How Moderate is Erik Paulsen?

Erik Paulsen, the anointed Republican candidate for Congress in the 3rd District, has been walking a thin line, first claiming to be a "Tim Pawlenty Republican," and then trying to cast himself as a moderate. So how moderate is he?

Here's one measure: Paulsen has earned a lifetime score of 89 percent from those pinnacles of corporate greed, the Taxpayers' League, including a 91 percent score in 2007. In the one recent year when both were rated, Paulsen received an 87 percent, compared to 75 percent for Ramstad. Here's another comparison: uber-crazy Michele Bachmann had a lifetime score of 94 percent.

Here are some of the votes that earned Paulsen his badge as a right-wing extremist:

2005: Kill the Northstar Rail project. A refusal to adequately fund transportation seems to be a common theme among Republicans lately.

2005: Oppose a doubling of ethanol content in our gasoline from 10 to 20 percent. I certainly hope he won't be among those complaining about high has prices!

2005: Oppose raising the minimum wage. Way to support Minnesota's working families, Erik.

2006: Kill the Northstar Rail project. Again.

2006: Oppose dedicated funding for the environment. I guess this anti-environment vote makes sense when you consider his votes against alternative fuels.

2007: Restrict the 2007 bonding bill to $8 million in emergency spending only. This was a vote against $100 million for education, $35 million for transportation, and $20 million for the environment.

2007: Reject the transportation bill. At least he's consistent in his opposition to transportation funding.

Finally, he signed the Taxpayers' League "no new taxes" pledge, which he eventually broke. I'm sure conservative voters will be glad to know that, while they have a far-right candidate, he's also spineless.

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