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OnTheIssuesLogo Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders on VoteMatch

Democratic primary challenger; Independent VT Senator; previously Representative (VT-At-Large)



VoteMatch Responses
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VoteMatch Question & Answer
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Based on these stances:
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Strongly Favors topic 1:
Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right
(+5 points on Social scale)
Women have the right to choose, regardless of income: Strongly Favors topic 1
Lifetime pro-choice record, plus funding for family planning: Strongly Favors topic 1
Advocate for family planning and funding for contraceptives: Favors topic 1
Support pro-life Dems if they replace pro-life Republicans: Favors topic 1
Few or no government limits on abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1
No anti-choice appointments to Supreme Court: Strongly Favors topic 1
Medicare-for-All will protect women's constitutional right: Strongly Favors topic 1
Right to abortion applies to low income women as well: Strongly Favors topic 1
Voted for spending bills with Hyde Amendment, but pro-choice: Favors topic 1
Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record: Strongly Favors topic 1
Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors topic 1
Emergency contraception for rape victims at all hospitals: Favors topic 1
Provide emergency contraception at military facilities: Favors topic 1
Require pharmacies to fulfill contraceptive prescriptions: Favors topic 1
Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1
Access safe, legal abortion without restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 1
Keep federal funding for family planning clinics: Strongly Favors topic 1
CC:Oppose strict Constitutionalist judges: Favors topic 1
CC:Publicly fund abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1
CC:No parental notification for abortions by minors: Favors topic 1
Protect the reproductive rights of women: Strongly Favors topic 1
Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1
Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2:
Legally require hiring women & minorities
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Economic issues take a larger toll on minority groups: Favors topic 2
Equal pay for equal work by women: Strongly Favors topic 2
1964: civil rights activist in Congress on Racial Equality: Strongly Favors topic 2
Black Lives Matter: deal with institutional racism: Favors topic 2
Remove Confederate flag from State Houses: Strongly Favors topic 2
Women's March: never again second-class citizens: Strongly Favors topic 2
1960s U. Chicago Congress of Racial Equality member: Strongly Favors topic 2
Empower Native Americans to make up for abrogated treaties: Strongly Favors topic 2
No ambiguity in condemning white supremacists: Strongly Favors topic 2
Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery: Favors topic 2
Invest in distressed communities as "reparations": Favors topic 2
Supports reparations, but targeted to distressed communities: Strongly Favors topic 2
Busing an option, but integrated community schools are best: Strongly Favors topic 2
1972: wrote fictional "satire" about men oppressing women: Strongly Opposes topic 2
We're the only major country without paid family leave: Strongly Favors topic 2
Accompany minimum wage increase with pay equity for women: Strongly Favors topic 2
Women still earn only 80% of men; minorities earn 63%: Strongly Favors topic 2
End racism in hiring, redlining, & disparate pay: Strongly Favors topic 2
Equal pay for equal work: anything else unacceptable: Strongly Favors topic 2
Sanders supports economic help for blacks, not reparations: Favors topic 2
Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender: Strongly Favors topic 2
Rated 97% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2
Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2
Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy: Favors topic 2
Endorsed as "preferred" by The Feminist Majority indicating pro-women's rights: Strongly 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
Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2
Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2
Stronger enforcement against gender-based pay discrimination: Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3:
Support transgender and LGBTQ+ rights
(+5 points on Social scale)
Never accept racism, sexism, nor homophobia: Strongly Favors topic 3
Vermont implemented ENDA 22 years ago; so should feds: Strongly Favors topic 3
Right to love each other, regardless of sexual orientation: Strongly Favors topic 3
DOMA was homophobic even in 1996: Strongly Favors topic 3
1983: Approved "Gay Rights Day" in Burlington Vermont: Strongly Favors topic 3
LGBTQ values are family values: Strongly 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
ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays: Favors topic 3
Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays: Favors topic 3
Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools: Strongly Favors topic 3
Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools: Strongly Favors topic 3
Let states recognize same sex marriage: Favors topic 3
Strongly Opposes topic 4:
America was founded on Christian values
(+5 points on Social scale)
Rated 7% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4
Religious freedom means no religious registry: Strongly Opposes topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5:
Expand ObamaCare
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Deal with racial issues as part of health care reform: Strongly Favors topic 5
Stand up against healthcare companies' billions in profits: Favors topic 5
Move toward a single-payer system: Strongly Favors topic 5
Voted for ObamaCare; but prefers single-payer system: Strongly Favors topic 5
Civilized societies provide healthcare for the poor: Strongly Favors topic 5
Medicare for all: healthcare is a human right: Strongly Favors topic 5
U.S. is only major country without guaranteed healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5
Healthcare is a fundamental right in a civilized society: Strongly Favors topic 5
We spend more on care than countries with single-payer: Favors topic 5
I helped write ObamaCare; extend it to 29M more uninsured: Strongly Favors topic 5
Medicare for All: insure 29M people beyond ObamaCare: Strongly Favors topic 5
Single payer: Increased taxes offset by insurance cuts: Favors topic 5
For $500 more taxes, everyone gets $5,000 more healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5
ObamaCare alternatives need patient protections: Strongly Favors topic 5
ObamaCare requires insurers to cover you, even at a loss: Strongly Favors topic 5
Medicare should negotiate prices with pharma industry: Favors topic 5
1999: Took Vermonters to Canada for low-cost Rx drugs: Favors topic 5
Real issue is healthcare at all, for rural poor: Strongly Favors topic 5
Don't ignore prescription drug affordability: Favors topic 5
Lack of affordable dental care is part of healthcare crisis: Favors topic 5
Federally-run single-payer program with mental/dental: Strongly Favors topic 5
Mental Health: people need more affordable treatments: Favors topic 5
Don't let Republicans do away with preexisting protection: Strongly Favors topic 5
Negotiate Medicare prices stop outrageous pharma ripoffs: Strongly Favors topic 5
Pharma companies should justify high drug prices: Favors topic 5
Combat Big Pharma's greed on drug prices: Strongly Favors topic 5
Employer-based insurance burdens employers & stifles workers: Strongly Favors topic 5
Mental illness system is in tatters; treat like any illness: Favors topic 5
Medicare-for-all: no more private insurance plans: Strongly Favors topic 5
Single payer will transform health care for the better: Strongly Favors topic 5
Elective procedures can be covered by private insurance: Strongly Favors topic 5
1970s: For socialized medicine, public drug companies owned: Strongly Favors topic 5
Medicare-for-All will lead to stability, not disruption: Strongly Favors topic 5
Canada has figured out single-payer, at half the cost of US: Favors topic 5
Job-based insurance forces people to change providers: Strongly Favors topic 5
People will spend less money on Medicare for All: Strongly Favors topic 5
Medicare for All: higher taxes but lower healthcare costs: Strongly Favors topic 5
Cap annual costs for prescription drugs at $200: Strongly Favors topic 5
We need a simple system, which exists in Canada: Strongly Favors topic 5
Don't privatize the Veterans Administration: Strongly Favors topic 5
MEDS Plan: Cover senior Rx under Medicare: Favors topic 5
Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors topic 5
Keep healthcare mandate, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 5
Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn: Strongly Favors topic 5
Provide for treatment of autism under TRICARE: Favors topic 5
Sponsored bill expanding the National Health Service Corps: Strongly Favors topic 5
Make health care a right, not a privilege: Strongly Favors topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6:
Privatize Social Security
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Despite GOP rhetoric, Social Security is NOT going bankrupt: Opposes topic 6
We must strengthen the social safety net, not weaken it: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Strengthen the social safety net, instead of weakening it: Strongly Opposes topic 6
No cuts; no privatization; even to deal with deficit: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Defend against chained CPI, and expand Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Payroll tax holiday diverts revenue from Trust Fund: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Most successful Federal program in history of our country: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Chairman of the Defend Social Security Caucus: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Lift cap on wealthy: at $250,000 program lasts 58 years: Strongly Opposes topic 6
I helped create the Social Security Caucus: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Apply payroll-tax to income over $250,000: Favors topic 6
Senior poverty AND childhood poverty are increasing: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Changing Social Security disproportionately affects women: Opposes topic 6
Reject proposals for private saving accounts: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Reject privatization; don't raise the retirement age: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Sponsored keeping CPI for benefits instead of lower "Chained CPI": Strongly Opposes topic 6
Rated 100% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7:
Vouchers for school choice
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Quality affordable education, from child care to higher ed: Opposes topic 7
Replace NCLB standardized testing with holistic approach: Opposes topic 7
Vouchers redirect public education dollar to private schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Charter schools ok if held to public school standards: Favors topic 7
Do away with fill-in-the-bubble standardized tests: Opposes topic 7
Education begins before age 4 or 5: Opposes topic 7
Cutting education cuts off our noses to spite our face: Opposes topic 7
Revolution needed in child-care and preschool jobs: Opposes topic 7
No privatization; no vouchers; charters only with standards: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Crucial to invest in pre-K education for our future: Strongly Favors topic 7
Universal free meals in schools: Opposes topic 7
Forgive student loans for both higher ed and trade school: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Save millennials by cancelling student debt: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Pay for free tuition with tax on Wall Street speculation: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Reduce class size to 18 children in grades 1 to 3: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Rated 83% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7
$25B to renovate or repair elementary schools: Opposes topic 7
Sponsored extending subsidized federal student loan rates until 2015: Opposes topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8:
Businesses have a right to pollute
(+5 points on Social scale)
Transform our energy system away from fossil fuel: Strongly Favors topic 8
Advocate of animal welfare and humane treatment: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Protect important watersheds and wildlife areas: Strongly Opposes topic 8
GMOs are ok, but only with required labeling: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Very large farms raise questions about animal cruelty: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Our kids will ask why we made planet less habitable: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Leave a planet to our kids that is healthy & habitable: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Opposes new nuclear power plant development: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Prohibits commercial logging on Federal public lands: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Rated 90% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Promote conservation of rare felids & canids: Strongly 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
Require labeling genetically engineered food: Opposes topic 8
Rated Deregulating banks encourages discriminatory practices: Opposes topic 8
Rated Keep restrictive rules for predator control in Alaska: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Strongly Opposes topic 9:
Stricter punishment reduces crime
(+5 points on Social scale)
Blacks are disproportionately imprisoned & killed by police: Opposes topic 9
Reinstate voting rights to address school-to-prison pipeline: Strongly Opposes topic 9
America has more people in jail than any country on earth: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Police officers should not be shooting unarmed people: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Jobs and education, not jails and incarceration: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Involve U.S. Justice Dept. in every police killing: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Government should not be part of the death penalty: Strongly Opposes topic 9
By 2020, I pledge to have fewer people in jail than China: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Crime bill had good parts (VAWA) & bad parts (death penalty): Opposes topic 9
How justice system treats blacks is a national disgrace: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Black Lives Matter points out police brutality: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Real criminal justice/police reform also combats racism: Strongly Opposes topic 9
New model for police training de-escalating lethal force: Strongly Opposes topic 9
End the death penalty, like all other advanced countries: Strongly Opposes topic 9
End mass incarceration & reform criminal justice: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Bail reform: 65% of county & city inmates are "unconvicted": Opposes topic 9
Police forces should reflect diversity of their communities: Strongly Opposes topic 9
OpEd: Ambiguous record on 1994 crime bill: Favors topic 9
Eliminate private prisons: Strongly Opposes topic 9
I support police reform; not "defunding the police": Opposes topic 9
Violent white nationalists should be treated as terrorists: Favors topic 9
Rated 78% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes: Strongly 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
First step: reduce recidivism & mass incarceration: Opposes topic 9
Rated 73% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues: Neutral on topic 9
Opposes topic 10:
Absolute right to gun ownership
(-3 points on Economic scale)
Mixed approach to gun control vs. gun rights: Opposes topic 10
I'm pro-hunting, but no one needs an AK-47 to hunt: Favors topic 10
Instant background checks: no guns for criminals or unstable: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Ban semiautomatic guns & gun show loophole: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Deal federally with straw-man gun purchasers: Favors topic 10
Do more than reverse gun manufacturer immunity: Strongly Opposes topic 10
OpEd: pro-gun votes in line with VT's political norms: Favors topic 10
Common sense, incremental gun control plan: Opposes topic 10
I have shown courage against NRA on gun issues: Opposes topic 10
People have the right to buy guns, with sensible regulations: Opposes topic 10
Gun legislation must work for both rural & urban Americans: Neutral on topic 10
Ok to sue gun manufacturers if they sell for misuse: Opposes topic 10
Intervene with mental illness, to prevent mass shootings: Opposes topic 10
To pass gun controls, Congress needs guts to stand up to NRA: Strongly Opposes topic 10
We aren't divided on guns: just sick & tired of gun violence: Strongly Favors topic 10
Ban assault weapons; automatic background checks: Strongly Favors topic 10
Applaud students taking action to prevent school shootings: Strongly Opposes topic 10
2013: state decisions on guns; 2019: federal legislation: Favors topic 10
Buy back assault weapons, and ban their sale: Opposes topic 10
Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Restrict right to bear arms, according to CC survey: Opposes topic 10
Sponsored bill for background checks for private transfers: Strongly Favors topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 11:
Higher taxes on the wealthy
(-5 points on Economic scale)
People are sick and tired of growth of wealth inequality: Strongly Favors topic 11
Income inequality is not moral and is not acceptable: Strongly Favors topic 11
Fix estate tax so mega-rich pay their fair share: Strongly Favors topic 11
Only the top 2/10 of 1% pay the estate tax: Strongly Favors topic 11
Middle class needs tax breaks; top 1% does not: Strongly Favors topic 11
Disallow stashing corporate profits overseas to avoid taxes: Strongly Favors topic 11
45% estate tax only for estates over $3.5 million: Strongly Favors topic 11
Democratic socialism means working for everyone, not just 1%: Strongly Favors topic 11
Tax CEOs making more than 50 times median worker pay: Strongly Favors topic 11
Government should address income inequality, not support it: Strongly Favors topic 11
Real tax reform based on ability to pay: Strongly Favors topic 11
We need a progressive tax system based on ability to pay: Strongly Favors topic 11
Double the capital gains tax for the wealthiest 2%: Strongly Favors topic 11
Raise top marginal income tax rate from 39% to over 50%: Strongly Favors topic 11
Lower cutoff for estate tax from $5.4M to $3.5M: Strongly Favors topic 11
Wealthiest will pay more but not as much as under Eisenhower: Strongly Favors topic 11
Increase tax on wealthy; close loopholes for corporations: Strongly Favors topic 11
Tax increases may affect more than top 1%: Strongly Favors topic 11
Increase estate tax rates on inheritances over $3.5M: Strongly Favors topic 11
End loophole that allows zero taxes via Cayman Islands: Strongly Favors topic 11
Raise funds in a progressive way, for ObamaCare & everything: Strongly Favors topic 11
1980s: progressive property tax, plus Meals & Rooms tax: Strongly Favors topic 11
Tax code is rigged to favor top 2% of billionaires: Strongly Favors topic 11
0.1% tax on Wall Street speculation: Strongly Favors topic 11
Replace carried-interest loophole with progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11
Raise income tax & fix estate tax: hardly Marxist ideas: Strongly Favors topic 11
Close loopholes that let wealthy avoid taxes: Strongly Favors topic 11
Top rate of 77% for estates over $1 billion: Strongly Favors topic 11
1974: 100% tax over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 11
Medicare-for-All raises taxes on middle class, but net gain: Strongly Favors topic 11
Wealth tax of 8% on fortunes over $10 billion: Strongly Favors topic 11
American People's Dividend: Give $300 to every person: Favors topic 11
Rated 28% 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
Minimum tax rate of 30% for those earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 11
Rated Reducing tax rates balloons federal deficit & cuts programs: Favors topic 11
CC:Reverse federal income tax cuts: Favors topic 11
CC:Keep the inhertiance tax: Strongly Favors topic 11
Make employee educational assistance tax-deductible: Favors topic 11
Reduce the concentration of wealth & wage inequality: Favors topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12:
Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens
(+5 points on Social scale)
Healthcare as a human right includes immigrants: Favors topic 12
Offer path to citizenship; waive deportation for DREAMers: Strongly Favors topic 12
English-Only, based in xenophobia, hurts legal immigrants: Favors topic 12
Comprehensive reform with no border fence & no guest workers: Strongly Favors topic 12
Secure borders without building a fence: Strongly Opposes topic 12
2007: No comprehensive reform: guest workers are semi-slaves: Opposes topic 12
Immigrant labor should be treated as valuable, but are not: Favors topic 12
Open borders for guest workers pushes down U.S. worker wages: Neutral on topic 12
Disgraceful to shunt our workers into the shadows: Strongly Favors topic 12
Base policy on uniting families, not dividing families: Favors topic 12
2007 immigration bill was a bad bill, opposed by many: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Support Obama's reforms on DAPA and DACA: Favors topic 12
I support children entering for asylum from war-torn areas: Strongly Favors topic 12
Include dairy in H2A visas (temporary agricultural workers): Favors topic 12
Provide legal status to the 1.8 million DREAMers: Strongly Favors topic 12
The Great Wall was ok in 1600s; not so smart today: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Undocumented immigrants commit fewer crimes than citizens: Favors topic 12
Comprehensive reform instead of an emergency wall: Strongly Favors topic 12
Wall is stupid, but ok as part of deal on DACA: Strongly Favors topic 12
Restructure ICE; don't necessarily abolish it: Strongly Favors topic 12
Give undocumented workers legal protections: Favors topic 12
Real national emergency is creating path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12
Comprehensive immigration reform; stop attacking allies: Strongly Favors topic 12
We need humane immigration policy, not demonization: Strongly Favors topic 12
Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration: Strongly Favors topic 12
Rated 8% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12
Provide lawyers and evidence for children being deported: Favors topic 12
Opposes more border security, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 12
Terminate national emergency at the Southern border: Favors topic 12
Sponsored bill to disallow religion-based immigration ban: Strongly Favors topic 12
Strongly Opposes topic 13:
Support & expand free trade
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Promote democracy in China, but not at expense of US workers: Opposes topic 13
Stop TPP, the Trans-Pacific Partnership: Strongly Opposes topic 13
End disastrous NAFTA, CAFTA, and PNTR with China: Strongly Opposes topic 13
NAFTA was a sellout to corporate America: Strongly Opposes topic 13
NAFTA, GATT, and MFN for China must be repealed: Strongly Opposes topic 13
China trade has led to loss of 3M American jobs so far: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Priority of trade deals should be helping American workers: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Wrong, wrong, wrong that trade deals create jobs here: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Does not support ANY free trade agreements: Strongly Opposes topic 13
How can we compete against people who make 23 cents an hour?: Strongly Opposes topic 13
48,000 US factories shut down under Bush due to trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Don't believe that unfettered trade creates U.S. jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 13
I will take on corporations that take their jobs to China: Opposes topic 13
I strongly opposed NAFTA and DOMA from their inception: Strongly Opposes topic 13
American jobs must no longer be our number one export: Opposes topic 13
Real problem with trade is jobs shipped overseas: Opposes topic 13
Expand "Buy American" and "Buy Local" as government policy: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Trade policies should focus on U.S. jobs & lifting the poor: Opposes topic 13
Trump's actions on trade destabilizing world economy: Favors topic 13
Americans have to compete with people making pennies an hour: Opposes topic 13
Best dairy policy is USDA board's supply management: Opposes topic 13
Since NAFTA, Mexican undocumented immigration up 185%: Opposes topic 13
Rated 33% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues: Neutral on topic 13
Review free trade agreements biennially for rights violation: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Impose tariffs against countries which manipulate currency: Opposes topic 13
Fight Chinese predatory trade practices on car tires: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Rated Voted FOR reauthorizing Ex-Im Bank: Strongly Favors topic 13
Rated Oppose USMCA until more environmental & job protections: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Rated 13% by the USAE, indicating support for trade sanctions: Opposes topic 13
Ban imports from Xinjiang made by Uyghur forced labor: Opposes topic 13
No MFN for China; condition trade on human rights: Neutral on topic 13
Strongly Opposes topic 14:
Stay away from the UN & Globalism
(-5 points on Economic scale)
War is a local issue because local youngsters fight and die: Opposes topic 14
Not policeman of the world; focus on ISIS first: Strongly Opposes topic 14
I do not believe in unilateral action against terrorism: Strongly Opposes topic 14
US should be more selective about using drone strikes: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Key doctrine: We can't do it alone; must work in coalition: Strongly Opposes topic 14
America stands for hope; we should take Syrian refugees: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Need to look at consequences of removing dictators: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Beef up NATO against Russian aggression: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Ending embargo with Cuba is right step: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Gaza is humanitarian disaster; Israelis shouldn't over-react: Strongly Opposes topic 14
1991: We give $7B to feudalistic dictatorships in Mideast: Opposes topic 14
UN is bureaucratic, but does enormously important work: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Development aid isn't charity; it avoids military later: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Must support human rights, even with trading partners: Favors topic 14
Cuba: Teaching people to read and write is a good thing: Strongly Opposes topic 14
China is authoritarian but eliminated extreme poverty: Strongly Opposes topic 14
It does us no good to NOT talk to adversaries: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Global War on Terror has undermined our moral standards: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Refugee vetting mechanisms we have now are very, very strong: Opposes topic 14
Greatness about how we treat most vulnerable, not wealth: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Our revolution will transform America: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Democratic socialism opposes concentration of wealth & power: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Diplomacy and coalition-building before unilateral action: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Iraq War discredited vision of benevolent global hegemony: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Require Code of Conduct for US corporations abroad: Opposes topic 14
Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror: Opposes topic 14
Allow travel between the United States and Cuba: Opposes topic 14
Strongly Opposes topic 15:
Peace through Strength
(+5 points on Social scale)
Stop $31M Pentagon payments for corporate mergers: Strongly Opposes topic 15
F-35 fighter planes OK at Burlington Airport: Favors topic 15
Cut defense by $18B to pay for 55% of all college tuition: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Oppose outrageous boost in military expenditures: Strongly Opposes topic 15
1991: Billions should improve human life, not destroy it: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Reduce nuclear budget by $100B; end proliferation worldwide: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Costs of endless war detract from citizens' well-being: Strongly Opposes topic 15
We need a strong military, but stop wasting tens of billions: Opposes topic 15
We spend billions on nuclear weapons & only 10% on terrorism: Strongly Opposes topic 15
War in Iraq will cost us $3 trillion including veteran care: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Too much spent on Cold War; and too little spent on ISIS: Neutral on topic 15
Spending on military means fewer resources for people: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Care for our veterans, even if we disagree about wars: Favors topic 15
Undertake comprehensive audit of Department of Defense: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Cut military spending to pay for fixing climate change: Opposes topic 15
Cut military spending, except F-35 at Vermont air base: Strongly Opposes topic 15
More terrorists after spending trillions on War on Terror: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Iran not an emergency; no military action without Congress: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11: Favors topic 15
Non-proliferation includes disposing of nuclear materials: Opposes topic 15
Rated Funding wars separately is gimmick against sequestration: Opposes topic 15
Exempt Veterans Affairs from federal hiring freeze: Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16:
Make voter registration easier
(+5 points on Social scale)
Voter ID laws marginalize communities of color: Strongly Favors topic 16
Even prisoners should still have right to vote: Strongly Favors topic 16
Congressional representation for D.C. residents: Strongly Favors topic 16
Felons should be allowed to vote while incarcerated: Strongly Favors topic 16
Binding referendum on Guam's political status: Strongly Favors topic 16
Binding referendum on Puerto Rico statehood vs. independence: Strongly Favors topic 16
Citizens United opens up the road to oligarchy: Strongly Favors topic 16
Underclass see the political deck stacked; and don't vote: Strongly Favors topic 16
Constitutional amendment to reverse Citizen United ruling: Strongly Favors topic 16
Low-income workers don't vote because it's irrelevant: Strongly Favors topic 16
Same-day automatic voter registration & 3-day voting: Strongly Favors topic 16
Publicly fund elections, or small individual contributions: Strongly Favors topic 16
Public funding of elections to promote even playing field: Strongly Favors topic 16
We now have government of, by, and for the billionaires: Favors topic 16
Reinforce voting rights to end voter suppression: Strongly Favors topic 16
Citizens United means billionaires donate for THEIR interest: Strongly Favors topic 16
America struggles between organized people & organized money: Favors topic 16
Super-PACs pervert the democratic process: Strongly Favors topic 16
Establishment candidates are beholden to big money: Strongly Favors topic 16
GOP loves voter suppression because it lets them win: Strongly Favors topic 16
Campaign financing is corrupt; no Super PAC for me: Favors topic 16
Ruling class wants a lack of political consciousness: Strongly Favors topic 16
SuperPACs: manifestation of everything wrong with politics: Strongly Favors topic 16
Participation in politics as easy and convenient as possible: Strongly Favors topic 16
Automatic voter registration at age 18: Strongly Favors topic 16
Russian cyber-attacks threaten integrity of US elections: Strongly Favors topic 16
Sovereign rights & voting rights for Native Americans: Strongly Favors topic 16
Automatic voter registration; holiday for Election Day: Strongly Favors topic 16
Unity Reform Commission: reduce power of superdelegates: Favors topic 16
Mainstream media focuses on gossip, lies, & personality: Favors topic 16
End voter suppression; make it easier to vote: Strongly Favors topic 16
Hard to defend the Electoral College: Favors topic 16
Mandate paper ballots: Favors topic 16
Enforce simple rule: every over 18 has the right to vote: Strongly Favors topic 16
Independent of Our Revolution, group Sanders launched: Favors topic 16
I do not have a Super PAC nor raise money from billionaires: Favors topic 16
Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures: Strongly Favors topic 16
Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements: Favors topic 16
Corporate political spending is not free speech: Strongly Favors topic 16
Statehood for the District of Columbia: Favors topic 16
Public financing of federal campaigns by voter vouchers: Favors topic 16
Automatic voter registration for all citizens: Strongly Favors topic 16
Sponsored bill to expand voter registration and voter access: Strongly Favors topic 16
Favors topic 17:
Stay out of foreign wars
(+2 points on Social scale)
Focus on domestic needs instead of international conflict: Strongly Favors topic 17
Begrudgingly supports NATO, but no eastward expansion: Favors topic 17
We have to negotiate with others, even Iran: Favors topic 17
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar should take charge in Syria: Favors topic 17
Easy to overthrow a dictator but hard to control aftermath: Opposes topic 17
Move forward with Iran with relations the long-term goal: Favors topic 17
Promote democracy, but don't use military for regime change: Strongly Favors topic 17
Even-handed Mideast policy; open to moving Jerusalem embassy: Opposes topic 17
Address source of problem with Mexico & Northern Triangle: Strongly Opposes topic 17
Talk to adversaries but we need more than photo ops: Opposes topic 17
Support for Israel & peace doesn't include racist government: Strongly Opposes topic 17
Signed letter opposing Israeli annexation of territories: Strongly Opposes topic 17
Rid our planet of this barbarous organization called ISIS: Opposes topic 17
1983 war against Nicaragua was illegal and immoral: Favors topic 17
1990: Opposed authorizing all-out war in Kuwait with Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17
Stop ISIS, but only with an international & Arab coalition: Opposes topic 17
Iraq war destabilized Mideast; stay out of Mideast quagmire: Strongly Favors topic 17
Iran nuke deal is victory for diplomacy over saber-rattling: Strongly Favors topic 17
Voted for Afghan War, to capture Osama bin Laden: Opposes topic 17
Syria is a quagmire within a quagmire; don't get involved: Strongly Favors topic 17
Invasion of Iraq led to ISIS; Hillary voted to invade: Strongly Favors topic 17
Form Muslim-led coalition to defeat ISIS: Favors topic 17
Keep U.S. troops on the ground in Afghanistan: Opposes topic 17
End perpetual warfare in the quagmire of the Middle East: Strongly Favors topic 17
I voted against 1st Gulf War, which led to 2nd Gulf War: Strongly Favors topic 17
Middle Eastern countries must contribute to fight ISIS: Favors topic 17
Iraq war led to ISIS creation, as I predicted would happen: Strongly Favors topic 17
1990: Tried to stop Bush's driving Saddam out of Kuwait: Strongly Favors topic 17
Iraq War: worst foreign policy blunder in modern history: Strongly Favors topic 17
Economic sanctions could have driven Saddam out of Kuwait: Strongly Favors topic 17
Withdraw US support for Saudi-led war in Yemen: Strongly Favors topic 17
Our Saudi allies give US-made weapons to Al Qaeda in Yemen: Favors topic 17
End Syrian conflict; pull out U.S. troops: Strongly Favors topic 17
1990s Iraq invasion laid groundwork for more wars in region: Strongly Favors topic 17
Protect Iranian nuke deal; without it, Iran is unlimited: Strongly Favors topic 17
Why would anyone trust US if we abrogated Iran nuke treaty?: Strongly Favors topic 17
Used War Powers Act to get US out of Saudi-Yemen war: Strongly Favors topic 17
No support of Saudis against Iran; it's a never-ending war: Favors topic 17
US shouldn't favor Saudis or Iran; broker diplomatic answer: Strongly Opposes topic 17
Led bipartisan War Powers resolution against Yemen war: Strongly Favors topic 17
Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine: Strongly Favors topic 17
CC:Keep alliance with Israel: Opposes topic 17
Require Congress' approval before military action in Iran: Favors topic 17
No military force against Iran without Congress approval: Strongly Favors topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18:
Prioritize green energy
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Weatherize millions of homes and buildings: Strongly Favors topic 18
Transform to sustainable system & away from fossil fuels: Strongly Favors topic 18
Charge companies for carbon emissions; then fund renewables: Strongly Favors topic 18
Gas tax increases are regressive: Strongly Opposes topic 18
Combat climate skeptics with overwhelming evidence: Strongly Favors topic 18
Keystone pipeline transports the dirtiest fossil fuel: Favors topic 18
Climate change is a moral issue: tax on carbon: Strongly Favors topic 18
Climate change partly causes rise of terrorist groups: Favors topic 18
Opposed Keystone Pipeline from day one: Strongly Favors topic 18
End fracking in the US: Strongly Favors topic 18
I oppose fracking; anyone who says it is safe is wrong: Strongly Opposes topic 18
Pushed energy efficiency block grants: Strongly Favors topic 18
Cut carbon 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050: Strongly Favors topic 18
Job training for transition to green energy: Strongly Favors topic 18
Massive and sustained investment in sustainable energy: Strongly Favors topic 18
No more debate on climate change; it's here & costs $100Bs: Strongly Favors topic 18
We have 12 years to transform to sustainable energy: Strongly Favors topic 18
Tax carbon, methane, and other greenhouse gases: Strongly Favors topic 18
Climate change is issue for entire international community: Strongly Favors topic 18
Rising oceans creating world's first "climate refugees": Strongly Favors topic 18
Perfect score on "350 Action's 2020 Climate Test": Strongly Favors topic 18
End fossil fuel; move toward wind and solar: Strongly Favors topic 18
Co-sponsor of Green New Deal: Strongly Favors topic 18
Not enough to beat Trump; must beat fossil fuel industry: Strongly Favors topic 18
Keep US in Paris Climate Agreement & increase targets: Strongly Favors topic 18
Need to be fervent if we care about our children: Strongly Favors topic 18
Would reinstate LED lightbulb rule, encourage use: Strongly Favors topic 18
Climate change will lead to international security crises: Strongly Favors topic 18
Climate change lays groundwork for mass migration: Favors topic 18
Ain't nobody in Congress more pro-worker than I am: Strongly Favors topic 18
Preserve Alaska's ANWR instead of drilling it: Favors topic 18
Establish 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
Green New Deal: 10-year national mobilization: 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
Strongly Opposes topic 19:
Marijuana is a gateway drug
(+5 points on Social scale)
Whites & blacks smoke pot equally, but blacks go to jail: Strongly Opposes topic 19
War on drugs is a failed policy; treatment over punishment: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Decriminalize marijuana and study recreational legalization: Opposes topic 19
Take marijuana out of the controlled substances list: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Treat addiction as a disease, not a crime: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Pharmaceutical companies are responsible for opioid epidemic: Opposes topic 19
We must end the "War on drugs": Opposes topic 19
Opioid treatment instead of locking them up: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Why is marijuana treated legally equal to heroin?: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Racist & failed war on drugs targets people of color: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Marijuana Justice Act: decriminalize pot & expunge records: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Co-sponsored federal legalization of marijuana: Strongly Favors topic 19
Remove cocaine sentencing disparities: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Opioid manufacturers profited & knew their products killed: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Rated A+ by NORML: 1st to call to end marijuana prohibition: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Legalize medical marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Exclude industrial hemp from definition of marijuana: Opposes topic 19
Exempt industrial hemp from marijuana laws: Opposes topic 19
Rated A+ by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Immunity for banks offering services to marijuana businesses: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Criminalize imports of opioid precursors: Favors topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20:
Stimulus better than market-led recovery
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Economic justice: Address root causes of economic inequality: Strongly Favors topic 20
Restructure debt so Puerto Rico can rebuild: Strongly Favors topic 20
Break up the Wall Street giants; they can't be reformed: Strongly Opposes topic 20
If a bank is too big to fail, it is too big to exist: Strongly Opposes topic 20
Defend farmers & consumers from corporate middlemen: Strongly Favors topic 20
Break up big agriculture corporations: Strongly Favors topic 20
1976: Relocating businesses must pay; for public ownership: Strongly Favors topic 20
Wrong to give company exclusive rights to drug treatment: Strongly Favors topic 20
Raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour: Strongly Favors topic 20
Obama rebuilt jobs; but middle class is disappearing: Strongly Favors topic 20
Capital gains & dividend tax cuts are giveaways to the rich: Favors topic 20
Puerto Rico nearly bankrupt after Great Recession: Strongly Favors topic 20
Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business: Favors topic 20
Rated 86% by UFCW, indicating an anti-management/pro-labor record: Favors topic 20
Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2016: Favors topic 20
CC:No Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment: Favors topic 20
Voted YES on $900 billion COVID relief package: Favors topic 20
$1.9 trillion ARPA bill for COVID relief: Favors topic 20

Bernie Sanders is a Hard-Core Liberal
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Other candidates' VoteMatch: Bernie Sanders on the issues:
2024 Presidential Republican Primary Candidates:
Former Pres.Donald Trump (R nominee)
Ohio Senator J.D. Vance (VP nominee)
Ryan Binkley (R-TX)
Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND)
Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ)
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL)
Larry Elder (R-CA;withdrew)
Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC)
Rep. Will Hurd (R-FL;withdrew)
Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR)
Perry Johnson (R-IL)
Mayor Steve Laffey (R-RI)
Former V.P.Mike Pence (R-IN;withdrew)
Vivek Ramaswamy (R-OH)
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC)
Secy. Corey Stapleton (R-MT)
Mayor Francis Suarez (R-FL;withdrew)

2024 Democratic and 3rd-party primary candidates:
V.P.Kamala Harris (D nominee)
MN Gov Tim Walz (VP nominee)
Pres. Joe Biden (D-DE,retiring)
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (I-NY)
Chase Oliver (L-GA)
Rep.Dean Phillips (D-MN)
Jill Stein (Green)
Cornel West (Green Party)
Kanye West (Birthday Party)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)

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Corporations
Crime
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Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families/Children
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Infrastructure/Technology
Jobs
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
War/Iraq/Mideast
Welfare/Poverty

About Bernie Sanders:
Profile
Wikipedia
Ballotpedia

Page last updated: Aug 06, 2024; copyright 1999-2022 Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org