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Member, Tea Party Caucus, present
Former Member, Agriculture, Energy and Trade Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives
Former Chair, Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives
Former Chair, Financial Services Committee, Missouri State House of Representatives
Former Member, Health and Technology Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives
Former Member, Housing and Insurance Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives
Former Chair, Republican Caucus, Missouri State House of Representatives
Former Member, Small Business Committee, United States House of Representatives
Former Member, Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development and Insurance, United States House of Representatives
Member, Tea Party Caucus, present
Former Member, Agriculture, Energy and Trade Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives
Former Chair, Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives
Former Chair, Financial Services Committee, Missouri State House of Representatives
Former Member, Health and Technology Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives
Former Member, Housing and Insurance Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives
Former Chair, Republican Caucus, Missouri State House of Representatives
Former Member, Small Business Committee, United States House of Representatives
Member, Committee on Financial Services
Ranking Member, Committee on Small Business
Member, Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions
— Awards:
Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business
Manufacturing Legislative Excellence Award from the National Association of Manufacturers
American Financial Leadership Award from the Financial Services Roundtable
Friend of Farm Bureau Award
Agricultural Retailers Association Legislator of the Year Award
Missouri Agribusiness Association Advocate for Agribusiness Award
Electric Cooperatives Leadership Award from the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives
Taxpayer Hero Award from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste
Tax Fighter Award from the National Tax Limitation Committee
Defender of Economic Freedom Award from the Club for Growth
— Number of Grandchildren:
1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-life
1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No
2. Do you support expanding federal funding to support entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare?
- Unknown Position
1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Unknown Position
1. Do you support the protection of government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct?
- Unknown Position
Do you support increasing defense spending?
- Yes
1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes
2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes
3. Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19?
- Yes
1. Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- No
1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
- Unknown Position
2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No
1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No
1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- Yes
2. Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?
- Yes
1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- Yes
2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- Yes
1. Should the United States use military force to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a weapon of mass destruction (for example: nuclear, biological, chemical)?
- Unknown Position
2. Do you support reducing military intervention in Middle East conflicts?
- Unknown Position
Do you generally support removing barriers to international trade (for example: tariffs, quotas, etc.)?
- Yes
1. Abortions should always be illegal.
- X
2. Abortions should always be legally available.
- No Answer
3. Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer
4. Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
- No Answer
5. Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
- No Answer
6. Eliminate public funding for abortions and public funding of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
- X
7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Education (Higher)
- Maintain Funding Status
2. Education (K-12)
- Slightly Increase Funding
3. Environment
- Slightly Decrease Funding
4. Health care
- Greatly Increase Funding
5. Law enforcement
- Slightly Increase Funding
6. Transportation and Highway infrastructure
- Maintain Funding Status
7. Welfare
- Maintain Funding Status
8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer
9. Alcohol taxes
- Maintain Status
10. Capital gains taxes
- Eliminate
11. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status
12. Corporate taxes
- Greatly Decrease
13. Gasoline taxes
- Maintain Status
14. Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
- Slightly Decrease
15. Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
- Slightly Decrease
16. Inheritance taxes
- Eliminate
17. Property taxes
- Maintain Status
18. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status
19. Vehicle taxes
- Maintain Status
20. Do you support providing tax dollars to fund construction of new sports complexes?
- No
21. Do you support providing tax credits for the renovation of sports complexes?
- No
22. Should Missouri repeal the gambling loss limit to generate additional revenue for education?
- No
23. Should Missouri raise casino taxes to generate additional revenue for education?
- No
24. Do you support spending a portion of the "rainy day" fund to help balance the state budget?
- No
25. Do you support increasing sales and fuel taxes to improve highways?
- No
26. Should Internet sales be taxed?
- Undecided
27. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Do you support the current limit of two, four-year terms for Missouri governors?
- Yes
2. Do you support the current limit of four, two-year terms for Missouri state representatives?
- Yes
3. Do you support the current limit of two, four-year terms for Missouri state senators?
- Yes
4. Individual
- Yes
5. PAC
- Yes
6. Corporate
- Yes
7. Political Parties
- Yes
8. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes
9. Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
- No
10. Do you support voting on-line?
- No
11. Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying and ensuring accuracy of votes?
- Yes
12. Do you support prohibiting the reporting of media exit polling results until all polling locations in Missouri are closed?
- Yes
13. Should Missouri recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
- No
14. Should Missouri restrict marriage to a union only between a man and a woman?
- Yes
15. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- X
2. Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
- No Answer
3. Support the use of the death penalty in Missouri.
- X
4. Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
- X
5. End parole for repeat violent offenders.
- X
6. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- X
7. Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
- No Answer
8. Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- X
9. Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
- X
10. Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation or disability be prosecuted as hate crimes.
- No Answer
11. Ban the use of racial profiling by law enforcement officers.
- No Answer
12. Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- X
13. Increase state funding for additional security of critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks.
- X
14. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Support national standards and testing of public school students.
- X
2. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious).
- X
3. Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
- X
4. Increase state funds for hiring additional teachers.
- X
5. Lower the school bonds passage requirement to a simple majority.
- No Answer
6. Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
- X
7. Support displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools.
- X
8. Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
- X
9. Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
- No Answer
10. Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
- X
11. Increase state funding to expand Head Start programs.
- X
12. Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
- X
13. Support age-appropriate sexual education programs that teach about abstinence, contraceptives and HIV/STD prevention methods.
- No Answer
14. Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
- X
15. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
- X
2. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector to encourage investment and economic expansion.
- X
3. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding or relocating businesses.
- X
4. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
- X
5. Increase state funds to provide child care for children of low-income working families.
- X
6. Include sexual orientation in Missouri's anti-discrimination laws.
- No Answer
7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
8. College and university admissions
- No
9. Public employment
- No
10. State contracting
- No
1. Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
- X
2. Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused or abandoned.
- No Answer
3. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
- No
4. Should state environmental regulations be stricter than federal law?
- No
5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Ban the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
- No Answer
2. Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer
3. Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer
4. Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- X
5. Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
- X
6. Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
- No Answer
7. Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
- No Answer
8. Require a license for gun possession.
- No Answer
9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms or state-funded care where necessary.
- X
2. Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
- No Answer
3. Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- X
4. Support patients' right to sue their HMOs.
- X
5. Support patients' right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied by their HMO.
- X
6. Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- No Answer
7. Legalize physician-assisted suicide in Missouri.
- No Answer
8. Increase state funding for training health workers to recognize and respond to the release of biological agents.
- X
9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Support current time limits on welfare benefits.
- X
2. Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
- No Answer
3. Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire welfare recipients.
- X
4. Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
- X
5. Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
- X
6. Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
- No Answer
7. Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
- X
8. Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to expand state services to include the working poor.
- X
9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-life
1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No
2. In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
- No
1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Unknown Position
1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No
2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes
1. Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- No
1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes
2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No
1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No
1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- Yes
1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- Unknown Position
2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- Yes
Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Unknown Position
1. Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
- Unknown Position
2. Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
- Yes
Latest Action: House - 06/10/2019 Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Tracker:Latest Action: House - 05/21/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Tracker:Latest Action: House - 05/16/2019 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Tracker:By Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer After one of the most trying years in American history, the state of our union continues to improve. Many children are back in school, more Americans are being vaccinated every day, and our nation's businesses are reopening and helping to heal the economy. Thanks to the American taxpayers who footed the bill for emergency medical aid, the Paycheck Protection Program, Operation Warp Speed and many other programs, the end is in sight. While in many cases the government went too far with personal restrictions, the pandemic required a comprehensive, national response to get us where we are today. Now we are at a pivotal point: the government can continue with big spending and playing on oversized role in our lives even as the worst is behind us, or the government can step aside and let the American people finish the job. This week, President Biden addressed a joint session of Congress to discuss his first 100 days in office. President Biden spoke about the progress we've made as a nation with vaccinations and Americans once again being able to pay their bills. His message of American greatness is one we can all agree with. But also in his speech was the promise of higher taxes and more government control over Americans' everyday lives. Wrapped in a sales pitch of compromise was the extraordinarily unrealistic and radical Green New Deal 2.0 which would kill one million U.S. jobs and cost trillions of dollars. That is complimented by other massive spending bills that would create more dependency on government handouts while letting Democrat politicians tick items off their far-left check lists -- all at the expense of the American taxpayer. I believe we need to go the other way. The government stepped in during an emergency to stabilize the country; now it's time for the government to step aside and let the people it serves resume their lives. Before COVID our economy reached historic success because the pro-growth, pro-opportunity policies of the last administration allowed our country to flourish. Instead of pitting individuals, races, religions, and regions of the country against one another, the pre-pandemic economy saw unprecedented success for Americans across the board. Instead of suggesting you must sink another to get ahead, the rising tide did in fact lift all boats with wage growth at historic highs and unemployment at historic lows. Shouldn't that be the goal? For all Americans, regardless of background, to find success? The roadmap is clear. We shouldn't allow the pandemic to serve as an excuse to ignore it. As the top Republican on the House Committee on Small Business, one of my biggest priorities is to protect small businesses in Missouri and across the country from overregulation and abuse by the government. Government's job is to serve the people, not control us. Many families and small businesses leaned on those services during pandemic, as they should. After all, it's your money that pays for these programs. But in many cases businesses survived despite government policies. Simply being allowed to operate is the best way for good businesses to keep employees paid and their families fed. Economic and individual freedom is the only way to ensure the state of the union continues to improve. Our country is getting stronger by the day, and it is up to the president to do everything in his power to allow this progress to continue -- not get in the way.
By Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer Here in Missouri, we are fortunate to be surrounded by natural beauty. While we were just reminded that we're still in the season of going from spring to snow and back to 70-degree days in a week, we will soon be able to take full advantage of spring here in our state. This is National Park Week and the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service, making it a great time to plan your next outing to explore our state's National and State Parks. Over the last year, many of us spent more time at home than ever before. This posed the obvious challenges like working from home, students being forced to distance learn, and not being able to go out and support our favorite local businesses like we normally would. But a positive of the pandemic was that by many of us slowing down our day to day activities, we were able to appreciate the simple beauty of Missouri's outdoors. "Stop and smell the roses" took on a whole new meaning. There was more opportunity to go for a walk to get some fresh air, and later in the year to visit our favorite outdoor spots in Missouri while travel elsewhere was still uncertain. With six National Parks and 91 state parks and historical sites, there is no shortage of things to see in Missouri. The Katy Trail -- the longest "rail trail" in America -- here in the Third District is a great place to take in some of our state's history about the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad and the places it once ran through. And with 240 miles of trail, the Katy Trail is a wonderful choice for getting out in the fresh air and taking in Missouri's beauty while getting a bit of exercise. The Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the first national park in our country that was created to protect a river system and is another ideal destination for the outdoor enthusiast. With over 80,000 acres along the Current and Jacks Forks Rivers, this destination would be a perfect place to take the family for a weekend of camping, fishing, canoeing, hiking or horseback riding and take in Missouri's natural beauty. If you're headed southwest, the George Washington Carver National Monument just south of Joplin is a great place to learn more about the extraordinary life of one of the world's most prominent agricultural scientists and inventors. Growing up in a time when he couldn't even attend school in his hometown, he overcame those hurdles to develop over 300 different products from peanuts like flour, wood stains, and soap, and farming innovation that is still used on farms across the country. And of course, a landmark that is quintessentially Missourian is the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial which includes the Gateway Arch and the Old Courthouse. The Gateway Arch is one of the most iconic monuments in our country and as the "Gateway to the West," will forever be a reminder to the American people of how far we've come as a nation, literally and figuratively. Once travelers from the east get to and beyond the Arch, they quickly see why so many have made the trip before them. Before being elected to Congress I was fortunate enough to be the Missouri Director of Tourism, and you can tell I still like promoting our state's many attractions. This job, like that one, gives me the opportunity to travel our district to meet people, visit businesses, and take in all Missouri has to offer. Our people have always been our greatest resource but one afternoon at our parks, a boat ride on the lake, or a trip up the Arch is a great reminder that we have plenty more to offer as well.
By Rep. Baline Luetkemeyer In 2015, the then Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Bill Shuster (R-PA) led negotiations with members of both parties in the House, Senate and White House on a 5-year, $300 billion infrastructure package. That bill, called the FAST Act, received overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers and was signed into law by President Obama that December. While there is plenty to disagree about in Washington, D.C., infrastructure has long been an area where bipartisan consensus can be found. Republicans and Democrats alike agree it is essential to provide this country with roads, bridges, waterways, ports, and airways that are safe and fully operational. Americans' livelihoods depend on the ability to go from point "A" to "B" safely, and historically Congress has been able to work together to draft effective, bipartisan legislation to ensure this is possible. Until now. We are only three months into a new Administration and Democrats have made their strategy for policymaking very clear: giant, radical government spending bills disguised as legislation to fix major problems in our country. I'm sure you've heard by now that only 9% of the $2 trillion "COVID relief bill" was actually for the COVID response. President Biden is following that up with a nearly $3 trillion "infrastructure" bill with less than 6% going to our nation's roads and bridges. One reason infrastructure bills have always been so strongly supported by the American people is the number of jobs they traditionally generate. Billions of dollars in investment normally leads to millions of jobs for American workers. However, that only happens when we invest in the safe and efficient movement of people and goods. The Biden Administration's plan primarily focuses on climate policies from the Green New Deal paid for by tax increases. These tax increases would crush many of the small businesses that have worked so hard to get back on their feet and could potentially force them to close their doors for good. In fact, according to the National Association of Manufacturers, over one million jobs will actually be lost with this plan. That's right. Nearly $3 trillion to kill one million American jobs. While I do not support President Biden's overreaching plan that is an infrastructure bill in name only, I am a strong supporter of improving Missouri and our nation's infrastructure. All it takes is one trip down I-70 to see that upgrades are clearly needed on our highways. Our state is certainly not alone in this, which is why several of my colleagues and I have introduced an infrastructure bill that will do what it says it will -- improve American infrastructure. The Building U.S. Infrastructure through Limited Delays and Efficient Reviews (BUILDER) Act -- which is about infrastructure and only infrastructure -- seeks to cut burdensome red tape to modernize the process for infrastructure project reviews, cut costs, and allow America's infrastructure to be updated in a timely and efficient way. Specifically, the bill streamlines the NEPA permitting process that can take decades to put practical review timelines for project completions in place. Often times, idealistic government workers and outside groups use the NEPA process and lawsuits to run up the cost of projects and bleed cities and states of badly needed infrastructure funds. By streamlining the process and forcing government agencies to make determinations in a timely manner, taxpayer dollars will go to repairing roads, building bridges, and maintaining our waterways. That's what most of think of when we hear "infrastructure" and that's what Americans expect their tax dollars to produce.
