Card image cap

Blaine Luetkemeyer's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

Key

Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Blaine Luetkemeyer did not provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2022 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Issue Positions

For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2022.

  • "In Congress, Blaine is a strong supporter of pro-life causes, supported legislation to cut off taxpayer funding for organizations that provide abortions, and introduced legislation to stop the Obama Administration from forcing organizations with moral or religious objections from being mandated to provide certain services that run contrary to their beliefs." (www.blaineforcongress.com)
  • Rated 100% By National Right to Life Committee. (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4712 - Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. (votesmart.org)
  • "While this president has demonstrated time and again that he will not stand with the unborn, that will not deter me. I am a proud cosponsor of numerous pro-life bills that my colleagues have introduced, and I will continue to support those pro-life bills as they come to the House floor." (votesmart.org)
  • "So what is driving the debt? The key drivers of the debt are the mandatory programs, which are on auto-pilot. Social Security and Medicare are the two biggest mandatory programs, followed by Medicaid. This type of auto-pilot spending has grown from one-third of all spending 50 years ago to two-thirds today and is on pace to consume an ever larger share of the budget. If we don't change the trajectory of mandatory spending, by 2034, all federal revenues will be consumed by Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare, Social Security, and interest on the debt, leaving no funding for core Constitutional responsibilities such as national defense. Both Social Security and Medicare are lifelines for many individuals across our nation and for these programs to remain sustainable, solvent, and available for current and future beneficiaries -- they must be put on a different path." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by Alliance for Retired Americans. (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against S 610 "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "Our nation must be ever-vigilant, and we must ensure that our intelligence and military capabilities remain the best in the world. We must ensure our military has the tools to deal with threats to our national security, and we must make sure we offer the utmost support to our troops." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Center for Security Policy. (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 1605 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022." (votesmart.org)
  • "We must ensure our military has the tools to deal with threats to our national security, and we must make sure we offer the utmost support to our troops." (www.blaineforcongress.com)
  • "Exciting news for Missouri! @USDA has invested $60.9 million in our high-speed rural broadband infrastructure that will improve e-connectivity for households, businesses, farms, educational facilities and heath care facilities in our state." (twitter.com)
  • "I just voted to: Fully fund a 2.4% pay raise for the military Fund rural infrastructure, including rural broadband expansion Boost our response to the opioid crisis Increase funding for our nation's transportation infrastructure." (twitter.com)
  • "@POTUS's new EO is aimed at decreasing gov't waste. Good move to rein in out-of-control spending & federal excess." (twitter.com)
  • Voted against HR 3684 "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "MO businesses like our favorite restaurants, barber shops & florists have been devastated by COVID-19's economic impact & need help weathering this storm. Congress has passed a bill to provide more funding to the PPP & our incredible medical community." (twitter.com)
  • "The CARES Act provides badly-needed resources for our medical community who is working around the clock to keep us safe, relief for families who need help to make ends meet, & help for businesses so they can stay afloat & keep providing paychecks." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 266 "Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Inflation is climbing at the fastest rate in 13 years, and the proposed solution from President Biden and Congressional Democrats is a $3.5 trillion spending package?" (twitter.com)
  • "My colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to spend more taxpayer $ in the name of “inflation reduction.” The name of the bill itself is an insult to Americans' intelligence, as spending more gov $ to bring down inflation makes no sense at all." (twitter.com)
  • Voted against HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "President Biden knows full-well this $300 billion giveaway - mostly to wealthy families on the coasts - will make inflation worse & will likely be overturned in court. So why's he doing this now? The election." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 0% by National Education Association (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "There are major issues w the government trying to forgive student loans, like forcing Americans who didn’t attend college to pay off loans for someone else’s PhD. The biggest problem: the Biden Admin doesn’t even have the authority to do such a thing." (twitter.com)
  • Voted against HR 2547 "Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Outlawing voter ID, legalizing ballot harvesting, and – if you can believe it – allowing federal tax dollars to fund political campaigns. Congressional Democrats want to federalize our election process at the expense of our election integrity." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 0% by Common Cause. (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against H.R. 4 “John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 5746 "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "85% of Missourians electricity is generated by coal combustion. I am pleased the @EPA repealed the Clean Power Plan rule today." (twitter.com)
  • "Blaine supports an all of the above energy plan to harness all of our own resources and capabilities, whether oil, coal, nuclear, biofuels, solar, or wind." (www.blaineforcongress.com)
  • Voted against HR 4447 "Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019." (votesmart.org)
  • "He staunchly opposes cap and trade and has fought to rein in the out of control EPA, which has proposed numerous regulations that will drive up the cost of energy and will further damage our economy if allowed to go unchecked." (www.blaineforcongress.com)
  • "The #EPA continuously oversteps its authority. I'll continue to fight back against its misguided efforts." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1119 - SENSE Act. (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 92% by National Rifle Association. (votesmart.org)
  • "Proud to be named co-chair on @realDonaldTrump's #2ndAmendment Coalition.Go vote in support of gun rights today!" (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 38 "Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017." (votesmart.org)
  • "While serving as a State Representative in Missouri, Blaine was also a supporter of the ballot measure supported by the majority of Missourians that allows law-abiding citizens to carry weapons for protection against those that would threaten individuals and their families and has supported numerous bills important to sportsmen, hunters, gun owners, and enthusiasts." (www.blaineforcongress.com)
  • "I am ready to work with President-elect Trump to repeal Obamacare, create jobs, and strengthen America's position around the world." (twitter.com)
  • Voted against H.R. 1425 “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 1628 "American Health Care Act of 2017" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 6201 “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against H.R. 3 “Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against H.R. 6833 “The Affordable Insulin Now Act” (votesmart.org)
  • "Fentanyl has become the leading cause of death in Americans ages 18-45. Sunday is Fentanyl Awareness Day & a perfect reminder that we absolutely must secure our southern border to keep our communities safe from this deadly substance." (twitter.com)
  • "Last night I kept my promise to the people of #MO03 and supported additional funding to secure our border and keep our citizens safe. The House has done its job. I urge my Senate colleagues to get this legislation over the finish line." (twitter.com)
  • "The border crisis is not an elaborate ruse as some would like us to believe, but the result of decades-long policy failures. My press releases from 2009 sound like they were written today, a bleak reminder of how little has been done to #SecureOurBorder" (twitter.com)
  • "There are plenty of issues to discuss about our legal immigration system, and we certainly should work on those improvements. But quality immigration policy starts with securing the border - if we can’t stem the tide, the rest of it doesn’t matter much." (twitter.com)
  • "Any serious immigration proposal must ensure that all who wish to come into our country adhere to the rule of law, which is why Blaine has openly opposed amnesty bills considered by Congress." (votesmart.org)
  • "Glad to see a Federal Judge has blocked President Obama's #amnesty executive action." (twitter.com)
  • "Today's legislation is another step in ensuring our local communities are kept safe from dangerous illegal aliens," Luetkemeyer said. "Last year, in Montgomery County, an illegal alien took the innocent life of one of our neighbors. That horrendous act never would have happened if federal immigration law had been upheld by the Department of Homeland Security." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3003 "No Sanctuary for Criminals Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "Glad to see a Federal Judge has blocked President Obama's #amnesty executive action." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3003 "No Sanctuary for Criminals Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "The Administration and our allies must immediately put in place the harshest sanctions possible - including full removal from SWIFT - and completely isolate Russia and Putin from international markets." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 6968 “Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 7691 “Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes.” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against H.R. 6833 "Continuing Appropriations and Ukriane Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 7691 “Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes.” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S. 3522 “Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022” (votesmart.org)
  • "Even if this were true, America is home to roughly 30 million small businesses. 3% of 30 million is 900,000. Raising taxes on 900,000 small businesses - the driving force of our economy and workforce - as they continue to recover would be devastating." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 83% by National Tax Limitation Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act will reform our nation's tax code for the first time in 31 years & help Missourians get ahead. #taxreform" (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Free and fair trade is a no-cost economic stimulus package for agriculture and our entire economy. I will continue to support efforts that level the playing field and are beneficial to American agriculture, manufacturing and the economy at large." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by Public Citizen. (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5340 "United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "With a projected impact of 176,000 new jobs and over $68 billion in new economic growth, I continue to push House leadership to vote USMCA into law right away." (votesmart.org)
This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.
The Political Courage Test asks candidates which items they will support if elected. It does not ask them to indicate which items they will oppose. Through extensive research of public polling data, we discovered that voters are more concerned with what candidates would support when elected to office, not what they oppose. If a candidate does not select a response to any part or all of any question, it does not necessarily indicate that the candidate is opposed to that particular item.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

X a) Abortions should always be illegal.
b) Abortions should always be legally available.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
X f) Eliminate public funding for abortions and public funding of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
g) Other or expanded principles

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels you will support for the following general categories.State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels you will support.

Maintain Funding Status a) Education (Higher)
Slightly Increase Funding b) Education (K-12)
Slightly Decrease Funding c) Environment
Greatly Increase Funding d) Health care
Slightly Increase Funding e) Law enforcement
Maintain Funding Status f) Transportation and Highway infrastructure
Maintain Funding Status g) Welfare
h) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Alcohol taxes
Eliminate b) Capital gains taxes
Maintain Status c) Cigarette taxes
Greatly Decrease d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gasoline taxes
Slightly Decrease f) Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
Slightly Decrease g) Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
Eliminate h) Inheritance taxes
Maintain Status i) Property taxes
Maintain Status j) Sales taxes
Maintain Status k) Vehicle taxes
l) Other or expanded categories
No m) Do you support providing tax dollars to fund construction of new sports complexes?
No n) Do you support providing tax credits for the renovation of sports complexes?
No o) Should Missouri repeal the gambling loss limit to generate additional revenue for education?
No p) Should Missouri raise casino taxes to generate additional revenue for education?
No q) Do you support spending a portion of the "rainy day" fund to help balance the state budget?
No r) Do you support increasing sales and fuel taxes to improve highways?
Undecided s) Should Internet sales be taxed?
t) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.d) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative and gubernatorial candidates?

Yes a) Do you support the current limit of two, four-year terms for Missouri governors?
Yes b) Do you support the current limit of four, two-year terms for Missouri state representatives?
Yes c) Do you support the current limit of two, four-year terms for Missouri state senators?
Yes 1) Individual
Yes 2) PAC
Yes 3) Corporate
Yes 4) Political Parties
Yes e) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
No f) Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
No g) Do you support voting on-line?
Yes h) Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying and ensuring accuracy of votes?
Yes i) Do you support prohibiting the reporting of media exit polling results until all polling locations in Missouri are closed?
No j) Should Missouri recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
Yes k) Should Missouri restrict marriage to a union only between a man and a woman?
l) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime.

X a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
b) Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
X c) Support the use of the death penalty in Missouri.
X d) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
X e) End parole for repeat violent offenders.
X f) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
g) Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
X h) Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
X i) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
j) Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation or disability be prosecuted as hate crimes.
k) Ban the use of racial profiling by law enforcement officers.
X l) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
X m) Increase state funding for additional security of critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks.
n) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

X a) Support national standards and testing of public school students.
X b) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious).
X c) Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
X d) Increase state funds for hiring additional teachers.
e) Lower the school bonds passage requirement to a simple majority.
X f) Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
X g) Support displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools.
X h) Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
i) Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
X j) Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
X k) Increase state funding to expand Head Start programs.
X l) Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
m) Support age-appropriate sexual education programs that teach about abstinence, contraceptives and HIV/STD prevention methods.
X n) Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
o) Other or expanded principles

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning employment.Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity or gender be taken into account in state agencies' decisions on:

X a) Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
X b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector to encourage investment and economic expansion.
X c) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding or relocating businesses.
X d) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
X e) Increase state funds to provide child care for children of low-income working families.
f) Include sexual orientation in Missouri's anti-discrimination laws.
g) Other or expanded principles
No a) College and university admissions
No b) Public employment
No c) State contracting
d) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

X a) Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
b) Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused or abandoned.
No c) Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
No d) Should state environmental regulations be stricter than federal law?
e) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues.

a) Ban the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
b) Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
X d) Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
X e) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
f) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
g) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
h) Require a license for gun possession.
i) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health issues.

X a) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms or state-funded care where necessary.
b) Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
X c) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X d) Support patients' right to sue their HMOs.
X e) Support patients' right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied by their HMO.
f) Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
g) Legalize physician-assisted suicide in Missouri.
X h) Increase state funding for training health workers to recognize and respond to the release of biological agents.
i) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare.

X a) Support current time limits on welfare benefits.
b) Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
X c) Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire welfare recipients.
X d) Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
X e) Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
f) Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
X g) Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
X h) Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to expand state services to include the working poor.
i) Other or expanded principles
One of my main priorities is to restructure the budget process. The present process does not lend itself to oversight by the legislature; therefore there are excess funds, waste, and mismanagement in some areas while in other areas there is a shortage of needed funds. The second area I want to work on is our transportation problem. We must regain the trust of the people in MoDOT before we can begin any significant funding changes.

Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any campaign activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.

arrow_upward