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)
Strongly Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's right (+5 points on Social scale)	Partial birth abortion ban needs maternal health exception: Strongly Favors topic 1 Conduct stem cell research to help Alzheimers and diabetes: Favors topic 1 Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record: Strongly Favors topic 1 Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors topic 1 Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1 NO on banning partial birth abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions: Favors topic 1 NO on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime: Favors topic 1 YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives: Favors topic 1 NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Shame of resegregation has been occurring in our schools: Favors topic 2 Issue a commemorative postage stamp of Rosa Parks: Favors topic 2 Rated 93% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2 Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on prohibiting same-sex basic training: Favors topic 2 YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women: Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (+5 points on Social scale)	Apply Family & Medical Leave Act to same sex couples: Strongly Favors topic 3 Treat same-sex couples equally in all rights except marriage: Favors topic 3 Supports civil unions but opposes gay marriage: Favors topic 3 More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 Rated 100% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3 Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees: Strongly Favors topic 3 YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation: Strongly Favors topic 3 YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation: Favors topic 3 YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3
Strongly Opposes topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (+5 points on Social scale)	Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Rated 100% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer: Opposes topic 4 NO on $75M for abstinence education: Strongly Opposes topic 4 YES on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors: Opposes topic 4 NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Opposes topic 4
Opposes topic 8: Death Penalty (+2 points on Social scale)	Moratorium on death penalty; more DNA testing: Opposes topic 8 Require DNA testing for all federal executions: Opposes topic 8 NO on rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals: Opposes topic 8 NO on limiting death penalty appeals: Opposes topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (+2 points on Social scale)	Reform the current system that locks up two million in jail: Opposes topic 9 Mandatory minimum sentencing has been a disaster: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Rated 75% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Rated 71% by the NCJA, indicating a "soft-on-crime" stance: Strongly Opposes topic 9 YES on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms: Strongly Favors topic 9 YES on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program: Opposes topic 9 YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	NO on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks: Strongly Opposes topic 10 NO on loosening license & background checks at gun shows: Opposes topic 10 YES on background checks at gun shows: Strongly Opposes topic 10 NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence: Strongly Opposes topic 10 NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Favors topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (-3 points on Economic scale)	Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations: Opposes topic 5 Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors topic 5 YES on blocking medical savings acounts: Favors topic 5 YES on Medicare means-testing: Opposes topic 5 NO on limiting self-employment health deduction: Favors topic 5 YES on including prescription drugs under Medicare: Favors topic 5 NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit: Favors topic 5 YES on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit: Favors topic 5 YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics: Favors topic 5 YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Favors topic 5 YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D: Favors topic 5 NO on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000: Opposes topic 5 YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D: Favors topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	No privatization; but raise earning cap over $97,000: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Rated 90% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 6 NO on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes: Opposes topic 6 NO on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees: Opposes topic 6 NO on allowing personal retirement accounts: Opposes topic 6 NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Opposes topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (-5 points on Economic scale)	Reform No Child Left Behind to invest in failing schools: Opposes topic 7 Rated 82% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on school vouchers in DC: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on education savings accounts: Opposes topic 7 NO on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on Educational Savings Accounts: Opposes topic 7 YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors: Opposes topic 7 YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors: Opposes topic 7 YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Opposes topic 7
Strongly Favors topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (-5 points on Economic scale)	Advocate a corporate carbon tax: Strongly Favors topic 18 80% reduction in CO2 by the year 2080: Strongly Favors topic 18 Raise standard to 50 mpg by 2017; make federal fleet hybrids: Strongly Favors topic 18 Impose corporate carbon tax; need price incentives for GHGs: Strongly Favors topic 18 Carbon tax of $50B/year to make alternatives competitive: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 84% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes: Strongly Favors topic 18 Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence: Favors topic 18 Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness: Favors topic 18 YES on do not require ethanol in gasoline: Opposes topic 18 YES on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests: Favors topic 18 NO on defunding renewable and solar energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards: Opposes topic 18 NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling: Favors topic 18 NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill: Favors topic 18 YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%): Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Favors topic 18 YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning: Favors topic 18 YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Favors topic 18
Strongly Opposes topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (+5 points on Social scale)	Reduce sentencing disparity for crack cocaine retroactively: Favors topic 19 Allow medical marijuana; and allow decriminalization too: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Decriminalize marijuana but don't legalize it: Opposes topic 19 Eliminate distinction between crack cocaine & powder cocaine: Strongly Opposes topic 19 No drug tests for welfare recipients: Opposes topic 19 NO on spending international development funds on drug control: Strongly Opposes topic 19 NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses: Opposes topic 19
Opposes topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (-3 points on Economic scale)	Talk more about faith in the public sector: Favors topic 20 YES on welfare overhaul: Favors topic 20 NO on allowing state welfare waivers: Opposes topic 20 YES on eliminating block grants for food stamps: Opposes topic 20 NO on welfare block grants: Opposes topic 20
Strongly Favors topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (-5 points on Economic scale)	Rated 15% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on Internet sales tax moratorium: Opposes topic 11 NO on requiring super-majority for raising taxes: Favors topic 11 NO on eliminating the 'marriage penalty': Favors topic 11 NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts: Favors topic 11 YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates: Favors topic 11 YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction: Favors topic 11 NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut: Favors topic 11 NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax: Strongly Favors topic 11
Favors topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (+2 points on Social scale)	Oppose granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants: Opposes topic 12 Driver's licenses ought not be given to illegal immigrants: Opposes topic 12 Mexico is a neighbor and ally, but supported border wall: Opposes topic 12 Sanctuary cities ok to deal with millions here already: Strongly Favors topic 12 Rated 8% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12 NO on limit welfare for immigrants: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on visas for skilled workers: Favors topic 12 NO on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work: Opposes topic 12 YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on establishing a Guest Worker program: Favors topic 12 YES on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Opposes topic 12 YES on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Favors topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-3 points on Economic scale)	Include labor, environmental & health in trade deals: Opposes topic 13 Ban the outsourcing of jobs: Opposes topic 13 Rated 17% by CATO, indicating a pro-fair trade voting record: Strongly Opposes 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 YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam: Favors topic 13 NO on extending free trade to Andean nations: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on establishing free trade between US & Singapore: Opposes topic 13 NO on establishing free trade between the US and Chile: Opposes topic 13 NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Opposes topic 15: Expand the armed forces (+2 points on Social scale)	Star Wars program is wrong priority for 21st century: Opposes topic 15 Voted for 20 pay increases for the military: Favors topic 15 Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Sponsored bill for Iraq budget to be part of defense budget: Opposes topic 15 NO on 1996 Defense Appropriations: Opposes topic 15 NO on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty: Opposes topic 15 NO on favoring 36 vetoed military projects: Strongly Opposes topic 15 NO on allowing another round of military base closures: Favors topic 15 NO on military pay raise of 4.8%: Strongly Opposes 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 YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Opposes topic 15
Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (-3 points on Economic scale)	Supports public campaign finance, despite personal history: Favors topic 16 Prohibit 'voter caging' which intimidates minority voting: Favors topic 16 YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance: Favors topic 16 YES on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations: Favors topic 16 YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads: Favors 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 Favors topic 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (+5 points on Social scale)	National security is more important than human rights: Opposes topic 14 Co-sponsored "Restoring the Constitution Act" to ban torture: Strongly Favors topic 14 Deeply troubling to legalize secret interrogation: Strongly Favors topic 14 Maintain Geneva Conventions; keep restrictions on torture: Strongly Favors topic 14 Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror: Favors topic 14 YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act: Opposes topic 14 YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Favors topic 14 YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods: Strongly Favors topic 14 NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Favors topic 14
Favors topic 17: US out of Iraq (+2 points on Social scale)	Cut off the funding spigot for Iraq in one year: Strongly Favors topic 17 More foreign languages courses and exchange students: Favors topic 17 Require Congress' approval before military action in Iran: Favors topic 17 NO on rede