Katherine “Katie” Arrington (SC-01) Backgrounder | 1 Katie Arrington (SC-01) Backgrounder Significant Findings Arrington positioned herself as a pro-Trump candidate, comparing herself to Trump and saying that her primary objective in Congress would be to support his agenda. Trump endorsed Arrington in the primary. Arrington said she would have “proudly” voted for the GOP tax scam, and criticized Mark Sanford for allegedly not wanting to make the tax cuts permanent. Arrington voted to raise the gas tax, and criticized Gov. McMaster for his opposition to it. She was also part of a group of legislators that looked into raising hunting and fishing license fees. Arrington repeatedly stated that the Affordable Care Act should be repealed, and praised Trump for ending cost-sharing reduction payments via executive order. As a member of the legislature, Arrington pushed for a gas tax increase and criticized Gov. McMaster for opposing it. Arrington voted to defund Planned Parenthood, and during her congressional campaign, she twice joined protests outside of Planned Parenthood clinics. She also voted to ban second-trimester abortions. Arrington kicked off her congressional campaign with a pledge to donate her remaining state funds to the Red Cross, but it does not appear that she has done so. Arrington praised Trump’s move to allow for offshore drilling and agreed with a tweet that said that the state could eliminate property taxes by allowing drilling. Prior to allegations that he failed to report sexual abuse, Arrington said she would support Jim Jordan for speaker. Arrington said she supported a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. constitution. Arrington said that the Sutherland Springs, Texas church shooting was not due to guns, but rather the lack of God’s role in American culture. Background BORN: 12/6/1970 (age 47) HOME: Summerville, SC EDUCATION: Corcoran High School, Syracuse, NY, 1988; Attended Canisius College in Buffalo, NY in 2001 but did not graduate; attended Walden University in 2013 to 2014 PROFESSIONAL: Worked at Denny’s in her late 20s; Sales, Expeditors International (1997-2002); Vice President of Development, Jessco Homes (2002-2005); Vice President, Catalyst Development (2005-2010); Research Analyst, Booz Allen Hamilton (2010-2011); Director of Technology Services, Centuria (2010-2014); System Integrator Account Manager, Benefitfocus (2014); VP Sales Operations Military and Government, Dispersive Technologies, Inc. (2014-2016) Katherine “Katie” Arrington (SC-01) Backgrounder | 2 POLITICAL: State Representative (2016-present) COMMITTEES: Katie Arrington for Congress NON-PROFIT: Palmetto Chapter of Women in Defense, Chair of Fundraising AWARDS: South Carolina Speech Language Hearing Association Legislator of the Year (2018); State House Dome Award, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce (2018); ORGANIZATIONS: Board of Directors, Charleston Defense Contractors Association (2012-2014) LICENSES: South Carolina real estate license (2004-2012) Environment Arrington Voiced Support For Offshore Drilling, But Later Backpedaled Arrington Voiced Support For Offshore Drilling… When Asked About Her Positon On Offshore Drilling, Arrington Replied, “I Fully Support An America First Policy Of True American Energy Independence.” “The Trump administration’s proposal to allow offshore oil and natural-gas drilling in federal waters off the Atlantic Coast could make 2018 an even tougher election year for Republicans in coastal states. […] Republican State Rep. Katie Arrington of Summerville, who is challenging Sanford in the GOP primary by casting herself as the pro-Trump candidate, took a completely different position Thursday. ‘As it relates to American energy independence, the difference between Mark Sanford and me couldn't be any clearer. Mark Sanford continues to support Barack Obama's policy of foreign oil dependence while I fully support an America First policy of true American energy independence,’ she told McClatchy in an email.” [McClatchy, 1/4/18] Arrington Tweeted That “Like POTUS, Trey Gowdy, And Jeff Duncan, I Support American Energy Independence; My #SC1 Opponents Support Obama’s Foreign Oil Dependency.” [Katie Arrington, Twitter, 1/4/18] Arrington Added: “I’m Open To The Idea Of Getting Away From Foreign Dependence On Oil And This Is Not Something You Can See From The Coast Line Or The Beach.” [Katie Arrington, Twitter, 1/5/18] In Response To A Goose Creek Councilman Who Tweeted “From The Sounds Of It We Could Eradicate Property Taxes With Two Off Shore Natural Gas Rigs,” Arrington Retweeted His Tweet And Replied “You Are Correct Or BRLA.” [Katie Arrington, Twitter, 2/13/18] Katherine “Katie” Arrington (SC-01) Backgrounder | 3 “BRLA” May Be A Reference To South Carolina’s Base Load Review Act (BLRA), Which Allowed Utilities To Pass The Capital Costs Of Construction Financing To Ratepayers. “In SC, the state Base Load Review Act (BLRA) allows utilities to pass the capital costs of power plant construction financing on to ratepayers rather than having to pay for capital costs themselves. Since going into effect, the law has allowed South Carolina Electric & Gas’ (SCE&G) still yet-to-be completed, far behind schedule and overly costly V.C. Summer nuclear reactors to fleece ratepayers over and again. To-date, SCE&G has been approved under the BLRA to increase the costs to build the nuclear plants far beyond the original budget.” [Sierra Club, accessed 6/15/18] VIDEO: Arrington: “When We Talk About Offshore Drilling. Nothing’s Happening. It’s President Trump – And I Support What He Did – He Lifted The Ban On Offshore Drilling.” [Joe Cunningham, Twitter, 6/19/18] …But After Joe Cunningham Called Her Out, Arrington Said That She Did Not Support Offshore Drilling In South Carolina June 20, 2018: Joe Cunningham Released A Video Highlighting Arrington’s Comments In Support Of Offshore Drilling. [Joe Cunninghan, YouTube, 6/20/18] The Same Day Joe Cunningham Called Her Out, Arrington Said That She Did Not Support Offshore Drilling In South Carolina. “I support the repeal of Barack Obama's arbitrary restrictions on domestic energy exploration. I do not support drilling for oil off of South Carolina's coast. While there are those who are using scare tactics to politicize this issue, the Trump Administration simply reversed the Obama Administration's national policy. I believe states should have the final say on this issue, and for South Carolina, nothing will change. My legislative record has been one of supporting free market alternative energy solutions and common-sense environmental legislation.” [Katie Arrington, Twitter, 6/20/18] Arrington Voted For A Bill To Block Local Governments From Passing Plastic Bag Bans Katherine “Katie” Arrington (SC-01) Backgrounder | 4 Arrington Voted For A Bill To Block Local Governments From Passing Plastic Bag Bans And Said That “Government Overreach Attacks Consumer Choice By Issuing A Point Of Sale Block Versus Allowing Laws That Promote Community Choice.” [Katie Arrington, Twitter, 2/7/18] In Response To A Tweet Asking Arrington If She Thought Her Vote To Ban Localities From Passing Plastic Bag Bans Promoted Community Choice, Arrington Responded, “Yes.” [Katie Arrington, Twitter, 2/7/18] Arrington Said She Supported ANWR Drilling After Sanford Said He Was Opposed 2017: Arrington Said She Supported Drilling In ANWR. “As Republicans close in on passing sweeping tax reform, they have also gotten closer to something U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford notes has nothing to do with taxes: Drilling for oil in federally protected land in Alaska. […] Republican state Rep. Katie Arrington, of Summerville, disagrees with Sanford. She's also one of two candidates vying to replace him in Congress next year. ‘I support drilling in these oil-rich remote acres in Alaska, tax reform that allows Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money and President Trump's efforts to drain the swamp in Washington starting with Mark Sanford,’ Arrington said Monday.” [Post & Courier, 12/5/17] Arrington Said She Was “Embarrassed” That The State House Had Voted Down A Bipartisan Solar Energy Measure Arrington Said She Was “Embarrassed” That The State House Had Voted Down A Bipartisan Solar Energy Measure. “Under pressure from the state's major utilities, the S.C. House killed a solar bill Tuesday that was intended to protect thousands of jobs and save customers money on their monthly power bills. The bill's defeat, a stunning reversal from a House vote last week, brought withering criticism from many lawmakers, who said the House caved in to opposition by Duke Energy and SCE&G, derailing the legislation. Utilities have expressed concern about how competition from solar could affect them. […] State Rep. Katie Arrington, R-Dorchester, said the House was making a mistake by voting down the solar bill. ‘I'm embarrassed,’ Arrington said. ‘This is not what we are supposed to be.’” [The State, 4/10/18] Health Care Arrington Urged Repeal Of The Affordable Care Act Arrington Said That Obamacare Should Be Repealed In An Op-Ed, Arrington Wrote, “We Still Are Stuck With Obamacare […] It Is Time To Let The Free Market, Not Government, Dictate Our Healthcare.” “We still are stuck with Obamacare. We are still stuck with a tax structure that punishes success and offers no real incentives for job-creation. Despite promises made by career politicians, we are still stuck. When I have the opportunity to be a featured speaker - be it at Republican organizations, business groups or HOA meetings - I usually begin with: If you keep doing what you've done, you're going to keep getting what you got. Career politicians like Mark Sanford have done nothing, except make promises and fail to act. It is time to change Washington. It is time to help small businesses and working families. It is time to cut taxes and unleash entrepreneurs to create jobs. It is time to let the free market, not government, dictate our healthcare.” [Post & Courier, Katie Arrington Op-Ed, 12/6/17] Arrington Said That Repeal Of The Affordable Care Act “Would Save Hundreds Of Billions” Arrington Said That Repeal Of The Affordable Care Act “Would Save Hundreds Of Billions.” “For seven years, we've heard the Washington Republicans’ rhetoric about repealing Obamacare.