Press Releases

Sen. Cornyn Fails Test, Receives “F” on Anti-Corruption Legislative Scorecard

Jan 16, 2020

ECU Action Fund launched its first annual legislative scorecard to track and grade the efforts of every Member of Congress on money in politics and government reform issues

Cornyn, a Big Money 20 incumbent, has taken over $7.1 million from corporate PACs over the course of his career

The scorecard with Cornyn’s “F” score ran in a two-page ad in Roll Call and was sent to ECU’s four million members

End Citizens United Action Fund (ECU) launched its first annual legislative scorecard to track and grade every Member of Congress on money in politics and government reform issues. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), a Big Money 20 member, received a score of “F”. ECU’s scorecard ran in a two-page ad in Roll Call and was sent to the group’s four million members. From increasing transparency to strengthening government ethics and protecting our elections, Cornyn failed to support any key bills to root out corruption.

Click here to view the scorecard.

“Senator Cornyn got an F because he failed to support common sense legislation that roots out corruption,” said ECU President Tiffany Muller. “The scorecard grade shows that Cornyn is entrenched in Washington’s rigged system and puts corporate special interests ahead of his constituents. Texans deserve to know Cornyn’s dismal record, and we’ll make sure to hold him accountable for his failures.”

ECU’s Big Money 20 campaign is focused on holding incumbents who benefit most from the corrupt establishment in Washington accountable by showing voters how politicians put corporate special interest donors ahead of the people they’re supposed to represent.

Below is the list of criteria used to determine the grades in the scorecard:

Rejects Corporate PAC Money: Over 60 members of the 116h Congress have chosen to reject contributions from corporate PACs for their campaigns.

Cosponsors S. 949: The most transformative anti-corruption and government reform legislation since Watergate, the For the People Act (S. 949) ends the dominance of big money in politics, protects and expands the right to vote, and ensures public officials are working in the public interest.

Cosponsors S. 1147: The DISCLOSE Act (S. 1147) brings dark money into the light by requiring all groups that spend money on elections to report major campaign donations and expenditures.

Cosponsors S. 561: The Voting Rights Advancement (S. 561) restores key sections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to ensure every eligible voter can cast their ballot free from discrimination.

Cosponsors S.J.Res. 51: The Democracy for All Amendment (S.J.Res. 51) overturns the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision by giving Congress and the states the ability to set commonsense limits for campaign fundraising and spending.

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