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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)	Roe v. Wade is law of the land; should not be overturned: Strongly Favors topic 1 Ensure that abortion remains safe and legal: Strongly Favors topic 1 NARAL Endorsement: Has a 100% pro-choice record: Strongly Favors topic 1 Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1 Access safe, legal abortion without restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated Funding abortion avoids discrimination against poor women: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated Constitutional right to terminate pregnancy for health: Strongly Favors topic 1 Judicially liberal, according to CC survey: Favors topic 1 Pro-Planned Parenthood, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 1 Anti-parental notification, according to CC survey: Favors topic 1 NO on banning federal health coverage that includes abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Republicans blocking bills to end pay discrimination: Favors topic 2 Constitutional Amendment for women's equal rights: Strongly Favors topic 2 Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy: Favors topic 2 More funding & services for victims of domestic violence: Strongly Favors topic 2 Enforce against wage discrimination based on gender: Strongly Favors topic 2 Voted YES on private lawsuits for school race discrimination: Favors topic 2 Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2 Stronger enforcement against gender-based pay discrimination: Favors topic 2 YES on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act: Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Voted for Equality Act, expanded Violence Against Women Act: Strongly Favors topic 3 Reverse past & present LGBTQ discrimination in military: Favors topic 3 Endorsement: One of LGBTQ community's strongest advocates: Strongly Favors topic 3 Navajo Equality endorsement; indigenous LGBTQ advocates: 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 Don't elevate gender identity as a protected class: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Let states recognize same sex marriage: Favors topic 3 Pro-transgender bathrooms, according to CC survey: Favors topic 3 YES on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes: Favors topic 3
Opposes topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (+2 points on Social scale)	Graded "A" by Center for Freethought Equality: Strongly Opposes topic 4 We should respect tribal sacred places: Favors topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	Cancer diagnosis shouldn't lead to bankruptcy or home loss: Favors topic 5 Supports $100 million to expand children's healthcare: Favors topic 5 Increased funding for birth control and related services: Strongly Favors topic 5 Co-sponsor of Medicare for All: Strongly Favors topic 5 Universal health care: affordability, accessibility, quality: Strongly Favors topic 5 Establish a public insurance option via healthcare Exchanges: Strongly Favors topic 5 Sponsored merging Alzheimers diagnosis and care benefit: Favors topic 5 Rated GOP can't beat ObamaCare, so they pretend it's a "disaster": Strongly Favors topic 5 Expand the National Health Service Corps: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on repealing the "Prevention and Public Health" slush fund: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: Favors topic 5 YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program: Favors topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	Reject privatization; don't raise the retirement age: 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)	Sponsored extending subsidized federal student loan rates until 2015: Opposes topic 7 Rated No-strings-attached block grant will kill transparency: Opposes topic 7 Rated Oppose private and religious school voucher programs: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on reauthorizing the DC opportunity scholarship program: Strongly Opposes topic 7 YES on $40B for green public schools: Opposes topic 7
Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+2 points on Social scale)	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 Rated Voted NO on requiring limited GMO labeling: Favors topic 8 Rated Deregulating banks encourages discriminatory practices: Opposes topic 8 Rated Keep restrictive rules for predator control in Alaska: Strongly Opposes topic 8 YES on protecting free-roaming horses and burros: Opposes topic 8
Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-3 points on Social scale)	Voted for George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020: Strongly Favors topic 9 End for-profit prisons, cash bail, mandatory minimums: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Hold opioid manufacturers accountable for role in epidemic: Strongly Favors topic 9 Sponsored evidence-based & proven prevention for street gangs: Opposes topic 9 First step: reduce recidivism & mass incarceration: Opposes topic 9 Rated 85% by the NAPO, indicating a tough-on-crime stance: Favors topic 9 Support law enforcement, according to CC survey: Favors topic 9 Let ex-cons apply freely, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 9
Neutral on topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (0 points on Economic scale)	Endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety for gun-sense majority: Strongly Opposes topic 10 No campaign money from NRA, nor other company lobbyists: Opposes topic 10 Extend waiting periods from 3 to 10 days: Favors topic 10 National cross-state standard for concealed carry: Strongly Favors topic 10 Teach kids Eddie Eagle GunSafe's lifesaving message: Favors topic 10 Allow veterans to register unlicensed guns acquired abroad: Favors topic 10 Require background check for every firearm sale and transfer: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Pro-gun rights, according to CC survey: Strongly 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)	Voted against 2017 tax cuts as fiscally irresponsible: Strongly Favors topic 11 Minimum tax rate of 30% for those earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated Raising estate tax to 1990s level means $448B in new revenue: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Rated Reducing tax rates balloons federal deficit & cuts programs: Favors topic 11 Undo tax cuts, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 11 Keep inheritance tax, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+5 points on Social scale)	Comprehensive immigration reform must be fair and just: Favors topic 12 Pathway to citizenship for DREAMers: Strongly Favors topic 12 Supports Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Strongly Favors topic 12 Opposes the Muslim and Refugee Ban: Strongly Favors topic 12 Rated Voted to legalize DREAMer immigrants via military service: Strongly Favors topic 12 Anti-border security, according to CC survey: Favors topic 12 Sponsored bill to disallow religion-based immigration ban: Strongly Favors topic 12
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	Reckless trade wars have raised prices on everyday items: Favors topic 13 Review free trade agreements biennially for rights violation: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Impose tariffs against countries which manipulate currency: Opposes topic 13 $25B more loans from Export-Import Bank: Strongly Favors topic 13 Implement USMCA for improved North American trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 38% by the USAE, indicating support for trade sanctions: Opposes topic 13
Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-3 points on Economic scale)	Congress should reassert authority over foreign policy: Opposes topic 14 Rated Maintain World Bank funding as part of multilateralism: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Voted YES to monitor forced Uyghur labor in Xinjiang: Favors topic 14
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	Key mission to fight for veterans access to health care: Favors topic 15 Rated Funding wars separately is gimmick against sequestration: Opposes topic 15 Rated Let NSF decide research grants, not Congress: Opposes topic 15 Secure the grid, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures: Strongly Favors topic 16 Establish 15 days of early voting in all states: Favors topic 16 No photo IDs to vote; they suppress the vote: Favors topic 16 Establish "My Voice Voucher" small campaign contributions: Strongly Favors topic 16 Public financing of federal campaigns by voter vouchers: Favors topic 16 No separate contribution limits for party activities: Favors topic 16 Statehood for the District of Columbia: Favors topic 16 Automatic voter registration for all citizens: Strongly Favors topic 16 Holiday on election day; revamp for easier voting access: Favors topic 16 Sponsored bill to expand voter registration and voter access: Strongly Favors topic 16
Favors topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (+2 points on Social scale)	War in Iraq was misguided; bring our troops home: Strongly Favors topic 17 Boycott & sanctions against Iran for terrorism & nukes: Opposes topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Rated Voted NO on net neutrality: don't regulate the internet: Favors topic 17 Rated Respect sequestration on defense budget without gimmicks: Favors topic 17 Sponsored bill to remove US forces from Yemen: Strongly Favors topic 17 No military force against Iran without Congress approval: Strongly Favors topic 17 Pro-Israel, according to CC survey: Opposes topic 17 Sponsored resolution to repeal 2002 AUMF against Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17 NO on removing US armed forces from Afghanistan: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on banning armed forces in Libya without Congressional approval: Opposes topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Change approach to minor non-violent marijuana arrests: Opposes topic 18 Invest in and expand renewable energy projects: Favors topic 18 Highest-ranking co-sponsor of the Green New Deal: Strongly Favors topic 18 Shift $ from oil company tax breaks to renewable development: Strongly Favors topic 18 Voted YES on banning offshore oil drilling in Gulf of Mexico: Strongly Favors topic 18 50% clean and carbon free electricity by 2030: Strongly Favors topic 18 Green New Deal: 10-year national mobilization: Favors topic 18 Voted YES to assist rural electric renewable energy: Favors topic 18 NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 NO on opening Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution: Favors topic 18 YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Favors topic 18
Strongly Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+5 points on Social scale)	Co-sponsored federal decriminalization of marijuana bill: Opposes topic 19 Rated B by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Rated Voted NO on additional Drug War funding for synthetic drugs: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-5 points on Economic scale)	Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2016: 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 NO on prioritizing spending in case debt limit is reached: Favors topic 20 YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending: Strongly Favors topic 20

Ben Ray Lujan is a Hard-Core Liberal
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