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)
No opinion on topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-3 points on Economic scale)	No disclosure of salary history; equal pay for equal work: Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Support anti-discrimination laws for transgender people: Strongly Favors topic 3 Include gender identity in public accommodation rules: 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)	Need emergency paid sick time, for minorities & women: Strongly Favors topic 5
No opinion on topic 6: Privatize Social Security (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	Supports AG on enforcing state assault weapons law: Strongly Opposes topic 10
No opinion on topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 13: Support & expand free trade (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-3 points on Economic scale)	Beacon Hill postpones & relies on Mass. exceptionalism: Opposes topic 14
No opinion on topic 15: Expand the military (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Allow online voter registration, early voting, vote by mail: Strongly Favors topic 16
No opinion on topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Transition to clean energy economy means jobs: Strongly Favors topic 18 As state senator, focused on clean energy & climate change: Strongly Favors topic 18 There is no time or excuse for incrementalism: Strongly Favors topic 18 Clean energy push left out communities of color & low-income: Strongly Favors topic 18 Increase solar net metering cap, ensure future growth: Strongly Favors topic 18
No opinion on topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-3 points on Economic scale)	We have widening economic and racial gaps in Massachusetts: Favors topic 20 We're left weaker by tax cuts for wealthy & budget cuts: Favors topic 20 Encourage savings with prize linked savings accounts: Favors topic 20

Ben Downing is a Moderate Liberal
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