debating the past

October 16, 2012

Former Congressman Rick Nolan has spent a lot of time trying to pretend his time in Congress was much different than it actually was. As we await the next Cravaack-Nolan debate today, remember what Nolan said last week after being called out for his dismal career in Congress.

“Nolan said he skipped trivial votes when meeting with constituents but didn’t miss the important ones, and claimed Congress worked harder than it does now. He said he needed the raises to stay in Congress and maintain homes in Minnesota and Washington.” (AP, 10.09.12)

Congressman Nolan skipped trivial votes?

Veterans must be trivial to Congressman Nolan seeing he skipped these votes:

July 16, 1979, #303: TO PASS H.R. 2282, PROVIDING A COST OF LIVING INCREASE IN DISABILITY COMPENSATION FOR DISABLED VETERANS AND IN DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR SURVIVORS OF DISABLED VETERANS.

July 21, 1980, #1037: TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R. 7394, REVISING THE VETERAN’S VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM, PROVIDING A 10% INCREASE IN THE RATES OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER THE GI BILL, MAKING CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS AND ELIGIBLE SURVIVORS AND DEPENDENTS, REVISING AND EXTENDING VETERANS’ EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND PROVIDING CERTAIN COST SAVING ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

Congressman Nolan claims Congress worked harder than it does now?

But in 1980 Nolan said:

Congressman Nolan claims he needed a 42% pay raise paid for by taxpayers to maintain his multiple homes?

According to Dollartimes.com, an online service that calculates the changing amount of the dollar through inflation, $57,500 – Nolan’s salary – in 1977 has the same buying power as $222,957.73 in 2012 with an annual inflation rate over this period of 3.95%. (Inflation Calculator – 1977, DollarTimes.com)

As your cover today’s debate and Rick Nolan’s revisionist history, please consider the following quote.

NRCC Statement: “Former Congressman Rick Nolan is not being honest about his time in Congress over 30 years ago. Either Congressman Nolan is trying to purposely deceive Minnesota families about his record or his memory is foggier than the cast of Murder, She Wrote.” – NRCC Spokeswoman Katie Prill