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Debbie Lesko's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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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.

Debbie Lesko 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.

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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.

  • "Great news! This year, 13 pro-life women were elected to Congress! The pro-life message is winning, and I am looking forward to working with these women to defend life!" (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by National Right to Life Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "WOW. This is awful. Life begins at conception and the fact that Nancy Pelosi won’t admit that is exactly why she needs to be ousted as Speaker of the House." (twitter.com)
  • "Medicare and Social Security are programs that working Americans have paid into for many years, and I am committed to protecting benefits for current enrollees and strengthening it for future generations. We must ensure that beneficiaries have health care coverage and prescription drug plans at reasonable prices. Congress must also keep its promise to those receiving Social Security benefits. Those that have worked hard and paid into the system deserve to know that it will be there for them. I also signed a letter urging House Leadership to fix the Medicare Part D Donut Hole and keep the cost of prescription drugs low. Most recently, I introduced H. Res. 59, a resolution recognizing Medicare and Social Security as important programs that must be protected for current enrollees. Social Security and Medicare are essential for senior citizens living on fixed incomes. Congress must fulfill its promise to our seniors." (lesko.house.gov)
  • "Happy National Senior Citizens Day! Our country owes a great debt of gratitude to our nation's seniors and I will work to protect Social Security and Medicare!" (twitter.com)
  • Voted against S 610 "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "144 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty last year. During #NationalPoliceWeek, we honor the brave men and women who put on their uniforms and leave their families each day to protect others. I proudly support our law enforcement!" (twitter.com)
  • "Most Radical Bill #1 is: the Dismantle the Police Now Act (H.R. 7120). This bill pretends to make reforms but shoves big government mandates on local police and HURTS responsible law enforcement officers’ ability to protect our communities. It’s total insanity!" (twitter.com)
  • "The Democrat-only police reform bill would completely undermine police officers in my district and across the country. This is unacceptable! We MUST do what we can to keep our communities safe and allow law enforcement to do their jobs." (twitter.com)
  • "YES! #POTUS" says "Fully Fund our Military" #awesome! Protect @LukeAFB here in #AZ08 @DebbieLesko" (twitter.com)
  • "I am committed to making sure our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have the best equipment in the world. This means we must continue to protect the F-35 and Luke Air Force Base. We also need to continue investing in missile defense so that insane madmen like Kim Jung Un cannot threaten our country with nuclear attack. We must also expand Cyber Command to protect our infrastructure and we must ensure our intelligence assets have the tools they need to continue to defeat terrorists." (debbieleskoforcongress.com)
  • "In Congress, I am dedicated to fully funding our military and making sure they have the best and most up-to-date equipment. We must invest in missile defense and do everything we can to win the war against ISIS, terrorist groups, and avoid nuclear match-ups with countries such as North Korea. I will continue to fight for Luke Air Force Base by ensuring our soldiers have the flight time and battle training they need for success. I introduced H. Res. 177 to recognize the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program as a critical component of America’s national security that Congress must continue to support. With over 40 original cosponsors, this bipartisan resolution reaffirms the F-35’s vital role for maintaining air superiority to preserve global security and stability." (lesko.house.gov)
  • "The so called bipartisan infrastructure bill that passed last week will only add to our national debt. This is a reckless use of hard earned, taxpayer money that will hurt Americans' pocketbooks and continue to make inflation worse." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 98% by Council for Citizens Against Government Waste. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 3684 "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support the CARES Act, and I look forward to Arizonans and Americans across our nation receiving the benefits of this bill during this difficult time. I support this relief package to help workers, small businesses, hospitals and healthcare workers, and to increase production of needed medical supplies and treatments. America is strong, and we will get through this by working together." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Once again Democrats are putting politics over people. The Paycheck Protection Program is working and small businesses and their employees need this program to survive. Let's put aside the political games and support small business workers!" (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 266 "Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Inflation is at a 40-year high, and our nation is in a recession. Instead of fixing this economic crisis, President Biden decided to raise taxes on nearly every single American to fund the Far-Left’s radical climate priorities." (twitter.com)
  • "President Biden can try to celebrate the Inflation Expansion Act all he wants, but in reality, the Biden Administration has added more than $4.8 TRILLION to the deficit. Make no mistake – President Biden’s reckless spending is responsible for our nation’s economic crisis." (twitter.com)
  • "Reminder: The Inflation Expansion Act imposes tax hikes on almost every single American, wastes hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars on a Green New Deal slush fund, AND hires 87,000 IRS agents to harass middle-class Americans during a recession." (twitter.com)
  • Voted against H.R. 5376 “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” (votesmart.org)
  • "87% of Americans do not have student loans. President Biden should NOT be forcing them to foot a $300 billion bill to pay off the student loans of the 13% who do." (twitter.com)
  • "President Biden didn’t “cancel” student loan debt. He is passing the expensive bill on to hardworking American taxpayers." (twitter.com)
  • "Under 40% of Americans have four-year college degrees. Only 13% of Americans have graduate degrees. OVER HALF of student loan debt is held by people who attended graduate school. Yet, President Biden wants working-class Americans to shoulder their debt." (twitter.com)
  • "We are in the middle of an economic crisis caused by President Biden and Democrats’ reckless spending. Biden’s solution is to push a multi-billion-dollar Green New Deal package and force taxpayers to cover $300 billion of other Americans’ student loan debt. Unbelievable." (twitter.com)
  • "Arizona’s voter ID laws make it illegal for non-citizens to vote in our elections. The Biden Administration is suing Arizona for requiring proof of U.S. citizenship before voting in presidential elections. Do Dems want illegal immigrants to vote in our elections?" (twitter.com)
  • "H.R. 4 gives the Biden DOJ authority to designate a voter ID law as a voting rights violation or as evidence of voting discrimination. H.R. 4 is an unconstitutional way for the federal government to dictate elections and a way to weaken the vote of the American people!" (twitter.com)
  • Rated 0% by Common Cause (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "This is ridiculous! The For the Politicians Act would ban voter ID laws and would require states to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to register to vote! This would effectively ensure that underage children could vote and undermines our election integrity." (twitter.com)
  • "Addressing environmental policy should not include extreme policies like the Green New Deal, nor should it involve binding ourselves to international agreements that put the United States at a disadvantage to its main security and economic competitors in the world, and with no regard to cost for American consumers and ratepayers. Republicans have a better approach. We can protect our environment by promoting policies favoring clean energy, like nuclear, hydropower, natural gas, wind, solar, and carbon capture, and removing barriers to the deployment of new technologies and innovation." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "DO NOT SIGN Solar Initiative! It will increase utility rates, strip authority from the people we elected, is funded by SolarCity. DON'T SIGN" (twitter.com)
  • "Prop 127 is just another attempt by the left to deceive Arizona’s voters... this ‘Clean Energy’ initiative would double utility taxes in Arizona and cut hundreds of jobs around the valley #NoOn127 @lynndysmith @RickGray @kevinpayneLD21" (twitter.com)
  • "The notorious Green New Deal will change nearly every aspect of Americans' lives at an exorbitant cost estimated at $93 trillion. The American people deserve to know if their representatives stand with this far-left, socialist proposal that will devastate our economy and burden our children and grandchildren. That is why I am standing in strong opposition to the radical Green New Deal and cosponsoring Rep. Johnson's resolution that exposes the truth about what the Green New Deal really is." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I applaud the Trump Admin for implementing the Affordable Clean Energy rule which empowers individ. states to decide their own emissions standards. Unlike the costly regulations in Obama's Clean Power Plan, ACE will diversify our energy portfolio & lower costs for consumers & biz." (twitter.com)
  • "I voted for H.Con.Res.119 which expressed Congress’ disapproval of a #carbontax because it would be detrimental to our economy. A carbon tax is effectively a tax increase on those who can least afford it. Our economy is surging due to #taxreform & we don't need unnecessary taxes." (twitter.com)
  • "Kamala Harris and Joe Biden support the Green New Deal which will stifle the American energy sector. We cannot allow this policy to take effect." (twitter.com)
  • "Our booming economy continues, breaking records for the number of job openings. Now Democrats want to completely transform our economy with their radical "Green New Deal" which will destroy jobs, impede innovation in the free-market, and destabilize our great nation." (twitter.com)
  • "I joined Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler and other House Republican colleagues in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to push back against the new restrictions placed on our Second Amendment rights!" (www.facebook.com)
  • "It is so important to uphold our Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms! I am proud to receive an A+ rating from the @NRA" (twitter.com)
  • "There is a reason why our Founding Fathers found it necessary to make the Second Amendment to our Constitution the right to keep and bear arms. This is a principle rooted in our Republic whereby we are a government of the people, by the people and for the people. But the right to own firearms is more than just a check on tyranny; it is a fundamental right that free citizens be allowed to protect and defend themselves. I have a strong track record of defending the Second Amendment and protecting gun rights. I have consistently been endorsed by the NRA and I am a member of both the NRA and Arizona Citizens Defense League. In Congress, I will continue to strongly support legislation that protects our Second Amendment and protects our citizens from reckless and irresponsible legislation that attempts to undermine this precious civil right." (debbieleskoforcongress.com)
  • "House Democrats want big government-run healthcare policies that take away choice from patients. @HouseGOP is working to put patients first and ensure they have more control over their healthcare choices." (twitter.com)
  • "The 9th Most Radical Bill is: the Democrat Government Controls Your Healthcare Act (H.R. 3) that would actually make healthcare and drug prices MORE expensive. Dems are willing to abandon the free market for socialist government price controls that hurt the American people." (twitter.com)
  • "I am outraged that the Biden Administration is denying paid family leave to new mothers who previously worked in the Trump Administration. Why is the Biden Administration hurting new mothers?" (twitter.com)
  • "It is petty and ridiculous that the Biden Administration would deny Trump officials their paid family leave to take care of their newborn babies. Democrats say they’re for women, but they turn around and deny people their maternity leave!" (twitter.com)
  • Voted against H.R. 6201 “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” (votesmart.org)
  • "The 9th Most Radical Bill is: the Democrat Government Controls Your Healthcare Act (H.R. 3) that would actually make healthcare and drug prices MORE expensive. Dems are willing to abandon the free market for socialist government price controls that hurt the American people." (twitter.com)
  • 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)
  • Rated 99% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The southern border is in crisis. There were nearly 200,000 illegal migrant apprehensions in July 2022. In over a year and a half in office, President Biden STILL has not been to the southern border. This is a complete abdication of leadership." (twitter.com)
  • "Vice President Kamala Harris is the border czar, yet she and the rest of the Biden Administration have come up with ZERO solutions and have only made the border crisis WORSE." (twitter.com)
  • "We are facing the WORST border crisis in HISTORY because President Biden has left our border WIDE OPEN." (twitter.com)
  • "Get the Bad Guys Out: I will introduce legislation that allows ERO agents to remove any person who is in the country illegally, who is a known gang banger, convicted felon, no matter the type of felony, and any illegal alien who is convicted of a second Class 1 Misdemeanor for immediate deportation and permanent expulsion." (debbieleskoforcongress.com)
  • "Keeping Title 42 in place at the border helps to stem the flow of illegal immigration and protects the public health of our communities." (twitter.com)
  • "My walk into work this morning to debate the #Democrats #Amnesty bill that will give #IllegalImmigrants that are listed as gang members by #LawEnforcement and have multiple DUIs with a special pathway to citizenship. #radical" (twitter.com)
  • Rated 99% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Please join me in praying for the people of Ukraine as they endure a senseless and unprovoked attack at the hands of Vladimir Putin. We must never forget these heinous acts and must respond swiftly with the highest level of sanctions." (twitter.com)
  • "Thank you @realDonaldTrump for signing the Hong Kong Autonomy Act issuing sanctions against the Chinese Communist Party and other groups that seek to undermine Hong Kong’s freedom." (twitter.com)
  • "The Biden Administration is planning on waiving sanctions on a Putin ally building the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline after shutting down the Keystone XL Pipeline in the U.S. This is the real Russian collusion that threatens our global and national security." (twitter.com)
  • "The most effective sanction against Russia would involve sanctioning Russia's energy sector. Our nation has the ability to be energy independent. The amount of oil we get from Russia can easily be replaced with oil we can produce here at home." (twitter.com)
  • Voted against H.R. 6833 "Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against 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)
  • "It is absurd to raise taxes during a recession, yet that’s exactly what Congressional Democrats’ reckless spending package will do. Their partisan tax-and-spend bill raises taxes on nearly EVERY single American." (twitter.com)
  • "Joe Biden and Congressional Democrats’ failed spending policies created our nation’s recession. Now they think they can tax and spend their way out of it. Insanity!" (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by National Tax Limitation Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "With a looming recession potentially headed our way due to the Democrats’ reckless spending and President Biden’s failed economic policies, now is NOT the time to be raising taxes!" (twitter.com)
  • "I have never seen a tax I didn’t want to cut, and I have a proud record of voting for common-sense tax reforms. The newly passed tax reform package from Congress doesn’t go far enough. We need a reformed tax code that allows citizens to fill out their tax returns on a postcard. I will push for this tax simplification. We also have too many regulations that put the needs of special interests over commonsense, and I will work with President Trump to protect jobs and end the reign of bureaucratic controls through regulations." (debbieleskoforcongress.com)
  • "The Phase One Trade Agreement w/ China is another #win for American workers by President @realDonaldTrump. China has made commitments to stop unfair trading practices & purchase more U.S. goods. This will boost our economy, create jobs and restore the trade imbalance with China!" (twitter.com)
  • "With our location next to Mexico, Arizona is well-positioned to benefit from the #USMCA. The USMCA is a big win for not only Arizona's economy, but also our national economy. We need the #USMCAnow!" (twitter.com)
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.
Pro-life Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
No In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
Yes Do you support expanding federal funding to support entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare?
I support giving increased benefits based on inflation to those that have paid into the system and do not support cutting benefits to current or soon to be future participants.
Unknown Position Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
This area is already regulated. I would review any new regulations on a case by case basis.
Yes Do you support the protection of government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct?
Yes Do you support increasing defense spending?
No Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19?
No Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
Unknown Position Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
No Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
Emissions are regulated. I would review any changes to the regulations on a case by case basis.
No Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
Yes Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
Yes Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?
I am supportive of a temporary benefit to employees for paid leave during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I think that this requirement should be evenly placed on all businesses and should only be for a temporary amount of time, not permanent.
Yes Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
Yes Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
I could support giving legal status to current DACA recipients if it is paired with more border security; however, DACA parents should not be allowed a special pathway to citizenship.
Yes 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 Do you support reducing military intervention in Middle East conflicts?
That needs to be determined on a case by case basis.
Yes Do you generally support removing barriers to international trade (for example: tariffs, quotas, etc.)?
I believe in free and fair trade. However, I support tariffs and sanctions against bad actors, like China. Trade deals with the United States need to benefit the United States first and foremost.
1. Growing jobs and our economy 2. Mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 3. Providing Quality Education

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