Spanberger rejects corporate PAC money and led on passing legislation to crack down on corruption in both parties
Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger and friend to mega-donors Nick Freitas met tonight in a forum to discuss issues Virginians care about most. While Spanberger has a track record of fighting for her community and putting her constituents’ needs first, Nick Freitas has a dangerous record of voting to take away healthcare from Virginia families and putting the mega-donors and corporate special interests that bankroll his campaign over those he’s supposed to represent. The forum comes on the heels of a constituent writing a letter of complaint to the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council against Freitas.
“Congresswoman Spanberger has set an example for what true leadership looks like by working across party lines to crack down on corruption in both parties and make progress on issues like lowering prescription drug costs. Nick Freitas is beholden to corporate special interests and mega-donors because they gave him the funds he needed to get a seat at the table in the first place,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “Congresswoman Spanberger kept her promises by rejecting corporate PAC money and leading the fight against corruption in her first term, and she’ll continue that fight when she’s re-elected this November.”
Here are a few highlights of legislation Congresswoman Spanberger has supported to root out corruption in both parties and make government work for Virginia families:
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For The People Act (H.R.1): The most sweeping anti-corruption, voting rights, and ethics reform legislation in a generation. It would make voting easier and more secure, take on corruption in both parties, end dark money, and strengthen ethics rules for public servants.
Tonight, Freitas falsely claimed that Rep. Spanberger sponsored a bill to give millions of taxpayer dollars to her own campaign and to fund personal expenses. H.R.1 specifically states that no incumbent could use campaign funds to cover personal expenses.
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The Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3): This bill would force Big Pharma to stop ripping off Virginians and 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 Virginians with private insurance. And it stops drug companies from ripping off the United States while charging other countries less for the same drugs.
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Voting Rights 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.
- SHIELD Act (H.R. 4617): This bill would require political campaigns and committees to report offers of campaign assistance from foreign governments, ensure online political advertisements have the same level of transparency as broadcast advertisements, close loopholes that allow foreign nationals and governments to spend money in our elections, and prohibits anyone from providing false information about voting rules and qualifications. Spanberger’s amendment to the bill would require online platforms to include information about whether a buyer is acting as the agent of a foreign government or foreign political party. Additionally, her amendment would require the identity of these foreign entities to be publicly disclosed.
Meanwhile, these headlines speak for themselves regarding Nick Freitas’ priorities and his history of corruption:
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Roll Call: Dueling disclosures: Virginia candidate Freitas tells state one salary, Congress another
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Richmond Times-Dispatch: Freitas takes responsibility for missing another paperwork filing deadline
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Richmond Times-Dispatch: Freitas will report getting $500K from GOP megadonor, campaign says
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VPM: Politifact VA: Nick Freitas’ Record on Pre-Existing Conditions
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