadership in putting forward this much-needed legislation,” said Michael Beckel, a research director with Issue One. “Their joint effort demonstrates that bipartisan political reforms—such as bringing more transparency to the lobbying industry—are possible.”
Read the article on Sludge »
Cline, Phillips bill would mandate 48-hour minimum to review text of legislation prior to voting
“I believe we need to repair our broken politics and restore people’s faith in government. But that can’t happen if the American people don’t think members of Congress are reading the bills they are voting on,” Phillips said.
“Members of Congress and our constituents both deserve the time to read and review legislation.”
Read the article on the Augusta Free Press »
Juveniles charged in attack on Bloomington imam
U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips called those who attacked the imam anti-American. “Patriots protect one another from violence and from danger,” he said. “That is the America that so many of us are working towards,” he added.
“Those of you who feel the same, join us. One heart, one mind, and one day at a time.”
Read the article on the Sun Current »
Rep. Phillips on USPS crisis: ‘It’s real. Mailboxes are being removed’
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) discusses the USPS crisis and says that “it’s real. Mailboxes are being removed. Sorting machines are being dismantled. Systems are changing right before a historic election in our country.”
Watch the interview on MSNBC »
Dems crank up the heat on the postmaster general
Some Democrats are calling on DeJoy to be subpoenaed if he refuses to show up. “We should subpoena the Postmaster immediately and afford him the opportunity to testify,” tweeted freshman Rep. Dean Phillips, a frontline Democrat. “If he won’t, you ask? The Sergeant at Arms can detain anyone found in contempt of Congress.”
Read the article on Politico »
MN faith leaders gather in support of Muslim community following attack
Minnesota religious and political leaders are making a show of support for the state’s Muslim community following an attack on a local imam.
On Friday, a group of speakers gathered outside the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington. Among the elected officials were Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Attorney General Keith Ellison and U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips.
Read the article on Bring Me the News »
House lawmakers met with White House on stalled coronavirus relief talks
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers spoke with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in an effort to advance stalled discussions on the coronavirus economic stimulus package, a person at the meeting told NBC News Saturday.
Seven members of the bipartisan “Problem Solvers Caucus,” who have previously met twice to try to advance negotiations, were present at the discussion which took place Friday morning. The dialogue was “respectful and productive” and another meeting is possible, the person told NBC News.
Read the article on CNBC »
After teens charged in Bloomington imam attack, state leaders call out hate
The Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington has been the target of on and off harassment and violence going on years.
Later Friday, Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips (CD-3) gathered on the football field behind the Islamic Center to call for the prosecution of Mukhtar’s assailants and for Minnesotans to end their racial and religious intolerance.
Read the article on CityPages »
What’s the big idea? 4 proposals to reform America’s immigration system
We need a commitment to good old-fashioned respect, commitment to action and collaboration to solve the partisan deadlock on immigration.
Why do I seem so upbeat? Because we achieved a bipartisan compromise on immigration just last year. I was among a group of members from both parties who came together to pass a pathway to citizenship for Liberian families who sought refuge from civil war through the Deferred Enforced Departure program.
Read the article on USA Today »
CNN Politics: House Democratic freshman in tough races growing agitated about failure of stimulus talks
Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, said he joined a group of rank-and-file members in both parties over the weekend to discuss if they can find consensus where their leadership and the Trump administration haven’t so far. Those talks among rank-and-file members in both parties, he said, will continue.
“To me, no bill is not an option,” Phillips said in a phone interview. “And that’s not unique to this voice. I would argue that most members feel the same. The need is too great, the time too short and the risk of not doing so too severe.”
Read the article on CNN »
The Hill: Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips wins primary
Rep. Dean Phillips won the Democratic primary in Minnesota’s 3rd District on Tuesday as he looks to clinch a second term in November.
The first-term Democrat won with 91 percent of the vote after 96 percent of precincts had reported, according to The Associated Press. He beat out Democratic rival Cole Young.
Read the article on The Hill »
Cline, Phillips introduce bipartisan bill to promote efficient technology use by federal agencies
“We didn’t leave the Stone Age because we ran out of rocks – we found a better way of doing things,” Phillips said. “Congress is an 18th century institution operating in a 21st century world. In order to meet the needs of the American people, and save the taxpayer money, we have to update and innovate. The SMART Government Act will modernize our government and put us on the path towards being more efficient and responsive to our constituent’s needs.”
Read the article on Augusta Free Press »
Trump taking executive action on economic stimulus ‘unconstitutional’: Rep. Phillips
President Trump’s executive action pushing through coronavirus economic stimulus is appalling to both Democrats and Republicans, Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., told Fox News’ “America’s News Headquarters.”
“It never should’ve gotten to this point,” he said. “I think I speak for most Americans, Democrats and Republicans, in that we’re appalled. We should do better than this. The culture of Congress has got to be improved so that we have respectful members who listen to one another, trust one another and don’t bring it to the point where the president even can do this. That said, I believe what he is trying to do is unconstitutional.”
Watch the story on Fox Business »
Pelosi Is Playing Hardball on Coronavirus Relief. She Thinks She’ll Win.
“We cannot let desperate Americans and small businesses be used as pawns — even in the face of a president and Senate majority leader who appear incapable of empathy,” said Representative Dean Phillips, a first-term Democrat from Minnesota.
Read the article in The New York Times »
Rep. Dean Phillips says that Congress trying to get new unemployment aid done
“We cannot let desperate Americans and small businesses be used as pawns — even in the face of a president and Senate majority leader who appear incapable of empathy,” said Representative Dean Phillips, a first-term Democrat from Minnesota.
Listen to the story on WCCO Radio »
House votes to reprimand GOP Rep. Schweikert for 11 ethics violations
“There is no joy in reprimanding one of our colleagues,” said Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), a panel member who helped lead the House Ethics Committee investigative subcommittee on the matter. “A transgression by one of us is a stain on all of us. . . . We are duty bound to hold ourselves to the highest standard of conduct, and serve as role models.”
Read the article in the Washington Post »
Ocasio-Cortez Embraces a Republican’s Insult
Several male lawmakers, mostly Democrats, expressed outrage on Twitter on Tuesday on behalf of Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, with some suggesting that Mr. Yoho’s attack reflected how conservatives have sought to demonize her because of her gender and race.
“Like @aoc, I believe poverty to be a root cause of crime,” Representative Dean Phillips, Democrat of Minnesota, wrote. “Wonder why Rep. Yoho hasn’t accosted me on the Capitol steps with the same sentiment? #shameful.”
Read the article in The New York Times »
Cook Political Report moves 20 House races toward Democrats
Cook Political Report on Friday moved its outlook for 20 House races toward Democrats.
Why it matters: President Trump’s troubles are spilling over to affect Republicans down the ballot — which could foreshadow a blue wave in November.
Read the article on Axios »
Action is essential at the State Capitol
As U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, a Democrat representing the Third District, noted in an interview with an editorial writer, Minnesota is a net contributor to the federal coffers. “The few times we make a request for assistance should be given full consideration and this wasn’t,” he said.
Read the article on Star Tribune »
Angie Craig recently had two bills pass the House. One is now a law, the other won’t even get a debate in the Senate
In the Minnesota House delegation, few members have been able to pass standalone bills. Some members, like Rep. Ilhan Omar, have had their bills included in larger packages of legislation.
But only Craig and Rep. Dean Phillips have been able to get standalone bills signed in to law.
Read the article on MinnPost »
Q&A: How Dean Phillips Tried To Fix PPP
Dean Phillips was elected to Congress representing Minnesota’s Third District less than two years ago. The consensus-focused businessman and philanthropic leader gained national attention in recent weeks when he co-authored the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act, designed to fix problems in Congress’ Paycheck Protection Act which made it impossible for many small businesses to access.
Read the article on Twin Cities Business »
Minnesota employers got $10.2 billion in emergency pandemic aid
From car dealers to construction companies, Minnesota employers hauled in $10.2 billion through the popular Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), ranking the state No. 15 in the U.S., according to data released Monday by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The program, which is credited with lowering unemployment this spring, helped employers bring back more than 51 million jobs in the U.S. at a time when the economy was crashing.
Read the article on Star Tribune »
Why proxy voting was briefly a big deal in Washington, D.C.
Phillips said that the points raised in opposition to proxy voting don’t outweigh its benefits: “I think that would be the American people’s preference to make sure their representatives vote. And that’s what proxy voting allows for. So to me, a much better solution than not coming to Washington and not registering your vote.”
Read the article on MinnPost »
Amid national crisis on police brutality and racism, Congress flails
Many lawmakers left town after the House vote on Thursday disappointed in the failure to act and worried about how the country will react to the breakdown.
“It’s just too important to simply pass and move on to the next item. This is what we’re here for,” Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who has frequently lamented that leaders of both parties don’t work toward consensus. “It’s always been my expectation, and frankly, dream, that [bipartisanship] starts in the very beginning But I think we do it in reverse here, too often.”
Read the article on Politico »
EDITORIAL: Trump administration backs off loan secrecy
“My simple, but very strong belief is that taxpayer dollars — when distributed by Congress and the executive branch of our government — should be transparent and subject to accountability,” Rep. Dean Phillips, a Minnesota Democrat, told Politico. “Plain and simple.”
That comment should be mounted on 535 plaques and placed in the offices of every senator and representative in Washington.
Read the article on Las Vegas Review-Journal »
Upended by COVID-19, a Wayzata florist landed a federal loan. And then the wait started.
Rep. Phillips said he has heard complaints from other Minnesota businesses that have struggled to get their share of PPP money. “I really do celebrate our community bankers for stepping up to the plate,” he said.
Read the article on Star Tribune »
Members of Congress took small-business loans — and the full extent is unknown
Some GOP lawmakers who benefited from the Paycheck Protection Program also opposed legislation requiring lending transparency.
“My simple, but very strong belief is that taxpayer dollars — when distributed by Congress and the executive branch of our government — should be transparent and subject to accountability,” Phillips said. “Plain and simple.”
Read the article on Politico »
Some Lawmakers Argue Unrest Heightens Need for Aid to States and Cities
Some Democratic and Republican lawmakers pushing to secure more state and local aid in the next stimulus package said the unrest sparked by the killing of George Floyd has magnified the need to fill holes in local public-safety budgets.
Read the article on The Wall Street Journal »
DoD asks to ease lobbying restrictions, and these lawmakers are saying ‘no’
Four House Democrats are opposing a Department of Defense proposal to ease recent lobbying restrictions on former senior officials, arguing it would put the defense industry ahead of the taxpayer.
“We do not believe that weak ethics rules for some agencies is a reason to roll back the relatively strong ethics rules at the Pentagon,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter Thursday to DoD General Counsel Paul Ney. “It is unfortunate that Congress has not enacted stronger ethics rules governmentwide, and we agree this should be a priority.”
Read the article on DefenseNews »
Generation of graduates will rise to the occasion
Class of 2020: I know this is not the Senior Spring that you imagined even just a few short months ago. While the pomp and circumstance of graduation has been replaced virtual ceremonies and celebrations, please know that as you embark on your next chapters into an uncertain world, you are not alone.
Read the article on Sun Sailor »
Legislation Makes PPP Spending More Flexible
The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips last month, has been eagerly anticipated by the hospitality industry, said Ben Wogsland, director of government relations for Hospitality Minnesota.
Read the article on Twin Cities Business »
The mystery of which US businesses are profiting from the coronavirus bailout
One transparency measure was defeated after failing to get support from two-thirds of lawmakers in the House. The bill, sponsored by Congressman Dean Phillips from Minnesota, would have required the Small Business Administration to make information about payments to businesses public.
“We cannot accept a situation in which bigger businesses with access to other sources of liquidity are pushing to the front of the line at the expense of those with the greatest need,” Phillips said on the House floor.
Read the article on The Guardian »
Trump signs Dean Phillips-sponsored update of forgivable loans for small businesses
President Donald Trump on Friday signed into law a new version of the small-business loan program known as PPP that had been redesigned by Minnesota Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips and a Texas Republican colleague.
Read the article on Star Tribune »
Congress sends Trump COVID relief bill backed by Minnesota U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips
Federal legislation authored by Minnesota Democrat Dean Phillips to help cash-strapped businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is on its way to the desk of President Donald Trump.
Read the article on Star Tribune »
‘A country with an open wound’: Biden says he spoke with George Floyd’s family, promises ‘justice’
Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., who represents the Minneapolis suburbs, called for action in a Twitter post.
“The evil that took George Floyd and the evil burning through Minneapolis will not be extinguished by a policy – rather by a people. A people committed to listening, understanding, and action. Who’s ready?” he wrote.
Read the article on USA Today »
U.S. House passes small-business aid bill introduced by Minnesota’s Dean Phillips
With only a single vote in opposition, the House of Representatives on Thursday voted to amend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to extend repayment deadlines and loosen some of its spending rules.
The legislation offered by Rep. Dean Phillips, a Democrat who represents the western Twin Cities suburbs — aided by Rep. Chip Roy, a Texas Republican — aims to make the program more flexible for those who need it to stay in business and fully staffed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read the article on Star Tribune »
What they said: Leaders react to George Floyd death
“I’m grieving for generations who’ve lived in fear for the safety of their children, their parents, their brothers and sisters. The ‘sincere ignorance’ to which MLK referred can no longer be tolerated in an enlightened nation. We MUST rise to the occasion.”
Read the article on Star Tribune »
Pandemic jumbles House agenda
“Nobody, I think, amongst the people with whom I’ve been working with, believes that we can’t get things done,” Phillips continued. “The question is, do we have the fortitude and the intention and the power in collaboration to do so.”
Read the article on Politico »
Help for battered restaurants could be on the way as House considers new bills
Almost from the day the $670 billion Paycheck Protection Program was announced, restaurant owners have been complaining that it doesn’t work for their industry. Congress has clearly heard them.
Last week, Reps. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) and Chip Roy (R-Tex.) introduced the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act, which would extend the period in which small businesses can use the money and ease restrictions on the amount they can spend on non-payroll expenses such as rent.
Read the article on The Washington Post »
Pelosi moving to revamp small business rescue program
“I expressed to her there are elements, some of which are included in the Heroes Act, that I thought didn’t have the luxury of time and negotiation, particularly the fixes to the PPP program, which small businesses have been describing to me for many, many weeks,” Phillips said.
“I was impassioned and she listened and not only did she not object, she thought it was a very reasonable request and one that it appears will receive a vote on the House floor next week,” he added.
Read the article on Politico »
Neguse and Phillips: Vote by mail will ensure a safe and fair November election
What could Minnetonka, Minnesota and Loveland, Colorado possibly have in common? It’s neither ice fishing nor rodeos. It’s mail-in ballots.
In 2018, our respective congressional districts — Minnesota’s 3rd and Colorado’s 2nd — generated the highest voter turnout among the 435 districts in the country, with a 73% participation rate by eligible voters.
Read the article on The Denver Post »
Bipartisan lawmakers introduce bill to make changes to Paycheck Protection Program
“While the PPP has helped millions of small businesses keep their lights on, millions more remain on the outside looking in. It won’t matter how much money we appropriate if the system by which it’s distributed is inaccessible to those who need it the most,” Phillips said in a statement.
Read the article on The Hill »
COVID-19 forces 2020 candidates to retool their campaigns
While people are in isolation, positive messaging directly from candidates has been effective. DFL Third District Rep. Dean Phillips has been surprised at how many people are now picking up their phone when he calls. “It used to be 1 in 10; now it’s more like 8 in 10,” he said. “They’re human, heartwarming calls.”
Read the article on Star Tribune »
For rebuilding after COVID-19, Rep. Dean Phillips proposes six-fold increase in AmeriCorps volunteers
“The United States must have a whole-of-government response to the COVID-19 pandemic that not only employs those who have lost their jobs or who’ve become underemployed,” Phillips said in a statement, “but also delivers relief to understaffed frontline workers.”
Read the article on MinnPost »
Peace Corps Volunteers Can Get Unemployment Benefits, Officials Say
Senator Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, and Representative Dean Phillips, Democrat of Minnesota, wrote a bipartisan and bicameral letter, signed by 40 lawmakers, to Eugene Scalia, the secretary of labor, on April 2, asking for clarification on whether the assistance program covers Peace Corps, AmeriCorps and other national service participants.
Read the article on The New York Times »
Pence visits Mayo Clinic, learns of coronavirus testing partnership with Minnesota
“He is incredulous that we are ready to go with a massive testing program but still cannot obtain federally promised support, swabs and vials in particular,” Phillips said of the governor. “Access to swabs and vials and testing is imperative, and the federal government can and should be playing a role to ensure that. Anything short of that will only result in more delays and or loss of life and economic hardship.”
Read the article on Pioneer Press »
Small business loan recipients includes not-so-small Minnesota companies
Phillips said he did not “begrudge” big companies that tried to get paycheck protection money under existing rules, but he wished they would consider giving it back the way Shake Shack and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, both huge restaurant chains, returned millions of dollars after media reports revealed their PPP loans.
“I am dismayed by a federal policy that benefits those who need it the least at the expense of those who need it the most,” Phillips said.
Read the article on Star Tribune »
An Oral History of the Day Everything Changed
In the first few days of March, a number of us were invited to the White House from the Problem Solvers caucus to meet with Vice President Pence and Dr. Deborah Birx. I left the meeting convinced that there was a graphic disconnect between the risks the virus presented to the country and the administration’s either cognition or belief in the science.
Read the article on Wired »
Left out of stimulus payments, Minnesota college students fear for future
How does a medical device maker keep international supply chains open in a time of crisis? The answer is testament to both the power of bi-partisan cooperation and international maneuvering during the pandemic, and the ongoing struggle to produce even medical supplies deemed essential.
Read the article on Star Tribune »
‘No Excuses’: Moderate Democrats Urge Quick Deal on Small-Business Coronavirus Aid
Representative Dean Phillips, who in 2018 became the first Democrat to represent his Minnesota district in decades, said, “Congress must cast aside partisan affiliations and pass relief for these companies now. No delay. No excuses.”
Read the article on Reuters »
‘I do worry about the optics’: Congress struggles to get off the sidelines
“I am a frustrated member of Congress who’s joined by many similarly frustrated members of Congress,” said freshman Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), a vocal proponent of allowing Congress to hold remote hearings and debate.
“We are operating still as a 19th-century institution in a 21st-century unprecedented crisis,” Phillips said. “We cannot leave it just to the administration to have the megaphone.”
Read the article on Politico »
MN company’s medical devices in demand for coronavirus tests, but supply chain a problem
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith and Reps. Angie Craig, Dean Phillips and Collin Peterson have signed onto the All Dependents Count Act bill, which would update the CARES Act to expand the qualifying age of dependents to include college students as old as 24 and all adults with disabilities. Families would receive the $500 bonus for these dependents.
Read the article on Pioneer Press »
House Members Challenge GOP Lawmakers to Vote Against Resolution That Affirms Presidents Don’t Have ‘Total Authority”
New Jersey congressman Tom Malinowski joined Minnesota Democrat Dean Phillips and Michigan Independent Justin Amash in filing the House Resolution that affirms the chamber’s members are in agreement “the president remains limited by the Constitution and laws of the United States.”
Read the article on Newsweek »
Rep. Dean Phillips authored a measure to oversee spending under the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package. Trump has pledged to sidestep it.
“I’m disappointed,” Phillips said in an interview on Wednesday afternoon. “He sure wasted no time trying to challenge what most of us Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate believe are important accountability mechanisms and oversight of the most massive distribution of tax payer dollars in human history.”
Read the article on MinnPost »
Minnesota congressional delegation unites for COVID response
Minnesotans in Congress lined up Friday behind the massive, $2.2 trillion stimulus package to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, even as they looked ahead to what else is needed to respond to the unprecedented crisis.’
“It’s probably the most important bill a member of Congress has ever voted on,” said Rep. Dean Phillips, a Democrat who represents the western Twin Cities suburbs.
Read the article on Star Tribune »
The House works from home
As the outbreak threatens to overwhelm the nation, more than 400 House members are working to combat a mammoth crisis almost entirely from their living rooms — sometimes enduring the same daily indignities, like botched conference calls, that millions of other Americans are experiencing while working from home.
Read the article on Politico »
“Peak Congressional Disorganization”: Working to Save the Country, Congress Forgot to Keep Its Own People Safe
“We are the worst-case scenario. We have 535 people, disproportionately older, who almost on a weekly basis fly to 435 districts and 50 states all around every nook and cranny of the country, shaking hands relentlessly, meeting with hundreds, if not thousands, of people in the course of a week,” said Minnesota congressman Dean Phillips, whose office shifted to teleworking at the start of last week. “And then we bring it all back to one room where we’re all together.” Add into the mix thousands of Hill staffers, roving crowds of Capitol visitors, and the reality that most congressional offices can be characterized as overcrowded shoeboxes, Phillips told me emphatically, and there is perhaps nothing more “antithetical to best practice than that.”
Read the article on Vanity Fair »
Sen. Smith, Rep. Phillips to host coronavirus call-in session tonight
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., and 3rd District U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, R-Minn., will host a coronavirus briefing call for the public Monday night, according to Smith’s office. The call comes as more COVID-19 cases pop up in the state.
Read the article on St. Cloud Times »
Senate Cancels Recess as Democrats and White House Seek Virus Relief Deal
As negotiations continued between House Democrats and the White House, the majority leader said the Senate would come back to Washington next week to consider any compromise.
Read the article on The New York Times »
How Minnesotans in Congress are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak
“I am on a mission to serve and protect my constituents and all Americans, and will continue to ask critical questions and demand action during the months ahead,” Phillips said in a statement. “We must tackle this threat with a unified, nonpartisan front at home and overseas, and ensure that our public health officials are afforded the resources to protect our nation.”
Read the article on MinnPost »
Congress livid over lags in coronavirus testing
“We’re just ill prepared and should have been [prepared]. That’s not a political statement, that’s just the truth. That’s what everybody in that room, I think, took away,” Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) said. “I’m horrified by the lack of leadership, I really am.”
Read the article on Politico »
U.S. Capitol to stop all public tours amid coronavirus outbreak
“We’re not practicing what we’re preaching,” said freshman Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who became so frustrated at the sense of normalcy in the Capitol that he sought out House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on the floor earlier on Wednesday to air his concerns.
Read the article on Politico »
No ‘clawback’ change likely for early Minnesota voters
Minnesota U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips introduced legislation to provide more funding for state and local governments that make the switch to ranked-choice voting. Under that system, already used in local elections for some local cities, voters rank multiple candidates on one ballot.
Read the article on Star Tribune »
Rep. Phillips meets with Mike Pence on federal handling of coronavirus
Phillips says Congress must work hand-in-hand with the White House to make sure the correct resources are available to combat COVID-19. “We must tackle this threat with a unified, nonpartisan front at home and overseas, and ensure that our public health officials are afforded the resources to protect our nation,” wrote Phillips.
Read the article on Fox news »
Moderate Dems acknowledge country division at ‘rock bottom’ following impeachment, pledge Congress can still work
A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Tuesday offered themselves up as the “antidote” to a bitterly divided Washington and pledged to continue to pass meaningful legislation after the impeachment saga. Several moderate Democrats who are members of the so-called Problem Solvers Caucus were eager to put their impeachment votes behind them and called for a renewed sense of bipartisanship.
Watch on Fox News »
‘A phenomenal moment’: Minnesota Liberians celebrate their hard-won path to U.S. citizenship
“This is the most joyful place in America tonight,” Rep. Dean Phillips told MinnPost Saturday evening, as seemingly everyone in the entire Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center beamed hard-won smiles over the month-old news that many Liberians who make their home in Minnesota are finally on their way to becoming United States citizens.
Read the article on MinnPost »
Amendment to clean up Watertown missile site expected to be signed into law
The old Watertown missile site, owned by the Western Area Fire Training Academy (WAFTA), may finally get cleaned up. U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minnesota, announced in Dec. 17 news release that his amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act passed in the Senate.
Read the article on SW Newsmedia »
Why Minnesota agricultural interests are lauding the new USMCA trade deal
Several of Minnesota’s representatives in Congress have lauded the final agreement on USMCA. Reps. Angie Craig and Dean Phillips stood behind Pelosi as she announced the finalized deal at a press conference. “The administration forwarded what we considered an improvement over NAFTA. A good trade deal, but imperfect, as many of them are, Phillips told The Morning News on WCCO.
Read the article on MinnPost »
As impeachment racks Washington, Minnesotans in Congress ready for historic vote
Minnesotans in Congress, much like the rest of America, appeared evenly split Thursday as the House of Representatives prepared to advance articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
Read the article on Star Tribune »
Rep. Dean Phillips trying to repeal cap on state and local tax deductions that particularly hurt his district
The bill introduced a $10,000 cap on the amount of state and local taxes (SALT) that can be deducted in annual tax returns, which has a disproportionate impact on higher-tax states like Minnesota, and in particular hit wealthier areas like Phillips’ district, which covers the western Twin Cities suburbs.
Read the article on Bring Me The News »
Game-changing H.R. 3 would stop prescription-drug price gouging
When we began running for Congress, we immediately heard from Minnesotans who were worried about their health care. They were worried about threats to protections for people with pre-existing conditions, about being one illness away from financial ruin, and about skyrocketing prices of their life-saving prescription drugs. The consensus is clear on health care more than any other issue — people in our communities want their elected leaders to reform and protect their care.
Read the article on MinnPost »
Optimistic Dean Phillips speaks at Brooklyn Park Town Hall
When Dean Phillips announced his candidacy for Minnesota’s Third Congressional District, he promised, if elected, to host frequent town halls in the district. Phillips held his fifth town hall meeting on Nov. 23, 2019, at the Brooklyn Park Technical College.
Watch now on The Uptake »
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