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)
Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (+2 points on Social scale)	I respect stare decisis, and a woman's right to choose: Favors topic 1 Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Pro-choice, but no federal subsidies: Favors topic 1 Support embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Supports giving legal protection to unborn children: Strongly Opposes topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy: Favors topic 2 More funding & services for victims of domestic violence: Strongly Favors topic 2 Enforce against wage discrimination based on gender: Strongly Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Swiftly repeal discriminatory "don't ask, don't tell": Strongly Favors topic 3 Targeted by Stonewall as pro-LGBT candidate: Strongly Favors topic 3 Supports Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA): Favors topic 3 Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools: Strongly Favors topic 3
No opinion on topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	Extend, perfect, and implement ObamaCare: Strongly Favors topic 5 Longstanding need to fix health care system: Favors topic 5 NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: Favors topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	Against privatizing Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-3 points on Economic scale)	Every student deserves a quality public education: Opposes topic 7 Opposes less federal or more local control of education: Opposes topic 7
Favors topic 8: Human needs over animal rights (-3 points on Social scale)	Protect the environment by becoming environmental stewards: Strongly Favors topic 8 Regulate all dog breeders down to kennels of 50 dogs: Opposes topic 8
Strongly Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-5 points on Social scale)	Facilitate recovering crime victim restitution fees: Strongly Favors topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	Respect 2nd Amendment with common sense limitations: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Ban large-capacity ammunition: Opposes topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-5 points on Economic scale)	New approach to replace Bush tax cuts: Strongly Favors topic 11 Increase property & sewer taxes; layoff 75 county employees: Favors topic 11
Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+2 points on Social scale)	No pathway to citizenship; but pathway to legal residency: Favors topic 12 Supports comprehensive federal immigration reform: Favors topic 12 Supports granting amnesty to illegal immigrants: Strongly Favors topic 12 Supports full implementation of current border security laws: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Strongly Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-5 points on Economic scale)	Recent trade deals take advantage of us: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Link fair trade with national security: Opposes topic 13
Strongly Opposes topic 14: Maintain US sovereignty from UN (-5 points on Social scale)	Strengthen international partnerships; responsibly exit Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Opposes topic 15: Expand the military (+2 points on Social scale)	Link security with development and human rights: Opposes topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (-5 points on Economic scale)	Citizens United was ill-decided & distorts political process: Strongly Favors topic 16 Campaign spending is not a form of speech: Strongly Favors topic 16
Favors topic 17: Stay out of Iran (+2 points on Social scale)	Are 100,000 troops in Afghanistan contributing to security?: Favors topic 17 Responsibly end the war in Iraq: Favors topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Reduce CO2 by focus on energy efficiency and conservation: Favors topic 18 Buildup of carbon dioxide is unsustainable: Favors topic 18 Oil drilling poses an environmental risk: Strongly Favors topic 18 Supports passage of Cap-and-Trade energy legislation: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18
No opinion on topic 19: Never legalize marijuana (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+5 points on Economic scale)	TARP lending and SBA loans are positive & concrete steps: Strongly Favors topic 20 Every extension of Bush tax cut adds to the deficit: Favors topic 20 Increase property & sewer taxes; layoff 75 county employees: Favors topic 20 Rated 86% by UFCW, indicating an anti-management/pro-labor record: Favors topic 20 Strengthen infrastructure, including rail, dams, & Internet: Strongly Favors topic 20