Phillips discusses bipartisanship, critical policy issues during EP chamber luncheon

U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips (DFL-3) recently provided Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce members with a generous helping of updates on the latest happenings in the nation’s capital. 

During the Feb. 16 luncheon at C.H. Robinson in Eden Prairie, Phillips served up his thoughts on such topics as inflation and the debt ceiling to George Santos and the military’s recent downing of unidentified airborne objects.

“Nothing is off limits,” said Phillips, who spent most of the time answering questions. “I think more of myself as a representative than a politician, so I will answer your questions, which I know is rare.”

Phillips emphasized in his opening remarks his commitment to working with his fellow bipartisan members of the Problem Solvers Caucus in Congress. This group actively promotes cooperation between both parties on significant policy issues despite the divisive nature of the political climate.

He said the most combative and attention-grabbing members of Congress often receive the most media attention. Many Republicans and Democrats who effectively collaborate are largely unknown to the general public, he added.

“So I ask that you keep the faith because there are good people in Congress doing the good work,” he said.

Bipartisan cooperation

Phillips, a Democrat currently in the minority in the House, emphasized a positive aspect of the situation. The Republicans’ slim majority compels both parties to collaborate.

Phillips stressed the importance of cooperation in addressing critical policy matters, such as the debt ceiling. 

Last month, the U.S. government reached its congressionally imposed $31.4 trillion borrowing limit. Without Congressional action, the U.S. is expected to begin defaulting on its obligations during the summer or early fall.

Phillips expressed frustration with the cycle of raising the debt ceiling but acknowledged that it forces a conversation about managing the country’s finances. 

He emphasized the importance of taking action to address the trust funds for Medicare and Social Security, which could become insolvent within a decade. 

Phillips said he is working with Sen. Mitt Romney and others on the TRUST Act, which aims to rescue federal trust funds and rein in national debt. 

When discussing the challenges of reducing government spending, Phillips commented on the lack of political will to cut programs. 

“Both parties have been miserable on this,” he said. “It’s an unmitigated disaster. I don’t know one politician who’s rewarded for cutting programs. And that’s just the universal truth.”

Paid Family and Medical Leave program

Chamber members were particularly interested in discussing the proposed state Paid Family and Medical Leave program with Phillips. Phillips was in business for many years before running for Congress and was happy to oblige.

The state Legislature (HF2/SF2) is considering the bill, which would establish a state-run insurance program to provide Minnesota workers with up to 12 weeks of paid family leave and up to an additional 12 weeks of paid medical leave per year. It aims to support individuals who require long-term leave, whether caring for a new baby, an ill family member or recovering from an illness or injury.

While the DFL-led House has supported the bill in the past, the House and Senate have yet to take a final vote on it this year. 

Pat Mulqueeny, president of the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, is among those chamber officials across the state who have expressed concern about the program. 

MulQueeny described it as a one-size-fits-all approach that could further burden businesses struggling to remain competitive amid record-setting inflation, national workforce shortages, and supply chain disruptions. 

He told Phillips that small businesses are the most vocal in expressing their concerns about the proposed policy to him. They worry about the burden and cost of reporting and making arrangements for employees who would be entitled to 12 weeks of paid medical leave and 12 weeks of paid family leave.

As MulQueeny puts it, “even small margins on profitability” are at stake.

Phillips said he needed to familiarize himself with the proposal’s specifics and requested the perspectives of those attending the luncheon.

But, he said the country can allow some flexibility for individuals requiring time off. He also acknowledged the challenges of running a business and the potential burdens of additional fees, taxes, and paperwork. 

“With all that said, I’d like to find a way for us to accommodate those who need time off who can’t otherwise afford it,” he said. “On the other hand, I want to represent all of you who would be further burdened.”

He asked those at the luncheon whether there was a way to accommodate both perspectives.

Several attendees proposed exempting smaller businesses from the policy instead of applying it as a blanket rule to all companies. Additionally, some suggested providing the benefit as an incentive for businesses to offer it voluntarily. 

“Glad we had this conversation, and I hear you,” Phillips said. “And I’ll get a sense of where things are at. I will share your perspective with those who need to know, including the governor.”

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More to read: Find out why State Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn is backing the Paid Family and Medical Leave bill as one of its 35 co-sponsors in the House.

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Immigration reform

Phillips highlighted the biggest challenge facing all institutions in Minnesota, whether for-profit or non-profit, is having a ready and able workforce.

He’s concerned that Minnesota is at a disadvantage because people don’t come there for the weather, and the state needs to attract more people and investments to avoid problems. 

Phillips thinks that immigration reform can be a solution to ensure that the country has a ready workforce. 

“We also need a secure border,” he added. “I’ve been to the southern border two times; it’s a disaster. It’s an embarrassment to our country. It’s not political. Both parties have been responsible for this disaster for generations.”

Phillips suggests that most people legally cross the border because they must declare asylum. He recommends that people apply for asylum in their own country instead of being compelled to cross the U.S. border.

George Santos

Phillips expressed dismay at George Santos’ situation, calling it “demeaning to Congress and our country.” 

The New York Republican faces intense scrutiny and criticism for fabricating a significant portion of his biography, leading to concerns about his continued presence in Congress.

But, Phillips expressed concerns about the recent trend of one political party stripping committee assignments from opposing party members. Even if elected under false pretenses, he believes it is inappropriate for Congress to remove an elected representative.

“He’s repulsive,” Phillips said of Santos. “But we have a system of government that allows his bosses, the voters, to make a decision every two years.” 

Freedom of speech

Phillips was asked about his thoughts on freedom of speech, particularly regarding possible censorship by the FBI and federal government. 

House Oversight Republicans, as the new majority, are investigating whether the federal government, national security officials, social media companies, and the media have conspired against conservatives.

“If there is evidence of any federal official or federal agency that is actively and illegally censoring, yeah damn right, they should be prosecuted and called out,” he said.

While acknowledging the dangers of misinformation, Phillips stressed that private platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have the legal right to censor content as long as they are consistent with user agreements. 

“If they want to censor people or identify or flag misinformation, they are legally allowed to do so,” he said. “When the government starts doing it, that’s when things get real messy real fast.”

Phillips stressed the importance of protecting the expression of all viewpoints, even those with whom he disagrees.

“My principle is you shouldn’t silence those voices you don’t like,” he said. “That’s where it gets really dangerous in the United States of America, when public officials start censoring, removing, diminishing.”

Unidentified flying objects

Earlier this month, officials shot down a Chinese-operated high-altitude balloon spotted flying over North America.

Phillips described the more recent unidentified flying objects in the sky as a strange phenomenon that the U.S. is trying to figure out.

“And that’s the truth,” he said. “They’re trying to find the wreckage to ascertain. Nobody believes it’s dangerous. Nobody believes it’s alien in nature. But nobody can quite explain it.”

He surmised that these UFOs might be scientific or weather research devices circulating in the stratosphere for a long time.”And don’t think for a moment that we don’t have things up there doing the same thing,” he said.

China-U.S. relations

Phillips told the chamber his belief that creating an adversarial relationship with China is not in the long-term best interest of the United States.

He called on President Biden to invest significantly in leveling the relationship between the United States and China, urging the Chinese to be thoughtful competitors rather than enemies. 

“We should be wary of creating an environment where a single misstep can cause extraordinary harm to the world and to the United States,” he said.

Gun violence

A member asked Phillips about the government’s efforts to address the impact of mental health on gun violence in America.

He emphasized the importance of conducting further research on gun violence, highlighting the recent allocation of $25 million between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support this research.

“We literally had to pass legislation to allow research to be done on the subject,” he said. “It’s only been a couple of years. Now we have to obtain that data. So that’s being addressed right now.”

Phillips delved deeper into the issue of gun violence and expressed his concern about its normalization in the United States. 

While Phillips respects the second amendment and is a gun owner, he does not believe that “weapons of war” should be in the hands of 18-year-olds. 

Phillips stressed the importance of integrating sensible gun laws with research on mental and emotional health, with a particular focus on identifying and addressing potential underlying factors of gun violence among young men.

He characterized the issue of gun violence as a uniquely American problem, with predominantly young men being responsible for these heinous acts.

“There are some who believe that if you walk down this path, all guns will be taken away from you,” he said. “But that’s not going to happen. Democrats must recognize that there is a mental health crisis, as well as an emotional health crisis, particularly among young men. We should synthesize research on both topics to improve our understanding and do better. It should start with research.”