Nolan on the Issues
Because You Matter
When you decide to support someone, it’s an act of trust. You trust that person to think about you, and vote and act in your best interests because you matter. Rick looks forward to meeting you on the campaign trail, and discussing your concerns personally.
Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!
As the former owner of a sawmill and pallet factory, Rick Nolan has created real jobs here in northern Minnesota. With 8th district unemployment at over 10% (not counting the thousands of discouraged Minnesotans who have quit looking for jobs) we need a congressman who knows how to meet a payroll and balance a budget. A congressman who will fight the way one of his mentors, governor Rudy Perpich, fought for good paying, secure jobs. We need a congressman who will go anywhere, and meet with anyone, to bring good jobs to the 8th congressional district. Rick Nolan will do that!
Rebuilding America and Jobs
Rebuilding America’s infrastructure – roads, bridges, wastewater treatment, mass transit and high-speed light-rail, would improve our quality of life, create millions of good paying jobs, and strengthen our economy. We can pay for this by ending the Bush tax cuts and loopholes for the rich, and by pulling back our military footprint in countries like Japan that pose no threat to us whatsoever.
Labor and Working Families
We are the Democratic-Farmer-LABOR party. End the war on public employees and working families. Guarantee collective bargaining rights. Pass the Employee Free Choice Act and pension reform. Accord organized labor and working families the respect they earned as they built the middle class in America!
Farms and Small Businesses
As the former owner of, and current investor in a sawmill and pallet factory in Emily, Rick has created real jobs right here at home. As former Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Family Farms & Rural Development, he knows how to fight and win for rural America in Congress.
Exports and Jobs
Rick has lived and traveled all over the world. As a founder, chairman and president of the Minnesota World Trade Center and Chairman of the World Trade Center Association’s powerful Trade & Policy Committee, he will work to expand the Port of Duluth and its role in making Minnesota a leading export state. He will fight for fair trade and tax policies to encourage and protect good American jobs.
The Environment
The environment, our air, lakes, rivers and forests, are crucial to our 8th district economy. The degradation of our air and water, along with global warming, threaten the very survival of our species here on mother earth. We absolutely must do what is called for to prevent this calamity.
Social Security
Social Security is a compact with the American people that must be honored. Don’t turn it over to Wall Street. Stabilize the Social Security Fund for generations to come by requiring the very rich to pay Social Security taxes on a higher percentage of their income.
Medicare
Don’t turn Medicare into a voucher system for insurance companies, which will mean higher costs and less treatment. Instead, focus on ending massive fraud and abuse in states like Michigan and Florida. Integrate seamless electronic transfer between payers and providers to ensure the validity of all claims and protect patient information. Require the government to negotiate on behalf of the American people to lower pharmaceutical prices under Medicare Part D.
Support the ERA for Women
America has come a long way in advancing civil rights for all citizens. Yet women still face significant gender discrimination in a host of areas including education, employment, health care, pensions and social security benefits. As 8th District Congressman, Rick Nolan will fully support House Joint Resolution 47, which removes the ERA time limit for passage and ratification. Rick will work tirelessly on behalf of the ERA until it becomes part of the U.S. Constitution – virtually immune from attacks and legal challenges by the right wing as part of their war on the Middle Class.
The Deficit
There are lots of ways to reduce the deficit without declaring war on the middle class and public employees. End the Bush tax cuts for the rich and bring our troops home from the Middle East, and from countries that pose no danger to the U.S. such as Japan. Those changes alone could save trillions of dollars.
Wars in the Middle East
America is deeply involved in three expensive wars with no apparent plan for winning them or concluding them. We need to devote those resources to jobs and the economy here at home. So bring the troops home now.
