Career
He represented the 34th legislative district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1969 to 1970. He was then elected to represent the 44th senatorial district in the Pennsylvania Senate in 1970. During a 1971 debate, Governor Milton Shapp"s proposed a 5% state income tax
Nolan was one of two democratic holdouts in the Pennsylvania Senate.
When the suggested rate was reduced to 3.5%, Nolan finally agreed to vote in favor of lieutenant The matter was referred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Allegheny County District Attorney, and United States. Attorney Richard Thornburgh, but no charges were ever filed.
Thom Nolan served in the Senate until 1978. He and three other defendants, including Vince Fumo and Pete Carmiel, were convicted of placing "ghost workers" on state payroll.
The charges were later thrown out.