Debbie Lesko Voting Record & Scorecard | Competitive Markets Action

US Representative from AZ

District: 8 • Republican

2023 Alignment:

37.50%

Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-8) earned a 38% Competitive Markets Action score for 2023, showing limited alignment with competitive-markets and free-enterprise principles. Debbie Lesko voted on 5 of the 6 key bills CMA scored in 2023. Debbie Lesko represents Arizona's 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Highest category scores: Energy, Environment, and Agriculture (43%) and Regulations (0%).

Bill

Title

Lawmaker Position

EATS Letters

House 2023

EATS LettersHouse 20233x

Signing the Letter to the AG Committee Opposing China's Takeover of U.S. Agriculture through the Eats Act.

Oppose

The letters to Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA) and Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA) strongly urging the committee to oppose the inclusion of the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) or any similar language in the 2024 Farm bill. The EATS Act prevents state and local governments from tailoring agricultural regulations to the unique circumstances and needs facing their regions. Instead, the bill provides the federal government full control to set a universal standard across the entire country. Support is Competitive Markets Action and Organization for Competitive Markets Position as state and local governments are best equipped to set agriculture policy rather than the federal government through one size-fits-all mandates and central planning tactics. Furthermore, the EATS Act merely fuels China's takeover of U.S. agriculture by making it easier for Chinese corporations such as Smithfield foods to grow their control and ownership of U.S. farmlands.

H.R. 1249 Co-Sponsorship

House 2023

H.R. 1249 Co-SponsorshipHouse 20231x

Implementing Critical Reforms to Reduce Corruption within the Crony Commodity Checkoff Programs Mandated by Government.

Oppose

The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act sponsored by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) implements a series of reforms to commodity check-off programs that are designed to reduce conflicts of interest, anti-competitive practices, and other unfair or deceptive acts. Under these programs, producers of certain products, such as beef, dairy, or poultry, are forced to pay into a fund (ex. $2 for a cow) that is used for industry research or advertising campaigns. Support is the Competitive Markets Action and Organization for Competitive Markets Position as, while government-mandated checkoff programs should be eliminated entirely, this bill serves as a step in the right direction to reducing corruption. It is the role of the private sector to voluntarily organize and fund product promotion for industry, not for big producers to utilize government to financially coerce small producers to fund their activities.

H.R. 4368 (Amd. #76)

House 2023

H.R. 4368 (Amd. #76)House 20231x

Increasing Transparency and Accountability within the Crony Commodity Checkoff Programs Mandated by Government.

Oppose

The Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) amendment #76 to the "Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024" implements reforms to commodity checkoff programs. Under these programs, producers of certain products, such as beef, dairy, or poultry, are forced to pay into a fund (ex. $2 for a cow) that is used for industry research or advertising campaigns. The amendment increases transparency on how the funds are utilized and ensures taxpayer funds are used by the boards of these programs. Support is Competitive Markets Action and Organization for Competitive Markets Position as, while government-mandated checkoff programs should be eliminated entirely, this bill serves as a step in the right direction to reducing corruption. It is the role of the private sector to voluntarily organize and fund product promotion for industry, not for big producers to utilize government to financially coerce small producers to fund their activities.

H.R. 4368 (Amd. #83)

House 2023

H.R. 4368 (Amd. #83)House 20231x

Protecting Agricultural Producers from Higher Costs and Increased Government Surveillance by Blocking a New Mandate for Cattle Electronic Identification Ear Tags (EIDS).

Support

The Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) amendment #76 to the "Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024" prevents the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service from implementing its proposed rule mandating electronic identification ear tags (EID) for cattle and bison. The EID rule will also require agriculture producers to comply with new data collection and reporting requirements. Support is the Competitive Markets Action and Organization for Competitive Markets Position as the EID mandate further grows the size and scope of the government surveillance state. Additionally, this increased interference in the marketplace provides special benefits to the meat packing industry at the financial expense of agriculture producers.

H.R. 4417 Co-Sponsorship

House 2023

H.R. 4417 Co-SponsorshipHouse 20232x

Advancing China's Takeover of U.S. Agriculture by Co-Sponsoring the EATS Act.

Support

The Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act sponsored by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) prevents state and local governments from tailoring agricultural regulations to the unique circumstances and needs facing their regions. Instead, the bill provides the federal government full control to set a universal standard across the entire country. Oppose is Competitive Markets Action and Organization for Competitive Markets Position as state and local governments are best equipped to set agriculture policy rather than the federal government through one size-fits-all mandates and central planning tactics. Furthermore, the bill merely fuels China's takeover of U.S. agriculture by making it easier for Chinese corporations such as Smithfield foods to grow their control and ownership of U.S. farmlands.

H.R. 8467 Committee

House 2023

H.R. 8467 CommitteeHouse 20231x

Fueling Corruption through a Farm Bill which Places the Interests of China and Big AG over Small American Family Farmers.

Neutral

The "Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024" aka "the Farm bill" sponsored by Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) provides funding for a number of agricultural programs as well as various public assistance programs. Most notably, the bill serves as a slimmed down version of the EATS Act and does not contain any of the proposed reforms to the commodity checkoff programs. Oppose is the Competitive Markets Action and Organization for Competitive Markets Position as this bill merely worsens the corrupt practices taking place within the agricultural industry and places the interests of China and Big AG over small American family farmers through provisions of the EATS Act.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Rep. Debbie Lesko's voting record?

How aligned is Debbie Lesko with competitive-markets and free-enterprise principles?

Debbie Lesko earned a 38% Competitive Markets Action score in 2023, showing limited alignment with competitive-markets and free-enterprise principles.

What is Debbie Lesko's CMA score?

Debbie Lesko has a 38% CMA score for 2023.

Where does Debbie Lesko serve?

Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-8) represents Arizona's 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican.

What issue categories does Debbie Lesko score highest on?

Debbie Lesko's strongest categories on the Competitive Markets Action scorecard are: Energy, Environment, and Agriculture (43%), Regulations (0%).

Where can I see Debbie Lesko's full voting record?

View the full list of scored bills, category breakdown, and year-over-year voting record above. Competitive Markets Action updates this scorecard as new key votes are scored.

Debbie Lesko Voting Record & Scorecard | Competitive Markets Action

Voting Record Summary

Frequently Asked Questions