• Restoring the Lowcountry's Economy

IT’S TIME TO SAFELY GET BACK TO WORK AND RESTORE SC’S ECONOMY

Coronavirus is a serious illness, but recent reports say most people who have COVID-19 don’t even know they have it because they have no symptoms and have not been tested. Recent studies report a far greater spread of asymptomatic disease than originally anticipated, meaning the hospitalization and mortality rates are actually lower than estimated.

In South Carolina, we flattened the curve more effectively than other parts of the country because we took to social distancing early. Today, we are far below projections for both infection and mortality, for those tested at least.

South Carolina residents are doing an excellent job taking this virus seriously. We’re wearing masks and gloves in grocery stores, and staying 6 feet apart even when we’re outdoors.

Our nation’s reaction to the virus has caused 30 million people to lose their jobs and plunged our country further into the red, racking up an additional $6 trillion of debt. To put that in perspective, that’s about $200,000 per household. Our deficit in 2020 will reach nearly $4 trillion.

Too often, money meant to go to small businesses instead went to big ones, and many small companies were permanently shuttered.

At the end of the day, the decision to jump-start our economy begins with the states, their citizens and their businesses. Federalism doesn’t empower D.C. to dictate to the states or the local level. New York City is different from Charleston, which is different from Atlanta. Any decisions must allow for differences between states and regions.

READ Nancy’s position on restoring The Lowcountry’s econonomy

TARGETED HOUSING HELP

Over these challenging weeks, I’ve worked hard to be out front advocating for the needs of the Lowcountry.

The COVID19 crisis has challenged all of us and our families. For weeks, I’ve advocated for more and better testing, and for supplies for our health care providers. I, too, shared the importance of restoring our economy and getting our state back to normal as best we can.

We now see 30 million people unemployed, a near $4 trillion deficit and businesses shuttered or hanging on by a thread. We have people struggling to pay their mortgages and rent, and the relief that has been offered hasn’t fixed all of the problems.

It was just announced starting May 15th, South Carolina will allow evictions and foreclosures to resume, at a time when the government simultaneously has shut businesses down, unemployment is at distressing and historic highs.

Our government is restricting Lowcountry residents to their homes, only to kick them out!? If people can’t work, they can’t pay their rent.

Perhaps the state of South Carolina can allow people to resume work at the same time they are going to resume foreclosure or eviction proceedings. That would just make sense, right?

But I also have another idea.

READ Nancy’s position on targeting housing help for businesses, families, banks, lenders, landlords and tenants

• Our Lowcountry Economy

I support lower taxes for all and strongly supported President Trump’s Tax Cut and Jobs Act, which lowered taxes on job creators and individuals. I don’t believe in talk about how we need to “pay for” tax cuts. That’s Washington speak. I start from the idea that your money is YOURS and Washington tries to take too much of it whenever it can.

EMPOWERING PEOPLE — NOT WASHINGTON

Tax cuts create jobs, prosperity and wealth. They empower us to spend our money how we see fit, and they keep money out of the hands of Washington bureaucrats.

In fact, the Lowcountry, specifically Charleston, has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation at 1.86 percent. I talk to business owners who are reaping the benefits of tax cuts and a booming economy paying entry-level employees $15 per hour and some are raising it to $20 — on their own — because when the economy is robust, wages increase. When Washington gives individuals and businesses more of their hard-earned dollars, our economy flourishes.

TACKLING THE DEBT

The federal budget deficit will reach $1 trillion in 2020 and our growing economy will slow according to the Congressional Budget Office. Nobody in Washington – not Republicans nor Democrats — is taking responsibility for the crippling debt. Medicare and Medicaid will cost us almost $6 trillion dollars in less than a decade. Unfunded pensions eclipse $122 trillion, with another $35 trillion on the way in just the next 4 years. The spending in Washington is out of control. As a single mom, I know what it’s like to balance a budget, and I’ll bring that same focus to Washington DC.

THE PENNY PLAN

DC is running our government by way of deficit spending and it isn’t because we have a revenue problem. You and I both know DC has a spending problem — a big one. To achieve a balanced budget, DC must rein in spending.

In order to balance the budget in five years, I support the Penny Plan. The Penny Plan does away with baseline budgeting, which assumes that government should bring in, at a minimum, the same amount in taxes that it received from taxpayers the year before. I don’t know about you, but this isn’t how my household operates.

The Penny Plan would require our government to spend one penny — just one penny — less than the following year for every dollar the government spends. It’s known as the 1 percent solution. Our debt hamstrings our seniors, kids, and families, and the only solutions coming out of DC to manage the debt? Tax increases. To restore sanity in our government’s budgeting system, and to restore trust in government for the taxpayers, it’s time to tackle Washington DC’s spending issue once and for all.

• Healthy Families and Communities

As we all know, healthcare hasn’t gotten any cheaper since the government expanded its role in the market, and far too often, we look to the government for solutions to issues in private industry. But, as a limited-government, fiscal conservative, I understand when politics and overly burdensome regulations are removed from industry, the door is opened for REAL competition — and the free-market is able to deliver a higher-quality product at a lower price for the consumer.

During my time in the South Carolina State House, I’ve led the fight to bring common-sense solutions to our healthcare system.

FIGHTING FOR FAMILIES IN THE SC LEGISLATURE

I filed legislation to fully repeal needlessly restrictive laws that require any new health care facility to be approved by a state agency before they are built or even expanded. Even if just one new service is set to be offered at a pre-existing facility, the state has to approve it. This setup serves large hospital networks and big insurance companies — not the people and patients of South Carolina. Medical providers and innovators shouldn’t have to navigate a labyrinth of red tape and wait years to see and to treat their patients.

With rising health care costs, young people aren’t able to make decisions and pursue their personal and professional dreams with astronomical costs of care and copays. Unleashing the power of the free market by providing transparency in pricing, procedures and medicine will allow young people to make more long-term plans and get the care they need. No more mandates from on high and no more health plans approved only by bureaucrats in Washington who don’t know what the people of South Carolina want.

As your Representative in Congress, I will support a FULL repeal of Obamacare and work on legislation that will expand access, drive down prices and improve the quality of healthcare for Americans.

That’s because as a state lawmaker, I am inundated with concerns about the skyrocketing costs of health care. And as big government continues to align with big insurance companies, patients suffer. We must allow for more options in the marketplace.

MORE OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS

We can implement fixes to provide patients more options by: lifting the age cap on catastrophic insurance plans, allowing professionals to make use of their training and certifications whether they’re doctors, nurse practitioners, physicians’ assistants, or pharmacists, and, lastly, implementing better accountability in the pharmaceutical supply chain. For patients, we must expand options and lower costs – plain and simple.

The federal government expects to spend $6 trillion on national health plans by 2027. Spending on programs like Medicare and Medicaid is expected to outpace the growth of our economy by 2027. This is a problem. Medicaid costs are through the roof — quadrupling in the last 20 years to almost $400 billion. Payments are on the rise, patients are turned away and yet Medicaid continues to chomp away at our federal budget. The federal government must loosen its grip on our healthcare decisions. Needless taxes and penalties stand in the way of getting South Carolinians the health care and insurance they deserve.

• Lowcountry Infrastructure

In South Carolina, we know better than most the poor condition of America’s infrastructure. As a whole, we are behind both from a maintenance and construction standpoint — especially in the Lowcountry, where growth and development got ahead of the curve. Unfortunately, we are playing catch up with our infrastructure needs at a federal, state and local level.

I know this firsthand because infrastructure has been a top priority of mine since being elected.

We all agree it’s time to fix our crumbling roads and bridges, and as a state legislator, I fought to bring our hard-earned tax dollars home to work for us. When the Wando Bridge broke down in 2018, the entire city of Charleston broke down with it. I asked the tough questions of our federal and state authorities. And I worked hard to deliver results not only for my district, but also for the entire Charleston area affected.

SUPPORT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

I am running for U.S. Congress because it’s time to stop rebuilding the world and start rebuilding America, right here at home. It’s time for a long-term plan that looks out for taxpayers AND fixes our roads!

Rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure is a key component of our campaign. We must provide our kids and communities the resources they need to succeed and thrive. As a state lawmaker, I know how all too often the federal government stands in the way of innovation and problem-solving at the state and local level. That’s why, as an elected official, I always ask myself,

“Does this empower my state?”

“Does this piece of legislation empower people on the ground, doing the work, to make decisions for themselves and their families?”

The opinions of Washington bureaucrats should always come last. As a federal policymaker, I would work to do away with barriers faced by state and local governments to access critical funding for programs that work. Additionally, no budget tricks and gimmicks! I know what it’s like to balance a budget as a single mom. As your elected official, I am committed to making sure DC does the same.

• Secure the Border

South Carolina’s First Congressional District deserves a leader who will put the Lowcountry and America First because putting “America First” means SECURING America first.

America is the land of opportunity, welcoming immigrants — but we are also a nation of laws, and without them, we aren’t a nation at all. Ending the disregard for our rule of law and the contempt for adequate border security is critical to catching human traffickers, stemming the tide of dangerous drugs and prioritizing the well-being of American families over the needs of illegal immigrants.

INVESTING IN NATIONAL DEFENSE

I fully support securing our border.

It is vital we secure our border. It is just as vital we also build and upgrade our systems for tracking those who come and go on visas.

Our enemies have benefited from our loopholes, and immigration is first and foremost a national security issue. I will vote to fund and implement all necessary border control and visa control systems, including more agents at the border and more funds devoted to our security.

Once that is complete, we must concentrate on implementing immigration policies that help our country. We can welcome those from other countries who seek to work or start businesses. We can increase legal immigrants here on work visas to meet our needs.

• Protect Life

We must safeguard our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It was no accident that our Founders listed life as the first of our God-given rights. I’m pro-life and believe we should defend life and liberty from conception to natural death. As a mom of two children, this is an especially important issue, to protect life.

In my role as a State Representative I have:

✅ Voted to block government funding of Planned Parenthood consistently, year after year.

✅ Sponsored pro-life legislation with H3779 the South Carolina Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act.

✅ Voted to pass the Fetal Heartbeat Bill in 2019.

SUPPORTING WOMEN

This is a deeply personal issue for me. As a survivor of sexual assault, I understand the hardships women face, physically and emotionally, not just immediately following this kind of trauma, but the pain we endure for the decades following. I understand what it’s like to be attacked, to be bullied and harassed after coming forward and I will not tolerate this kind of behavior, I will fight to protect victims of rape and incest.

• Support Our Veterans & Service Members

Decisions related to sending our troops overseas, military and veterans’ healthcare, the applicability of military training in the private sector — you name it — all these issues have affected both me and my family personally. I am enormously supportive of our military.

HELP FOR OUR VETERANS AT HOME

Last year, I was a proud sponsor of South Carolina’s House Bill 3438. Signed by our Governor in April 2019, this legislation established a Department of Veterans’ Affairs in-state. The legislation requires that the Secretary of the Department be a veteran and ensure all veterans “regardless of the wars in which their service may have been rendered,” be treated fairly and receive assistance.

I’m the daughter of U.S. Army retired Brigadier General James E. Mace, who saw two tours of combat in Vietnam and another in the 1964 Dominican Republic coup d’etat. I’m proud to be the daughter of the most decorated living graduate of The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina. He also commanded the first-ever Ranger Training Brigade and has been recognized in the Ranger Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, GA. Like many South Carolinians, most of my family are military veterans (active or retired).

• Stand with Israel

The U.S.-Israel strategic alliance is a special one — one that must remain safeguarded and supported by all our elected officials in Washington and throughout our country.

Our two nations rightly maintain a special bond based on shared values and deep strategic ties. Throughout both Israel and the U.S., we face the threat of terrorism, of ideologies that hate us, growing anti-Semitism and forces that wish to destroy us both. The State of Israel must maintain its ability to defend itself from hostile neighboring forces and instability in the region.

I support efforts that strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship and ensure Israel has the tools needed to defend itself against such growing threats, including the Iron Dome and access to U.S. technology and defense systems. Support for Israel is a part of our security strategy and should remain so.

We must remain vigilant in order to defend our role as the “shining city upon a hill.” This warrants both forceful condemnation of aggression by our foes, such as Russia providing significant resources to Iran, Syria, and other countries who seek to destroy our way of democracy, along with an open-mindedness and flexibility in the global quest for peace among all nations.

SUPPORTING OUR ALLIES

We must work for peace and stability in the region, together. Neither the U.S nor Israel can do this alone. Our success is incumbent upon the ability to work with our regional allies in the Middle East to contain and to beat back Iranian aggression and Islamic extremism in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. It is imperative that Israel maintain its Qualitative Military Edge (QME) to ensure its security and survival.

When a country is surrounded by millions who seek its destruction, all avenues of defense must be available. I will work to cut off aid to any country that does not seek peace with Israel, and fully support efforts like the Taylor Force Act that sets restrictions on aid to the Palestinian authority.

ENFORCING SANCTIONS

Aiding our allies means thwarting Tehran’s influence in the region. I agree with enforceable and targeted sanctions limiting Iran’s economic and political abilities. These must remain in place in order to hold Iran accountable. Ultimately, as its population continues to rise up in protest against its tyrannical regime, we will have an opportunity to push for a new deal to replace the flawed and inadequate JCPOA.

FIGHTING RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION

Throughout its history, Israel has stood up to bullies across the globe who threaten to isolate Israel by way of economic pain and pressure. The promulgation of boycotts of Israeli goods is none other than an attempt to delegitimize the State of Israel. In technology, medical sciences, and economic innovation, Israel has been an unwavering ally to the United States. I oppose these anti-freedom, anti-Israel protests.

PEACE PROCESS AND THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES

In closing, the United States’ role in supporting peace throughout the globe as leader of the free world means we must remain a forceful defender and advocate of the peace process. I would not put forth or take part in a proposal imposing a forced solution on the State of Israel — and certainly not as both Israel and the Palestinian Authority continue working to negotiate how to achieve peace in the region. Direct, bilateral negotiations ought to always be our goal. Lasting peace will not be achieved through international mandates but through a process developed and implemented by those in the region. Our representation at the federal level and on the global stage at the U.N. Security Council must always push back and exercise, when necessary, its veto power to strike down attempts by regional bullies to impose deals that don’t work for us and don’t work for Israel.

Finally, our countries must work for a regional peace, that allows Israel to exist and stops the regional power conflict and proxy wars of Iran and Saudi Arabia. The flawed JCPOA must be replaced by a regional peace accord that stops an Islamic nuclear state and stems the tide of ballistic missile proliferation throughout the region.

• Offshore Drilling

100% LIFETIME RATING BY CONSERVATION VOTERS OF SOUTH CAROLINA

There is no doubt South Carolina needs a strong voice on this issue and I promise to be that voice. As a member of South Carolina’s General Assembly, I have a 100% rating with conservation voters. In fact, the first piece of legislation I ever filed as a state lawmaker, in my first week in office, was an anti-offshore drilling measure; the first rally I ever spoke at the state capitol was an anti-drilling rally.

Preserving our land is a top issue for me personally, having grown up here and witnessing all of the growth and over-development over the years, and I’ve led on this issue at the state level from the very first day I was elected to office.

BIPARTISAN LEADERSHIP IS NEEDED

South Carolina needs a voice that can work side by side with the current administration in building consensus among members of both political parties. We will never ban offshore drilling at the federal level if we do not have someone who can lead on this issue in a bipartisan manner.

Our beautiful coastline and our way of life depend on it. The U.S. House of Representatives has taken up a ban on drilling off the coast of the continental U.S., however, not a single member of South Carolina’s delegation voted for it, except for my opponent because it was his bill; and it will never become law because it will never pass the US Senate and it will never become law because it lacked bipartisan support.

Bipartisanship is critical the success of all conservation and environmental issues.

I support the coast hook, line and sinker and my record reflects this.

Oil drilling and seismic testing have no place on our coastline. They jeopardize our coastal economy that relies on clean beaches and inviting water. I was proud to join with the state Senate and Gov. Henry McMaster in supporting a year-long ban on drilling infrastructure on our shores and in our state waters. I will work to make this ban permanent. That’s because the areas I represent in the Legislature — Charleston, Daniel Island, Hanahan and Mount Pleasant — have too much to lose and too little to gain from any push to drill off our coast.

A temporary ban on offshore drilling is good, but a permanent ban is great!

• Constitutional Rights

I believe strongly in our founding documents, especially the Bill of Rights. I believe that we are endowed to the Right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness and I’ll vote to protect that right in Congress. I’ll stand up for the unborn and will vote to defund taxpayer-funded abortions.

I’ll stand up for your right to liberty as well and will protect your 4th Amendment right to privacy. We have all seen the abuses of the FISA court and the Deep State in recent years, spying on a Presidential campaign and flagrantly violating the rights of the most powerful — if they can do that to the President, they can do it to you and me, and that’s scary. We need reforms to sharply limit the powers of DC bureaucrats to spy on and gather information on you.

• Protect the Second Amendment

Nancy Mace is the only candidate in the SC-01 primary endorsed by the NRA for her strong support of the 2nd Amendment.

I believe the Bill of Rights protects our right to protect our lives, family and property through the use of firearms. I believe background checks can and should be used, but absent a criminal record preventing gun ownership, Washington DC and Columbia should not infringe upon these rights.

My record as a state lawmaker has supported the Second Amendment. Recently I drafted a concealed carry reciprocity bill. And when the Left has worked to take away our Second Amendment rights, I’ve worked to find better ways to hold criminals accountable and keep guns out of the hands of bad guys because we all know criminals don’t follow laws – they break them.^[12]

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