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 unrestricted right (+5 points on Social scale)	Keep abortion safe, rare and legal; with 24-week viability: Strongly Favors topic 1 Supports abortion rights within his faith, not despite it: Strongly Favors topic 1 Parental consent with judicial override; Gore agrees: Opposes topic 1 Supported parental notification for minors; but pro-choice: Neutral on 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 Provide emergency contraception at military facilities: Favors topic 1 Protect the reproductive rights of women: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP: Favors topic 1 NO on Unknown roll call for 1999-340: 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 YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Favors topic 1 NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions: Favors topic 1 NO on restricting UN funding for population control policies: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Support reparation legislations: Strongly Favors topic 2 Marched with Martin Luther King in 1963; keep dream alive: Favors topic 2 Better economy helps blacks: Rising tide raises all boats: Opposes topic 2 I do support, and will support affirmative action: Favors topic 2 Supports affirmative action now; but phase it out by 2010: Favors topic 2 Affirmative action is “patently unfair”, in 1995: Strongly Opposes topic 2 Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all: Neutral on topic 2 Increase subsidies for women-owned non-profit business: Strongly Favors topic 2 Issue a commemorative postage stamp of Rosa Parks: Favors topic 2 Rated 86% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2 Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2 Constitutional Amendment for women's equal rights: Strongly Favors topic 2 Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2 Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2 Investigate deportation of Japanese during WWII: 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: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Opposes laws against gay sex & sodomy; focus on real crime: Favors topic 3 For gay equal employment; against gay marriage: Favors topic 3 Expand “Hate Crimes” to include women, gays, and disabled: Strongly Favors topic 3 More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 Rated 89% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3 ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays: Favors topic 3 Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays: 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 NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3
Opposes topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (+2 points on Social scale)	IDAs: 401(k)s for low-income individuals: Favors topic 4 Non-sectarian moment of silence OK in public schools: Favors topic 4 Individual Development Accounts for low-income families: Favors topic 4 Express religious faith in schools, within Constitution: Opposes topic 4 Supported 1996 welfare reform: Favors topic 4 Christian right leaders call Lieberman an ally: Neutral on topic 4 Voted against school prayer; for condom distribution: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Rated 67% by the AU, a mixed record on church-state separation: Neutral on topic 4 NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer: Opposes topic 4 NO on $75M for abstinence education: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors: Favors topic 4 YES on declaring memorial prayers and religious symbols OK at schools: Favors topic 4 NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Opposes topic 4
Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-3 points on Economic scale)	National health insurance pool-free for poor and children: Strongly Favors topic 5 Return taxes to Clinton-era rates to improve health care: Favors topic 5 No more big-spending health plans: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Supports health insurance industry (based in Hartford CT): Strongly Favors topic 5 Limited lawsuits against HMOs and automakers: Favors topic 5 Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care: Favors topic 5 Invest funds to alleviate the nursing shortage: Favors topic 5 Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors topic 5 Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Favors topic 5 NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: 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 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 YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility: Favors topic 5 YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare: Favors topic 5 YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program: Favors topic 5 YES on regulating tobacco as a drug: Favors topic 5
Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-3 points on Economic scale)	OK to invest in private markets, a little: Favors topic 6 Lieberman commends Gore’s National Retirement Savings Plan: Neutral on topic 6 Create Retirement Savings Accounts: Favors topic 6 Rated 100% 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 using the Social Security Surplus to fund tax reductions: Opposes topic 6 NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Opposes topic 6
Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+2 points on Economic scale)	More funding & more local responsibility for public schools: Favors topic 7 Supports vouchers that don’t take money from public schools: Favors topic 7 Support public school choice; experiment with private choice: Strongly Favors topic 7 Keep vouchers out of reforms, so reforms can get done: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Would advocate vouchers privately, but support Gore publicly: Favors topic 7 Supports charter schools, private education savings accounts: Favors topic 7 Choice won’t “ruin” schools; they’re already in ruins: Strongly Favors topic 7 Voted for vouchers; against block grants: Strongly Favors topic 7 Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice: Opposes topic 7 Firmly opposed to Bush’s voucher proposal: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Rated 86% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Support the goals and ideals of Charter Schools: Favors topic 7 YES on school vouchers in DC: Strongly Favors topic 7 YES on education savings accounts: Favors topic 7 NO on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules: Strongly Opposes topic 7 YES on Educational Savings Accounts: Favors 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 Opposes topic 8: Clean air and water are property rights (-5 points on Social scale)	Enforce existing laws & reduce threats to air & water: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Continue strong commitment to clean air, water, land: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Strengthen CAA; protect ANWR; create more national parks: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Invest $2.5B in open space preservation: Strongly Opposes topic 8 $85M over 5 years for brownfield re-development: Strongly Opposes topic 8 End commercial whaling and illegal trade in whale meat: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Support UNCED Rio Declaration at 2002 conference: Opposes topic 8 Rated 42% by the LCV, indicating a mixed record on environment: Neutral on topic 8 EPA must do better on mercury clean-up: Opposes topic 8 Promote conservation of rare felids & canids: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Grants for beach water pollution under Clean Water Act: Opposes topic 8 Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements: Opposes topic 8 Regulate all dog breeders down to kennels of 50 dogs: Opposes topic 8 Prohibit invasive research on great apes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Prohibits breeding or possessing Big Cat species: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Establish an International Conservation Strategy: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8 YES on continuing desert protection in California: Strongly Opposes topic 8 YES on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests: Favors topic 8 NO on prohibiting eminent domain for use as parks or grazing land: Opposes topic 8
Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-3 points on Social scale)	Invest in rehabilitation, not prisons: Opposes topic 9 Build more jails to keep violent offendors for full sentence: Strongly Favors topic 9 Favors death penalty, even for minors: Strongly Favors topic 9 Rated 50% by CURE, indicating mixed votes on rehabilitation: Neutral on topic 9 Moratorium on death penalty; more DNA testing: Opposes topic 9 Require DNA testing for all federal executions: Opposes topic 9 Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program: Opposes topic 9 Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Life imprisonment for repeat sexual predators: Strongly Favors 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 NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes 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
Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-3 points on Economic scale)	Licensing & registration violate fundamental right to guns: Strongly Favors topic 10 Safe havens: Ban guns in schools and churches: Opposes topic 10 Safety locks, background checks, & bans on sale to kids: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology: Opposes topic 10 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 YES on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence: Strongly Favors topic 10 NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Opposes topic 10 YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership: Favors topic 10 NO on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains: Opposes topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Tax the richest 2% to pay for a tax cut to the other 98%: Strongly Favors topic 11 Repeal Bush tax cuts on highest income Americans: Strongly Favors topic 11 $792B tax cut is premature and unrealistic: Favors topic 11 Rated 15% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated 80% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset: 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 phasing out the estate tax ("death tax"): 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 raising estate tax exemption to $5 million: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax: Strongly Favors topic 11
Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+2 points on Social scale)	Now it’s too easy to come in across our border: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Earn citizenship only after 11 years of waiting within rules: Opposes topic 12 One-time earned legalization for undocumented immigrants: Favors topic 12 Allow driver’s license for immigrants: Favors topic 12 Make sure immigrants are treated fairly: Strongly Favors topic 12 Sponsored comprehensive immigration reform, without amnesty: Strongly Favors topic 12 Provide funding for social services for noncitizens: Favors topic 12 Rated 0% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12 Increase limitations for H-1B, H-2B, and L-visas: Favors topic 12 YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on limit welfare for immigrants: Strongly Opposes 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 NO on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Favors topic 12 NO on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program: Neutral topic 12 NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Favors topic 12
Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale)	Connecticut jobs rely on exports: Strongly Favors topic 13 NAFTA has caused some job loss, but net gain of 900,000 jobs: Strongly Favors topic 13 Can’t build walls and still create jobs: Strongly Favors topic 13 Protect manufacturing by federal Buy-American policy: Opposes topic 13 For Fast Track & open trade, with labor safeguards: Neutral on topic 13 Build a rule-based global trading system: Favors topic 13 Free & fair trade is key to economic growth : Strongly Favors topic 13 Quick vote on PNTR; China into WTO: Neutral on topic 13 Rated 36% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues: Neutral on topic 13 YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority: 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 YES on extending free trade to Andean nations: Strongly 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
Opposes topic 14: Maintain US sovereignty from UN (-3 points on Economic scale)	Go back to the UN and negotiate about Iraq: Opposes topic 14 Send more US troops to Iraq, with UN force: Opposes 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 NO on capping foreign aid at only $12.7 billion: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Favors topic 14
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	Right-size the military with Servicemembers Bill of Rights: Strongly Favors topic 15 $87B to never leave American troops without support: Strongly Favors topic 15 More $ for weapons; including SDI recently: Favors topic 15 More R&D & better development for future army: Favors topic 15 Rated 10% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record: Strongly Favors topic 15 Sponsored bill for Iraq budget to be part of defense budget: Opposes topic 15 Improve mental health care benefits for returning veterans: Favors topic 15 YES on 1996 Defense Appropriations: Favors 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 YES on allowing another round of military base closures: Opposes 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 NO on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Favors topic 15
Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on voting rights (-3 points on Social scale)	Subject independent 527s to rules for political committees: Strongly Favors topic 16 Military spouses don't lose voting residency while abroad: 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 YES on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Favors topic 16 YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Opposes topic 16
Strongly Opposes topic 17: Stay out of Iran (-5 points on Social scale)	Adopt an international Marshall Plan for the Muslim world: Strongly Favors topic 17 Leadership means consistency on war views: Opposes topic 17 Prosecute War on Terror, even if unpopular: Opposes topic 17 Failure is not an option in War on Terror: Opposes topic 17 Preemptive war policy is foolish and provokes the world: Favors topic 17 Overthrowing Saddam was right, and we can’t abandon Iraq now: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Getting out too soon will be a disaster for Iraq and for us: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Saddam’s overthrow caused Libya & Iran to capitulate: Opposes topic 17 We made the right decision to send soldiers to Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 US and world are safer with homicidal maniac Saddam gone: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Stabilize Iraq before pulling out the troops: Strongly Opposes topic 17 $87B for Iraq was unpopular, but that’s leadership: Opposes topic 17 Not an inch of difference from Bush on Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Iraq was a heroic struggle against enemies of civilization: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence: Favors topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly 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 Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Accept some American responsibility for global warming: Strongly Favors topic 18 Declaration of Energy Independence: Favors topic 18 Raise mileage standard to 40 mpg: Strongly Favors topic 18 Kyoto Protocol should include China: Favors topic 18 Climate change is bilingual, for business & for enviros: Favors topic 18 Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 Keep climate change in EPA "State of the Environment" report: Favors topic 18 Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Sponsored bill for greenhouse gas tradeable allowances: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence: Favors topic 18 Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: Strongly Favors topic 18 Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness: Favors topic 18 Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18 Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards: Strongly Favors topic 18 Gas tax holiday for the summer: Opposes topic 18 NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 NO on do not require ethanol in gasoline: 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 YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China: Favors topic 18 YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade: Favors topic 18 NO on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax: Favors topic 18 YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Favors topic 18
Favors topic 19: Never legalize marijuana (-3 points on Social scale)	Approves $6.2M more for CT crime & drug enforcement: Favors topic 19 Increased penalties for drug offenses: Strongly Favors topic 19 NO on spending international development funds on drug control: Strongly Opposes topic 19 NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes topic 19 YES on increasing penalties for drug offenses: Favors topic 19
Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-3 points on Economic scale)	Fresh Start on tax cuts for 98% of all taxpayers: Strongly Opposes topic 20 To stimulate jobs, repeal tax cuts & support trade: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Tax fairness & tax relief for the middle class, not the rich: Favors topic 20 Expand microloans to small businesses: Favors topic 20 Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business: Favors topic 20 Rated 67% by UFCW, indicating a mixed management/labor voting record: Neutral on topic 20 YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 20 YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package: Strongly Favors topic 20 YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending: Strongly Favors topic 20