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 Opposes topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (-5 points on Social scale)	Need to permanently end tax funding for Planned Parenthood: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Roe is not in the Constitution: Opposes topic 1 No tax funding for organizations that promote abortion: Opposes topic 1 Leave abortion up to states, but with human life amendment: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Scriptures are very clear: God sanctifies us in the womb: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Did not convert to pro-life during first campaign: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Rated 100% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-life stance: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Apply 14th amendment protections to pre-born fetuses: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Prohibit transporting minors across state lines for abortion: Opposes topic 1 Opposes both federal abortion funding & judicial activism: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Supports prohibiting human embryonic stem cell research: Opposes topic 1 Declare preborn as persons under 14th amendment: 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 NO on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Opposes 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
Opposes topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (+2 points on Economic scale)	Rated 7% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Opposes topic 2 Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery: Strongly Favors 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)	Rescinded executive order on LGBT job protection: Strongly Opposes topic 3 No special LGBT job protection; keep one class of citizens: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Defend traditional marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Fight against hate crimes legislation: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Carried amendment defining marriage to Senate floor: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Opposes “hate crimes” legislation: Opposes topic 3 Don’t-ask-don’t-tell is a good policy: Opposes topic 3 No “sexual orientation” in Employment Non-Discrimination Act: Opposes topic 3 Ban gay marriage--it’s a vast social experiment: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Same-sex unions DO hurt traditional marriages: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Supports marriage as the union of a man and a woman: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Amend Constitution to define traditional marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Supports Amendment to prevent same sex marriage: 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)	Our dependence is not on Big Government but on a Big God: Strongly Favors topic 4 Ok if church identifies candidates who favor its principles: Favors topic 4 Allow Christian symbols in national war memorials: Favors topic 4 No Fairness Doctrine: no equal time if morally objectionable: Favors topic 4 Considers "constituency of one"--God--in every decision: Strongly Favors topic 4 Robustly religious public square better than naked square: Favors topic 4 Two-year limit on welfare benefits: Favors topic 4 Fund welfare via block grants to states: 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 Constitutionally prohibit flag desecration: 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
Strongly Opposes topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (+5 points on Economic scale)	Refusing ObamaCare like declining a discount on the Titanic: Strongly Opposes topic 5 KanCare at state level better than ObamaCare: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Expand Health Savings Accounts: Opposes topic 5 Market-based solution over socialized government-pay system: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Market-based solution over socialized government-pay system: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Supports competitive marketplace with price transparency: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Supports Health Savings Accounts, not government control: Opposes topic 5 Supports Health Savings Accounts, not government control: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Rated 0% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Opposes government-run healthcare: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Loosen "one-size-fits-all" approach to Medicaid: Opposes topic 5 Provide for treatment of autism under TRICARE: Favors topic 5 YES on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare: Strongly Opposes topic 5 YES on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: 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 YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D: Opposes topic 5 NO on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility: Opposes 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
Strongly Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+5 points on Economic scale)	Supports personal Social Security accounts: Strongly Favors topic 6 Rated 0% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record: Strongly 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)	More education money should be going to instruction: Opposes 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)	Stewardship for water resources to lengthen useful life: Opposes topic 8 Energy security: drill every place you can find resources: Strongly Favors topic 8 Scored 0% on Humane Society Scorecard on animal protection: Strongly Favors topic 8 Rated 0% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes: Strongly Favors topic 8 Promote conservation of rare felids & canids: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements: Opposes topic 8 Keystone XL Pipeline fundamental to economic prosperity: No opin. on topic 8 Fund projects for international conservation of cranes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 YES on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests: Favors 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)	Death penalty only for bin Laden-level criminals: Opposes topic 9 Second Chance Act: faith-based & cuts recidivism in half: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Faith-based rehabilitation better than throwing away the key: Strongly Opposes 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 YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder: Strongly Favors topic 9 NO on maintaining right of habeas corpus in 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 NO on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Favors topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Respect Second Amendment as strongly as First Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 10 National cross-state standard for concealed carry: Strongly Favors topic 10 Opposes restrictions on the right to bear arms: Strongly Favors topic 10 Rated A by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record: Strongly Favors topic 10 Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC: Strongly Favors topic 10 Apply concealed carry permit to all other states where legal: 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)	2012 "march to zero" income tax cuts overturned: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Strengthen property tax lid: Opposes topic 11 Kill tax code with a dull ax: 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 Keep reduction of capital gains tax: 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
Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+2 points on Social scale)	Oppose amnesty, but guest worker program ok: Favors topic 12 Oppose amnesty, but guest worker program ok: Opposes topic 12 Balance principles: nation of laws vs. compassionate society: Favors topic 12 No new paths to citizenship, but reform bill ok if enforced: Favors topic 12 Toughen the borders & combine enforcement with legalization: Opposes topic 12 Raise the number of legal immigrants over time: Favors topic 12 Raise the number of legal immigrants over time: Favors topic 12 Sponsored comprehensive immigration reform, without amnesty: Strongly Favors topic 12 Rated 33% by USBC, indicating a mixed record on open borders: Neutral on 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 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 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
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	Opposed to North American Union that gives up sovereignty: Opposes topic 13 Trade is key to growing our economy: Strongly Favors topic 13 China trade contingent on human rights & product safety: Opposes topic 13 China trade very contingent on human rights & product safety: Strongly Opposes topic 13 China trade contingent on human rights & product safety: Opposes topic 13 No NAFTA Superhighway from Canada to Mexico: Opposes topic 13 Supported quota on wheat gluten & tariff on imported ethanol: Opposes topic 13 One of Senate’s most consistent supporters of free trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 100% by CATO, indicating a pro-free trade voting record: Strongly Favors topic 13 Insist on access to post-mad-cow Japanese beef markets: 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 YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam: 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)	Halted Syrian refugees from being resettled in Kansas: Favors topic 14 Executive order to not assist Syrian refugees: Strongly Favors topic 14 No Palestinian state, even after ten years of peace: Strongly Favors topic 14 Monitor the eradication of legal slavery in Sudan: Favors topic 14 Avoid ratifying Law of the Sea Treaty: No opin. on topic 14 Cut in half the anti-malaria budget for Africa: Strongly 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)	Arm additional security at National Guard facilities: Favors topic 15 Rated 0% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record: Strongly Favors topic 15 Improve mental health care benefits for returning veterans: Favors topic 15 Keep detainees in Guantanamo, not Leavenworth: 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 NO on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding: Favors topic 15
Opposes topic 16: Make voter registration easier (-3 points on Social scale)	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)	We need a political surge to match the military surge: Strongly Opposes topic 17 We have not lost war; we can win by pulling together: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Surge is problematic; mix political with military solution: Favors topic 17 Seeing some improvement, and surge not fully deployed yet: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Long-term presence or Iraq devolves into terrorist state: 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
Opposes topic 18: Prioritize green energy (+2 points on Economic scale)	New wind energy projects; make KS the Renewable State: Favors topic 18 Energy security: drill every place you can find resources: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Rated 17% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence: 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 Letter to Congress supporting renewable energy tax credit: Strongly Favors topic 18 Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18 Allow horizontal drilling into Alaska's Coastal Plain: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on defunding renewable and solar energy: Strongly Favors 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 YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010: Strongly Favors 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 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 YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Favors topic 18
Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-3 points on Social scale)	Supports faith-based groups dealing with teen addictions: Opposes topic 19 Rated C- by NORML, indicating a "hard-on-drugs" stance: 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)	The days of "tax first, cut never" have come to an end: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Rein in out-of-control spending and balance the budget: Opposes topic 20 Signed no-tax pledge as pledge to the American public: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Growing the economy will balance 80% of budget: Strongly 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 YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending: Strongly Favors topic 20