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Rick Nolan's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Key

Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Rick Nolan has refused to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2016 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

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Issue Positions

For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2016.

  • Rated 100% by Planned Parenthood (votesmart.org)
  • Minnesota Public Radio "I’ve been in the forefront of the battles for choice, women’s rights, and Planned Parenthood for more than 30 years." (blogs.mprnews.org)
  • "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." (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "By rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure – reinvesting hundreds of billions of dollars being spent on so-called wars of choice and nation building abroad into American roads, highways, bridges, ports, and waterways." (nolan.house.gov)
  • "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." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R.22 "Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 636 "America's Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2015" (votesmart.org)
  • "Furthermore, I've worked on reforming our tax policies to reward the middle class for working hard and to make the millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share. History shows that trickle-down economics, with its tax breaks for the super-wealthy, doesn't work. The best way to grow the economy and create opportunities is from the bottom up and the middle out." (votesmart.org)
  • "This new law is a win for teachers, school officials and students alike […] It enhances local control, marks the end of the high stakes associated with testing, gives teachers more voice and adds flexibility for rural and tribal school leaders in how they use federal funds to meet their own unique educational needs. Moreover, the bill maintains strong accountability requirements to ensure that all students -- regardless of where they live or the challenges they face -- have access to the resources they need to live up to their full potential." (votesmart.org)
  • "I support construction of the Keystone pipeline, as pipelines provide a transportation alternative with fewer carbon emissions." (nolan.house.gov)
  • Voted in favor of S.1 "A Bill to Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline" (votesmart.org)
  • "I support the Renewable Fuel Standard because I believe we should tap into the scientific advancements that will allow our nation’s energy portfolio to shift away from fossil fuels and take advantage of renewable sources of energy, such as solar, wind, and biomass." (nolan.house.gov)
  • "That’s why I’ve introduced and/or sponsored legislation to require American and international companies adhere to our strictest health, safety, and environmental standards, as well as to provide tax incentives to renewable energy producers, to encourage the timber industry to explore new uses for wood biofuels and advanced wood products, and to offer incentives for farmers to preserve native grasslands." (nolan.house.gov)
  • "That’s why I’ve introduced and/or sponsored legislation to require American and international companies adhere to our strictest health, safety, and environmental standards, as well as to provide tax incentives to renewable energy producers, to encourage the timber industry to explore new uses for wood biofuels and advanced wood products, and to offer incentives for farmers to preserve native grasslands." (nolan.house.gov)
  • "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." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.Amdt.507 "Specifies the Authority of the Secretary of Interior on the Regulation of Methane Emissions" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 7% by National Rifle Association (votesmart.org)
  • Signed a letter stating "Our nation has suffered at least 74 school shootings since the Sandy Hook massacre. The factors allowing these rampages are no mystery: loopholes in the background check laws, straw purchases, restrictions on law enforcement, and gaps in our mental health system." (votesmart.org)
  • "The Affordable Care Act is an important first step, not the last, in our nation's quest for providing Americans with the assurance, security, and the peace of mind that accompanies quality, low-cost health care." (nolan.house.gov)
  • Voted against H.R. 596 "Repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care-Related Provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010" (votesmart.org)
  • Brainer Dispatch "Nolan wanted to see a path toward citizenship for illegal immigrants and strong penalties for employers who hire illegal immigrants." (www.brainerddispatch.com)
  • Minnesota Public Radio "I support the DREAM act, a formal guest worker program to respond to the need we have for temporary unskilled labor, a path to citizenship for those who seek to build a future in our nation, and an increase in efforts to retain the best and brightest foreign students in our universities." (mail.google.com)
  • "First Prop 8 gets overturned and now Washington passes a bill to legalize gay marriage. What a great week for equal rights! Now we need to unite Minnesota families against the hateful amendment on the ballot this November." (www.facebook.com)
  • Rated 100% by Human Rights Campaign (votesmart.org)
  • Duluth News Tribune "I’ve been a supporter of marriage equality from the very beginning of my career in public service." (www.duluthnewstribune.com)
  • "Any such ill-conceived escalation would prove to be a tragic and unnecessary waste of blood and treasure for the United States. […] the President's most recent decision to authorize surveillance flights over Syria to monitor Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) insurgents makes it clear – despite his protests to the contrary – that direct U.S. military action may be only days or hours away." (votesmart.org)
  • "We need to stop funding and supplying those who make a mockery of America's good intentions. My amendment simply assures that American taxpayers will stop funding the activities of so-called 'allies' in Iraq and Syria once the Secretary of Defense has determined that they have misused the training and equipment we have provided for them." (votesmart.org)
  • "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." (votesmart.org)
  • "I firmly believe that Social Security and Medicare are rightful benefits that seniors begin paying for from their first day on the job. I will always oppose any attempts to privatize or reduce these vital programs." (votesmart.org)

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