Press Releases

SC Debate: Rep. Cunningham Is Fighting for the Lowcountry, While Mace Works for Corporate Special Interests

Oct 07, 2020

South Carolina Congressman Joe Cunningham faced off against Nancy Mace for the final time in a debate for South Carolina’s First Congressional District. The contrast was crystal clear. Cunningham is fighting for the Lowcountry while Mace is putting corporate special interests first.

“Joe Cunningham is leading the fight to change the way Washington works, taking on corruption in both parties and ensuring our officials are working in the public’s best interest,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “While Cunningham doesn’t take a dime of PAC money and has made fighting corruption a top priority, Nancy Mace cashes every check she gets from corporate special interests and puts their needs ahead of South Carolinians. She has a track record of failing to show up for South Carolina as a State Representative, and now is asking for a promotion. Joe Cunningham is a leader the Lowcountry can be proud of.”

Here are a few highlights of legislation Congressman Cunningham has passed to root out corruption and make government work for South Carolina families:

  • For The People Act (H.R.1): The most sweeping anti-corruption, voting rights, and ethics reform legislation in a generation. It would expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of Big Money in politics, increase transparency, and strengthen ethics rules for public servants.

  • The Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3): This bill would force Big Pharma to stop ripping off South Carolinians. It would grant Medicare new powers to negotiate annual prices for the 250 most expensive drugs on the market. It also makes the lower drug prices negotiated by Medicare available to South Carolinians with private insurance. And it stops drug companies from ripping off South Carolina while charging other countries less for the same drugs.

  • The Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act (H.R. 1941): Introduced by Congressman Cunningham, this bill prohibits offshore drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts. The bill had support from members of both parties and passed the U.S. House of Representatives but is being  blocked by the Republican-controlled Senate.

  • Voting Rights and Advancement Act (H.R. 4): This bill protects voters from disenfranchisement in states with a history of voter suppression and requires preclearance by the Department of Justice or U.S. District Court before changes can be enforced.

The Headlines: 

  • Charleston City Paper: One year later, it’s time for Mitch McConnell to stop blocking critical anti-corruption and election reform legislation
    “When I ran for Congress, I promised the people of the Lowcountry I would work for them, not special interests and big donors. It’s why I made a promise — which I have kept — to not accept a single dime from special interests or PACs. Once elected, I worked with my colleagues to do just that by co-sponsoring and helping pass the For the People Act (H.R. 1), once-in-a-generation anti-corruption and democracy reform legislation.”

  • The Post and Courier: SC 1st Congressional District: Cunningham and Mace differ on climate change science views
    “I made a promise on day one of my campaign that I would never take a dime from PACs or corporations and that’s a promise I’ve kept — every dollar we accept has a name and a face behind it. And every quarter I end up sending tens of thousands of dollars in PAC checks back because I want to be accountable to the people of the Lowcountry — not special interests. My opponent brags about “cashing every check” and has accepted tens of thousands from oil companies.”

###