VoteMatch Responses (Click here for VoteMatch quiz)
VoteMatch Question & Answer (Click on question for explanation and background)	Based on these stances: (Click on topic for excerpt & citation)
Opposes topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (-3 points on Social scale)	Both pro-life and pro-stem cell research: Neutral on topic 1 Abortions cause a societal insensitivity to life: Opposes topic 1 No litmus tests: no one issue should define appointments: Neutral on topic 1 Appoint conservative judges without litmus tests: Opposes topic 1 Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Rated 75% by the NRLC, indicating a mixed record on abortion: Neutral on topic 1 Prohibit transporting minors across state lines for abortion: Opposes topic 1 Prohibit federal funding for abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 YES on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 YES on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP: Opposes topic 1 YES on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions: Opposes topic 1 YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life: Strongly Opposes topic 1 YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime: Opposes topic 1 NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives: Opposes topic 1 YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions: Opposes topic 1 YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Favors topic 1 YES on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions: Opposes topic 1 YES on restricting UN funding for population control policies: Opposes topic 1
Strongly Opposes topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (+5 points on Economic scale)	Merit and outreach are the bases for helping minorities: Favors topic 2 Rated 14% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Opposes topic 2 NO on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act: Opposes topic 2 YES on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds: Strongly Opposes topic 2 YES on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business: Strongly Opposes topic 2 YES on prohibiting same-sex basic training: Opposes topic 2 NO on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women: Opposes topic 2
Strongly Opposes topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (-5 points on Social scale)	Gays support Democrats, but no intolerance: Neutral on topic 3 Homosexuality is contrary to the Bible, but no intolerance: Opposes topic 3 Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance: Strongly Opposes topic 3 YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation: Strongly Opposes topic 3 NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation: Opposes topic 3 NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes: Strongly Opposes topic 3 YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3
Strongly Favors topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (-5 points on Social scale)	Founders avoided “national church,” not Ten Commandments: Favors topic 4 Amendments for school prayer & flag protection: Strongly Favors topic 4 More block grants; more student loans; school prayer OK: Strongly Favors topic 4 Hollywood should do more to change culture for good: Favors topic 4 Media supports moral poverty; Boys & Girls Clubs fight it: Favors topic 4 Supports welfare reform from dependency to self-sufficiency: Favors topic 4 Block grants let local programs work; fed programs do not: Strongly Favors topic 4 Supports anti-flag desecration amendment: Favors topic 4 Rated 100% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Favors topic 4 YES on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer: Favors topic 4 YES on $75M for abstinence education: Strongly Favors topic 4 YES on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors: Opposes topic 4 YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Favors topic 4
Opposes topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (+2 points on Economic scale)	ObamaCare is an "atrocious" act; repeal & replace: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Spent most of career solving health-care problems: Favors topic 5 His CHIP program insures 7-10 million kids of working poor: Strongly Favors topic 5 Supported federal Tobacco Settlement based on State deal: Favors topic 5 Supports tax credit for “orphan drugs”: Favors topic 5 Rated 0% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Repeal any federal health care takeover: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Religious exemption from ObamaCare individual mandate: Strongly Opposes topic 5 NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5 YES on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Opposes topic 5 YES on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: Opposes topic 5 NO on blocking medical savings acounts: Opposes topic 5 YES on Medicare means-testing: Opposes topic 5 YES on limiting self-employment health deduction: Opposes topic 5 NO on including prescription drugs under Medicare: Opposes topic 5 YES on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit: Opposes topic 5 YES on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit: Favors topic 5 NO on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics: Opposes topic 5 NO on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Opposes topic 5 NO on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D: Opposes topic 5 YES on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000: Favors topic 5 NO on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D: Opposes topic 5 YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility: Favors topic 5 NO on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare: Opposes topic 5 NO on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program: Opposes topic 5 NO on regulating tobacco as a drug: Opposes topic 5
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+2 points on Economic scale)	Consider raising retirement age: Opposes topic 6 $792B tax cut does not affect Medicare or Social Security: Neutral on topic 6 Simplify tax code on retirement & end savings disincentives: Favors topic 6 Preserve Social Security fund in “Lockbox” until needed: Opposes topic 6 Rated 0% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record: Strongly Favors topic 6 Rated 4% by ARA, indicating a pro-privatization stance: Strongly Favors topic 6 YES on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes: Favors topic 6 YES on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees: Favors topic 6 YES on allowing personal retirement accounts: Favors topic 6 YES on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Favors topic 6
Strongly Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+5 points on Economic scale)	Fed help for school infrastructure, but no direct spending: Strongly Favors topic 7 More vouchers; more charter schools: Strongly Favors topic 7 Vouchers will cover costs under most circumstances: Strongly Favors topic 7 Voted for vouchers for violent schools & crime victims: Strongly Favors topic 7 Rated 27% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes: Strongly Favors topic 7 YES on school vouchers in DC: Strongly Favors topic 7 YES on education savings accounts: Favors topic 7 YES on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules: Strongly Favors topic 7 YES on Educational Savings Accounts: Favors topic 7 NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors: Favors topic 7 NO on funding student testing instead of private tutors: Favors topic 7 NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Favors topic 7
Favors topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (-3 points on Social scale)	Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes: Strongly Favors topic 8 NO on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems: Favors topic 8 NO on continuing desert protection in California: Strongly Favors topic 8 NO on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests: Opposes topic 8 YES on prohibiting eminent domain for use as parks or grazing land: Favors topic 8
Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-3 points on Social scale)	1992: Supported COPS program and Violence Against Women Act: Strongly Favors topic 9 Strict penalties; more prisons; status quo on death penalty: Favors topic 9 10-20-Life plan: harsh penalties for gun use: Strongly Favors topic 9 Punish minor juvenile crimes to prevent later serious crimes: Favors topic 9 Allow 14-year-olds to be tried & punished as adults: Favors topic 9 Prosecute drugs & gun crimes; protect victims’ rights: Favors topic 9 Fund truth-in-sentencing & longer sentences: Favors topic 9 Victims’ Rights: hearings & notification: Favors topic 9 Rated 25% by CURE, indicating anti-rehabilitation crime votes: Strongly Favors topic 9 Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Permanent crime database for volunteers with kids: Favors topic 9 Death penalty for killing police officers: Favors topic 9 Rated 64% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues: Neutral on topic 9 YES on rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals: Favors topic 9 YES on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms: Strongly Favors topic 9 YES on limiting death penalty appeals: Favors topic 9 YES on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Favors topic 9 NO on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program: Favors topic 9 YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Supports 2nd Amendment, with stricter gun law enforcement: Strongly Favors topic 10 Guns should be sold with safety devices: Opposes topic 10 Enforce existing gun laws & extend them to juveniles: Opposes topic 10 Prosecute gun crimes federally & severely: Neutral on topic 10 National cross-state standard for concealed carry: Strongly Favors topic 10 Loosen restrictions on interstate gun purchases: Strongly Favors topic 10 Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC: Strongly Favors topic 10 Allow firearms in National Parks: Strongly Favors topic 10 Apply concealed carry permit to all other states where legal: Strongly Favors topic 10 NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows: Favors topic 10 NO on background checks at gun shows: Strongly Favors topic 10 NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence: Strongly Opposes topic 10 YES on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership: Favors topic 10 YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains: Favors topic 10
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+5 points on Economic scale)	You can't argue with math: tax cuts for vast majority: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Get rid of the entire IRS code and the IRS itself: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Surplus means taxpayers paid too much -- so give it back: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Cutting capital gains helps most Americans, not just rich: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Rated 72% by NTU, indicating "Satisfactory" on tax votes: Neutral on topic 11 Rated 0% by the CTJ, indicating opposition to progressive taxation: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Taxpayer Protection Pledge: no new taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Supports the Taxpayer Protection Pledge: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset: Opposes topic 11 YES on Internet sales tax moratorium: Opposes topic 11 YES on requiring super-majority for raising taxes: Opposes topic 11 YES on eliminating the 'marriage penalty': Opposes topic 11 YES on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts: Opposes topic 11 NO on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates: Opposes topic 11 NO on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction: Opposes topic 11 YES on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut: Opposes topic 11 YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11
Opposes topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (-3 points on Social scale)	Introduced bipartisan DREAM Act: Favors topic 12 Introduced bipartisan DREAM Act: Strongly Favors topic 12 Supports more enforcement by INS of immigration laws: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Rated 91% by USBC, indicating a sealed-border stance: Strongly Opposes topic 12 NO on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Opposes topic 12 YES on limit welfare for immigrants: Strongly Opposes topic 12 YES on visas for skilled workers: Favors topic 12 YES on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work: Favors topic 12 NO on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 12 NO on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship: Strongly Opposes topic 12 NO on establishing a Guest Worker program: Opposes topic 12 YES on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Opposes topic 12 NO on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program: Neutral topic 12 YES on declaring English as the official language of the US government: Strongly Opposes topic 12 NO on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale)	Supports NAFTA, GATT, WTO, Fast-Track: Favors topic 13 Enforce anti-dumping laws consistently: Opposes topic 13 IMF encourages open markets despite imperfections: Favors topic 13 Rated 83% by CATO, indicating a pro-free trade voting record: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 75% by the USAE, indicating support for trade engagement: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority: Favors topic 13 YES on permanent normal trade relations with China: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on expanding trade to the third world: Favors topic 13 YES on removing common goods from national security export rules: Favors topic 13 NO on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam: Opposes topic 13 YES on extending free trade to Andean nations: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on establishing free trade between US & Singapore: Favors topic 13 YES on establishing free trade between the US and Chile: Favors topic 13 YES on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on promoting free trade with Peru: Favors topic 13
Strongly Favors topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (+5 points on Economic scale)	Sponsored opposing the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty: Strongly Favors topic 14 Oppose the United Nations' Arms Trade Treaty: Favors topic 14 Disallow Palestine from joining ICC to threaten Israel: Favors topic 14 No transfers of Gitmo prisoners to US or abroad: Strongly Favors topic 14 Two-state solution despite Israeli settlements on West Bank: Favors topic 14 NO on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls: Favors topic 14 YES on $17.9 billion to IMF: Opposes topic 14 YES on capping foreign aid at only $12.7 billion: Strongly Favors topic 14 NO on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Favors topic 14 NO on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods: Strongly Favors topic 14 YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Favors topic 14
Strongly Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-5 points on Social scale)	I fight every year to save Hill Air Force Base: Favors topic 15 Increase defense spending greatly: Strongly Favors topic 15 Reverse low military readiness via leadership: Favors topic 15 Rated 0% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on 1996 Defense Appropriations: Favors topic 15 YES on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty: Favors topic 15 YES on favoring 36 vetoed military projects: Strongly Favors topic 15 NO on allowing another round of military base closures: Favors topic 15 YES on military pay raise of 4.8%: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding: Opposes topic 15 NO on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Favors topic 15
Opposes topic 16: Make voter registration easier (-3 points on Social scale)	McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform is unconstitutional: Strongly Opposes topic 16 McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform is unconstitutional: Strongly Opposes topic 16 Real campaign finance reform is disclosure & more disclosure: Opposes topic 16 Campaign reform by example: $36 donations instead of $1000: Favors topic 16 Soft money gets out the vote; against banning it: Opposes topic 16 Require Internet disclosure of all earmarks: Favors topic 16 Ban paid voter registration: Opposes topic 16 Military spouses don't lose voting residency while abroad: Favors topic 16 NO on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance: Opposes topic 16 NO on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations: Opposes topic 16 NO on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads: Opposes topic 16 NO on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Opposes topic 16 YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Opposes topic 16
Strongly Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-5 points on Social scale)	US should not police the world; but should police Europe: Favors topic 17 Russia should focus on their economy, not on US: Favors topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Sponsored shutting down Iranian foreign reserves: Opposes topic 17 Iran must accept long-term intrusive nuke inspection: Opposes topic 17 Support the completion of the US mission in Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program: Opposes topic 17 YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months: Opposes topic 17
Strongly Opposes topic 18: Prioritize green energy (+5 points on Economic scale)	Eliminate Kyoto Accords and implement more local control: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Revoke Kyoto Accords as environmental extremism: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Focus on market incentives to foster alternative fuels: Favors topic 18 Rated 17% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence: Opposes topic 18 Develop technology for carbon dioxide sequestration: Opposes topic 18 Open the Outer Continental Shelf for oil & gas leasing: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Signed the No Climate Tax Pledge by AFP: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Let states lease energy rights on federal lands: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Federal collaboration for advanced nuclear technologies: Opposes topic 18 YES on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Opposes topic 18 NO on do not require ethanol in gasoline: Favors topic 18 YES on defunding renewable and solar energy: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards: Favors topic 18 YES on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling: Opposes topic 18 YES on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill: Opposes topic 18 NO on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%): Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Opposes topic 18 NO on factoring global warming into federal project planning: Opposes topic 18 NO on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China: Opposes topic 18 NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation: Strongly Opposes topic 18 YES on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade: Opposes topic 18 YES on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax: Opposes topic 18 NO on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Opposes topic 18
Strongly Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-5 points on Social scale)	Stricter sentencing; death penalty for drug traffickers: Strongly Favors topic 19 Fight crime by fighting drugs and gangs: Favors topic 19 More penalties & more spending on drug interdiction: Strongly Favors topic 19 Rated C by NORML, indicating a mixed record on drug reform: Neutral on topic 19 YES on spending international development funds on drug control: Strongly Favors topic 19 YES on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Favors topic 19 YES on increasing penalties for drug offenses: Favors topic 19
Strongly Opposes topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+5 points on Economic scale)	More $ for defense, research, Ag, Education, police: Strongly Favors topic 20 Day Two Agenda: Tax Reform: Strongly Opposes topic 20 High taxes protect government bureaucracy: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Prosperity based on Reagan’s tax cuts plus balanced budget: Opposes topic 20 Keep promise of fiscal restraint by not spending $792B: Opposes topic 20 Simplify taxes; they’re unfair and stifle economic growth: Opposes topic 20 Supports permanent research tax credit: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Raising the minimum wage causes “disemployment”: Opposes topic 20 Supports the Cut-Cap-and-Balance Pledge: Opposes topic 20 Disapprove of increasing the debt limit: Opposes topic 20 Rated 14% by UFCW, indicating a pro-management voting record: Opposes topic 20 Audit the Federal Reserve & its actions on mortgage loans: Opposes topic 20 NO on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: Strongly Opposes topic 20 NO on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package: Strongly Opposes topic 20 NO on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending: Strongly Opposes topic 20