Less than a full week into his second stint as a congressman, Rep. Rick Nolan, D-Minn., is anxious to get to work.
In his first phone news conference with Minnesota reporters, the rural Crosby DFLer voiced a concern that he emphasized during his successful bid to unseat Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-Minn., in November. Congress, he said should spend more time in session. Looking back at his first term in Congress in 1975, Nolan estimated the representatives were in session 48 out of 52 weeks with most of those weeks consisting of four- or five-day work weeks. That compares with the current term with plans for Congress to be working 32 of 52 weeks, with most of those weeks two-day work weeks.
“We’re only scheduled to work 124 days this coming year,” he said. “Congress has to get back into the business of governance.
Nolan’s spokesman, Steve Johnson, said later Monday he believed there were 125 days listed on the House calendar.
Any chance for collaboration or cooperation comes from time spent with committee members getting to know each other and learning where their interests are compatible and where they’re not, he said.
“The Congress is not governing,” he said. “Right now the ag committee should be meeting, looking at a reenactment of the farm bill, looking where money can be saved.”
On Tuesday, Nolan was appointed to the Agriculture Committee, a post he had sought and a panel that he had served on during his first three terms in Congress. He said the Agriculture Committee has jurisdiction regarding the U.S. Forest Services and he wants to deal with a number of trade issues establishing a fair competitive market for those in the forest-related industries. He said he’ll also work for a sustainable food and agriculture policy for the producers of corn, wheat and beans, one that will be more supportive of small and family-operated farms.
Earlier, Nolan had been named to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. On that panel, Nolan said, clean air and water legislation and Amtrak legislation all need to be crafted. He said he also wants to upgrade the nation’s “old and crumbling infrastructure,” which include bridges in need of repair.
Fresh off a congressional race in which in excess of $20 million was spent — most of that donated by outside sources — Nolan has pledged to introduce legislation that would provide a constitutional amendment to reverse the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. Although he said he was outspent in both the primary and general election, typically, he maintained the candidate with the most money receives the most votes. Members of Congress, he said are expected to spend about 30 hours a week on the phone asking for money, in addition to conducting fundraisers.
While admitting that a constitutional amendment was a long, laborious process, Nolan said reforms could come quicker if new U.S. Supreme Court justices are appointed.
“This is one constitutional amendment that is very, very possible,” he said. “House Republicans are not very supportive as a group. I’m reasonably optimistic that something can be done here. Sometimes you just have to step up and lead the charge and do the educating.”
Nolan said he didn’t plan to spend 30 hours a week asking for contributions but admitted that one has to play by the rules of the game in order to have enough money to win.
“If I did absolutely nothing, I’d be on the outside looking in,” he said.
The biggest opportunity for federal spending cuts, Nolan said is in the military.
“We don’t need to be the world’s policeman,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we don’t need a strong defense.”
Responding to a question regarding gun control, Nolan said the government should be supportive of mental health care to prevent those rare occasions where people with mental health problems turn violent. He also called for outlawing assault weapons and called for reasonable and sensible restrictions such strengthening background checks.
“I’m a hunter,” he said. “I don’t need an assault rifle to shoot a duck and protect my family. I don’t need a magazine clip with 50 shells in it.”
MIKE O’ROURKE, associate editor, may be reached at 855-5860 or mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com. He may be followed at www.twitter.com/MikeORourkenews.
Comments (51)
Add commentMr. Nolan
“I don’t need an assault rifle to shoot a duck and protect my family. I don’t need a magazine clop with 50 shells in it.”
Don't be too sure. When your boss comes after you, you'll wish you had ten times that much.
But here's a ray of hope, everyone. Yesterday CWC set a new record with 28 applications for permits to carry. It smashed the old one by ten. (Don't forget to include the 'clop' if you buy an assault rifle.)
Give'em heck Rick!
Give'em heck Rick!
Actually, change the
hair color and shorten it up a bit, add some years and a few pounds and it is you I see.
Same old
The constitutional amendment idea of his is comical.
Remember the uproar from the left on the idea of a MN amendment that we voted on in Nov?
I personally think they should be in session less days.
I would think they can do the committee work while not
in session.
They do enough stupid things as it is, more days in session won't help. Rick - What about the debt?
Good to see that Mike has a new friend.
Eyolf,
I could have done with just reading your post and not looking at the picture you posted, I just had breakfast!!
Let me see here....
After thinking this over...I agree that something needs to be done. The first step should be going after all the illegal gun owners that are holding our metro neighborhoods hostage. That alone would decrease the daily body count of the young and innocent.
The first charge
usually dropped in a plea bargain is the "Felon in Possession of a Firearm" that is good for 10 years in prison.
This guy could use a manzere
This guy could use a manzere . He should sell some of those "clops" and get his belly waxed.
Where Does It Say "Clop"?
Do some readers of the article have difficulty in sounding out the words? Where is "clop" in the article?
I for one am delighted that we again have Mr. Nolan as our representative. Congratulations Congressman Nolan.
Sadie, were you a teacher? It should be "...fewer days.", not "...less days." But to Mr. Nolans' point, yes the legislators should work more days, not fewer. Campaign financing will go a long way in correcting this problem of having to spend too much time raising campaign cash.
If you'd get outa
bed a bit earlier bond you'd have seen clip spelled clop!
Eyolf
You been on the wacky tobacky again or is that foul smell, the cranial fluid leaking out of your eye sockets.
Bondo Boy
You better go to the eye doctor for a new prescription or maybe get a teacher to read to you. Maybe little Johnny can read to you. Maybe you got one of those welfare computers that corrects spelling befor it prints it out for you.
The free ads
via social media were more effective than the repetitive ones on television. Why waste the money on TV ads when you can change and add messages via Facebook daily? And you can capture your opponents' gaffes and post them frequently.
To those who are not on Facebook, don't underestimate its viewership. Younger voters get their information there, and it shows by the election, they got out and voted.
Charlie: your spell check isn't working....it's "before"
Charlie:
"You better go to the eye doctor for a new prescription or maybe get a teacher to read to you. Maybe little Johnny can read to you. Maybe you got one of those welfare computers that corrects spelling befor it prints it out for you."
Bond
No, I'm not a teacher nor have I ever been.
Excuse me. I admit that I'm not a great writer. Although,
somehow I did produce a Masters Degree Paper with the
help of a proof-reader.
If you look at more of my posts, you will find more
errors. I'd like to say that I do it on purpose but, I
don't.
Southie
I'm a conservative. I'm not on welfare so I didn't get one of those free computers. Sorry, I worked for a living. No freeloading here.
Well, Charlie,
Since you have stated that your wife is a teacher, I guess you benefit indirectly from government funds.
And, sadie, there are inexpensive classes that are fun to take for all ages to learn more about computers. I took one and now can download and read books from the library on my iPad. It is terrific. And easier on your wrists!
SouthieFlaps Again
Again, southie, you let your alligator mouth over-run your hummingbird brain. I did not say my wife is a teacher. She is a professor in a private college, non-union, connected to the taxpayers in no way. She gets paid for what she does, not for showing up and calling herself a teacher. She gets stuck with the junk that our education system is putting out. She has to teach HS math just so she can teach her regular classes in college accounting I and II. Now, make the appropriate adjustments in your brain. This is just another example of your brain malfunctioning and causing you problems. Got it.
Private and for profit colleges use taxpayer funds
We taxpayers fund student loans and various other items in almost all private, for profit and public colleges.
And Charlie, a professor is a teacher.
Ask her.
Southie
I offer at least one correction on your assumption on taxpayer funds used for all colleges.
Hillsdale College doesn't accept or permit its students to bring
federal financial aid. All aid is privately funded.
That is a interesting, Sadie
At $30,000 a year it sounds like they steer financing towards other sources. Thanks for that information. Why do you think that is?
It sounds like an outstanding college...the second to offer a four year liberal arts degree to women! Did you attend?
Southies on here quite a bit today
I'll bet if eyolf didn't have that photo of that half naked amazon posted on here today, southie wouldn't be on here as much. How many times has she scrolled by that photo today. Cookies away.
Gone Southie
Webster says: "Professor-a faculty member of the highest rank in a college or university." It doesn't say anything about a card carrying union member with a certificate from the DFL operated education system. That's exactly why you (filtered word) are afraid of a "right to work" law. It would destroy your Tommy Dooher operation and you scums whould be forced to work. Because a student gets his/her money from the government, doesn,t mean the college is taxpayer financed. Do you actually think these students get this money for free. They have to pay it back. What's this "we taxpayers" stuff? If you're a taxpayer, you're not a lib. And if you are a lib, you're not paying your fair share so don't classify yourself amongst the taxpayers of this country.
Professors are "teachers", C.M.
Not all who teach at the college level are professors (especially at 2-yr. schools). Some are instructors, and aren't even required to have a master's degree, depending on the subject matter. (My spouse was a college instructor w/ only an MBA at one point.) Most actual professors have PhD's. And they are, generally speaking, proud to say that they are "teachers", as part of what they do (in addition to the "publish or perish" thing") to make their living. Whether they teach future bookkeepers or nuclear physicists, they're teachers. A very respectable profession. You get particularly prickly when the subject of teachers is on the table, Charlie. I presume your wife doesn't view "teaching/teachers" with the same disdain as do you?
Southie, here's some more info. about Hillsdale: http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/05/01/stoking-fire-profile-li...
Back to topic -- good luck to you, Cong. Nolan; you'll need luck to accomplish anything in the obstructionist atmosphere
of recent sessions of Congress.
Thanks, bubba
I used to live with a professor and he was first and foremost proud to be a teacher.
And poor Charlie is having a difficult day. His generalities are false and his guesses about people are also.
Every college loan which goes into default is on the government's account. So yes, as taxpayers, we do finance college budgets and college loans.
The "obstructionist atmosphere"
that we've been seeing for the last Four (4) years is Dirty Oil Can Harry Reid refusing to advance any Republican bill in the Senate. He needs to be impeached at the same time they impeach Obama.
charlie....Maybe Deerwood
is her pit stop on the way to Emily?????
Southie brings out her big guns
Hey bubble gumbo, my wife views them lower than I do. Don't even put her in the same category. She'll bite your head off. Did southie call you to her defense. The mentality shows it.
I'm sorry to hear that, Charlie. I hope some of her
students have a more respecful demeanor toward her, as their teacher (or "professor", if she has a PhD). Sometimes the professors who don't like the teaching part of their job (as opposed to their research/publishing) aren't the best teachers, in my college/grad. school experience. If one likes and respects one's profession, one is , generally speaking, better at it.
An education in education.
The first that I heard of Hillsdale College was from my brother around 6 months ago. I attended Concordia for one year and then Mankato State for both degrees. No loans.
Thank you for the link to the biased article on Hillsdale.
I wish there were more colleges that had those goals to
serve the people that are not interested in the liberal bent of most colleges.
As for teachers, as I have said many times, there are several teachers in our families. On my side, most are in the private Lutheran elementary system and do make less than 1/2 as much as the group that are in the public schools. They do have challenging students as parents that are at a loss with their children send them to the school.
College loans
going into default? I don't think school loans can go into bankruptcy, but maybe there is another way to default.
What would happen to the price of tuition if the federal government got out of the school loan program?