Reps. Erik Paulsen And John Kline Turn Back The Clock On Women

Representatives Erik Paulsen and John Kline aren’t as vocal about their opposition to progress on women’s issues as some other elected officials, but they are just as extreme. Reps. Paulsen and Kline consistently vote against the best interests of Minnesota women. This month is Women’s History Month, reminding us that we should be celebrating women, not turning back the clock on them.

PAULSEN AND KLINE DON’T BELIEVE IN EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK

Time and again, Paulsen and Kline have shown that they don’t believe women should be compensated the same as men for the same work. Paulsen and Kline both voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which redefined unlawful employment laws and gave women more flexibility to sue over pay inequality. Each paycheck is now an offense if a salary is ruled as discriminatory. [S 181, Roll #37, 01/27/09]

In a 2012 Lake Minnetonka Communications Commissions 3rd CD candidate forum, Rep. Paulsen even went so far as to say that the only result of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act would be more “frivolous lawsuits.”

“And I’ll just mention this Lilly Ledbetter law…You can’t pay anyone differently based on their gender, but it did raise a political issue, obviously, and it does result in more litigation for many companies. And it forces more companies to hire more attorneys in anticipation of other lawsuits—frivolous lawsuits.” [LMCC, 10/18/12, 1:06.06]

Paulsen and Kline also prevented the U.S. House from debating and voting on the Paycheck Fairness Act. The bill is not controversial; it would close loopholes in existing law, prohibit retaliation against workers who discuss their salaries, reward employers who have good pay practices and provide assistance to small businesses that need help adopting equal pay policies. [H Res 667, Roll #297, 05/31/12]

PAULSEN AND KLINE WANT TO REDEFINE RAPE

In 2010, Rep. Erik Paulsen and Rep. John Kline co-sponsored the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion” bill, which would have permitted the use of taxpayer funds for abortion only in the case of “forcible rape.”

In 2011, Rep. John Kline co-sponsored the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion” bill, which would have permitted the use of taxpayer funds for abortion only in the case of “forcible rape.”

This legislation would essentially rewrite the rules to limit drastically the definition of rape. Reps. Paulsen and Kline want to redefine and narrow the definition of rape, to exclude “non-forcible” rape—including many instances of statutory rape. [City Pages, 08/28/12; HR 5939 Co-Sponsors; HR 3 Co-Sponsors]

PAULSEN AND KLINE VOTED TO DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD

Paulsen and Kline both voted to restrict access to necessary family planning and health services for women. Planned Parenthood provides a wide range of safe, reliable health care – and more than 90 percent is preventive, primary care.

Paulsen and Kline have both voted multiple times to ban federal support for Planned Parenthood. [HR 1, Amendment 95, Roll #93, 02/18/11; CBS News, 02/18/11; HR 1, Roll #147, 02/19/11; H Con Res 36, Roll #271, 04/14/11]

PAULSEN AND KLINE VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY WITH ANTI-WOMEN EXTREMISTS

Todd Akin: Legitimate Rape

Last year, Rep. Todd Akin, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Missouri, claimed that abortion in cases of rape was unnecessary because “if it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” [Slate, 01/14/13]

Paulsen and Akin voted together 91% of the time. Kline and Akin voted together 93% of the time. [Open Congress; OpenCongress]

Steve King: No Abortion for Statutory Rape

A day after Akin’s gaffe, Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, deflected a question about abortions for 12-year-old rape victims by saying, "I just haven't heard of that being a circumstance that's been brought to me in any personal way.” [Slate, 01/14/13]

Paulsen and King have voted together 89% of the time. Kline and King have voted together 92% of the time. [OpenCongress; OpenCongress]

Joe Walsh: Abortion Unnecessary to Protect Life of the Mother

On Oct. 18, 2012, Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill., asserted that “with modern technology and science, you can't find one instance” where abortion is necessary to protect a woman’s life or health. [Slate, 01/14/13]

Paulsen and Walsh voted together 85% of the time. Kline and Walsh voted together 88% of the time. [OpenCongress; OpenCongress]