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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 Opposes topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (-5 points on Social scale)	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 Bar funding for abortion under federal Obamacare plans: Opposes topic 1 Ban abortions for sex selection or race selection: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Prohibit federal funding for abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Prohibiting forced abortions by UN Population Fund: Opposes topic 1 No taxpayer funding of abortions via ObamaCare: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Ban abortion after 20 weeks, except for maternal life: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Include pre-born human beings in 14th Amendment protection: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Sponsored bill to protect infant survivors of abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Grant the pre-born equal protection under 14th Amendment: Opposes topic 1 YES on banning federal health coverage that includes abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 YES on barring transporting minors to get an abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 YES on banning partial-birth abortions: Opposes topic 1 YES on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad: Opposes topic 1 YES on Unknown roll call for 2001-89: Opposes topic 1 YES on funding for health providers who don't provide abortion info: Opposes topic 1 YES on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life: Strongly Opposes topic 1 YES on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime: Opposes topic 1 YES on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions: Strongly Opposes topic 1 NO on allowing human embryonic stem cell research: Opposes topic 1 NO on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Opposes topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender: Strongly Favors topic 2 Issue a commemorative postage stamp of Rosa Parks: Favors topic 2 Rated 64% by NAACP, indicating a mixed record on affirmative-action: Neutral on topic 2 Constitutional Amendment for women's equal rights: Strongly Favors topic 2 Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy: Favors topic 2 Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2 Stronger enforcement against gender-based pay discrimination: Favors topic 2 YES on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act: Favors topic 2 NO on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions: Favors topic 2 YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges: Strongly Favors topic 2
Strongly Opposes topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (-5 points on Social scale)	Allow transgender people in the military: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Rated 25% by the HRC, indicating a mixed record on gay rights: Neutral on topic 3 Amend Constitution to define traditional marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Don't elevate gender identity as a protected class: Strongly Opposes topic 3 YES on banning gay adoptions in DC: Opposes topic 3 YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 YES on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman: Strongly Opposes topic 3 YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation: Strongly Favors topic 3 NO on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes: Opposes topic 3
Favors topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (-3 points on Social scale)	Supports anti-flag desecration amendment: Favors topic 4 Supports requiring schools to allow prayer: Favors topic 4 Rated 58% by the Christian Coalition: mixed voting record on Family Values: Neutral on topic 4 Supports a Constitutional Amendment for school prayer: Strongly Favors topic 4 YES on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer: Strongly Favors topic 4 NO on responsible fatherhood via faith-based organizations: Opposes topic 4 NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks: Strongly Opposes topic 4 YES on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror: Strongly Favors topic 4 YES on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration: Favors topic 4 YES on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance: Favors topic 4 NO on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance: Favors topic 4
Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-3 points on Economic scale)	Better and immediate funding for Medicare & Medicaid: Favors topic 5 Rated 44% by APHA, indicating a mixed record on public health issues: Neutral on topic 5 Repeal ObamaCare reporting requirements for small business: Opposes topic 5 Sponsored merging Alzheimers diagnosis and care benefit: Favors topic 5 Religious exemption from ObamaCare individual mandate: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Rated GOP can't beat ObamaCare, so they pretend it's a "disaster": Strongly Favors topic 5 Expand medical savings accounts for employers & individuals: Opposes topic 5 Provide for treatment of autism under TRICARE: Favors topic 5 YES on giving mental health full equity with physical health: Favors topic 5 YES on Veto override: Extend SCHIP to cover 6M more kids: Strongly Favors topic 5 YES on repealing the "Prevention and Public Health" slush fund: Strongly Opposes topic 5 NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: Favors topic 5 NO on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts: Favors topic 5 YES on subsidizing private insurance for Medicare Rx drug coverage: Opposes topic 5 YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs: Favors topic 5 YES on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits: Opposes topic 5 YES on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients: Opposes topic 5 NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay: Strongly Favors 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 NO on regulating tobacco as a drug: Opposes topic 5
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+2 points on Economic scale)	Rated 20% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record: Strongly Favors topic 6 Rated 66% by ARA, indicating a mixed record on senior issues: Neutral on topic 6 YES on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox: Opposes topic 6 NO on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits: Opposes topic 6 YES on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable: Favors topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-5 points on Economic scale)	Rated 100% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly 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 NO on vouchers for private & parochial schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools: Opposes topic 7 YES on $40B for green public schools: Opposes topic 7
Favors topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (-3 points on Social scale)	Rated 20% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes: Strongly Favors topic 8 Stop considering manure as pollutant or hazardous: Favors topic 8 Sponsored no permits for legal pesticide runoff into lakes & streams: Strongly Favors topic 8 No EPA permits required for forest road runoff: Strongly Favors topic 8 Allow importing ivory from controlled sources: Favors topic 8 No EPA expansion of regulated waters: Favors topic 8 Voted YES to require GMO labeling: Opposes topic 8 Regulating 15 more contaminants under Clean Water Act: Strongly Opposes topic 8 YES on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species: Strongly Favors topic 8 YES on environmental education grants for outdoor experiences: Opposes topic 8 NO on protecting free-roaming horses and burros: Favors topic 8
Strongly Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-5 points on Social scale)	Rated 22% by CURE, indicating anti-rehabilitation crime votes: Strongly Favors topic 9 Require DNA testing for all federal executions: Opposes topic 9 Increase penalties for child sexual slavery: Strongly Favors topic 9 More prison cells; more truth in sentencing: Strongly Favors topic 9 Rated 69% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues: Neutral on topic 9 NO on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment: Strongly Favors 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 prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime: Favors topic 9 NO on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons.: Strongly Favors topic 9 YES on expanding services for offenders' re-entry into society: Opposes topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	No lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Favors topic 10 Rated A+ by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record: Strongly 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 Loosen restrictions on interstate gun purchases: Strongly Favors topic 10 Allow veterans to register unlicensed guns acquired abroad: Favors topic 10 Rated Voted NO on background check for every firearm sale: Favors topic 10 Support tradition of hunting on wildlife refuges: Strongly Favors topic 10 Individual right to self-defense at home and as self-defense: Strongly Favors topic 10 Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC: Strongly Favors topic 10 NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1: Strongly Opposes topic 10 YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers: Strongly Favors topic 10
Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-3 points on Economic scale)	Abolish IRS--replace income tax with national sales tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Rated 33% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated 50% by CTJ, indicating a mixed record on progressive taxation: Neutral on topic 11 Death Tax is a pernicious double tax: Strongly Favors topic 11 Make employee educational assistance tax-deductible: Favors topic 11 NO on eliminating the "marriage penalty": Favors topic 11 YES on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business: Opposes topic 11 NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years: Favors topic 11 NO on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years: Favors topic 11 NO on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax"): Favors topic 11 NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on providing tax relief and simplification: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on extending AMT exemptions to avoid hitting middle-income: Opposes topic 11
Opposes topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (-3 points on Social scale)	Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration: Strongly Favors topic 12 Rated 83% by USBC, indicating a sealed-border stance: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Rated Voted to legalize DREAMer immigrants via military service: Strongly Favors topic 12 Declare English as the official language of the US: Opposes topic 12 Declared English the official language of the US: Opposes topic 12 NO on more immigrant visas for skilled workers: Opposes topic 12 YES on extending Immigrant Residency rules: Favors topic 12 NO on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on preventing tipping off Mexicans about Minuteman Project: Strongly Opposes topic 12 YES on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Strongly Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-5 points on Economic scale)	Rated 31% by CATO, indicating a pro-fair trade voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Review free trade agreements biennially for rights violation: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Impose tariffs against countries which manipulate currency: Opposes topic 13 Sponsored imposing import fee on countries with undervalued currency: Opposes topic 13 $25B more loans from Export-Import Bank: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 50% by the USAE, indicating a mixed record on trade: Neutral on topic 13 NO on 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China: Strongly Opposes topic 13 YES on withdrawing from the WTO: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on implementing US-Singapore free trade agreement: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on implementing free trade agreement with Chile: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on implementing US-Australia Free Trade Agreement: Opposes topic 13 YES on end offshore tax havens and promote small business: Opposes topic 13 NO on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13 YES on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalization: Opposes topic 13 NO on promoting free trade with Peru: Opposes topic 13
Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-3 points on Economic scale)	Condemn China's organ harvesting from Falun Gong prisoners: Opposes topic 14 Allow travel between the United States and Cuba: Opposes topic 14 YES on Veto override: Congressional oversight of CIA interrogations: Opposes topic 14 YES on requiring FISA warrants for wiretaps in US, but not abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on withholding $244M in UN Back Payments until US seat restored: Strongly Favors topic 14 NO on reforming the UN by restricting US funding: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight: Favors 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)	Rated 33% by SANE, indicating a mixed record on military issues: Neutral on topic 15 Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11: Favors topic 15 YES on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill: Favors topic 15 YES on deploying SDI: Favors topic 15 YES on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on continuing military recruitment on college campuses: Favors topic 15 YES on restricting no-bid defense contracts: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+2 points on Social scale)	Supports Shays-Meehan Campaign Finance Reform: Favors topic 16 Ban stock trading based on Congressional insider knowledge: Strongly Favors topic 16 Holiday on election day; revamp for easier voting access: Favors topic 16 Require debates for recipients of public campaign financing: Strongly Favors topic 16 Repeal automatic Congressional pay raises: Favors topic 16 NO on banning soft money and issue ads: Opposes topic 16 NO on banning soft money donations to national political parties: Opposes topic 16 NO on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions: Opposes topic 16 NO on restricting independent grassroots political committees: Favors topic 16 YES on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations: Strongly Favors topic 16
Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-3 points on Social scale)	Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine: Strongly Favors topic 17 No military force against Iran without Congress approval: 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 YES on authorizing military force in Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 YES on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days: Strongly Opposes topic 17 YES on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq: Favors topic 17
Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-3 points on Economic scale)	Balance fossil fuels and viable renewable energy: Favors topic 18 Preserve Alaska's ANWR instead of drilling it: Favors topic 18 Tax credit for gas stations providing 85% ethanol fuel: Favors topic 18 Rated 50% by CAF, indicating a mixed record on energy independence: Neutral on topic 18 Require 80% fuel-choice vehicles by 2018: Strongly Favors topic 18 Extend through 2016 the renewable energy tax credit: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated Drill for oil & gas in offshore OCS & Eastern Gulf of Mexico: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18 Sponsored bill promoting agricultural renewable fuels: Favors topic 18 YES on tax incentives for renewable energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Opposes topic 18 YES on opening Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on authorizing construction of new oil refineries: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore: Strongly Opposes topic 18 YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on investing in homegrown biofuel: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on criminalizing oil cartels like OPEC: Favors topic 18 YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets: Favors topic 18 YES on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution: Favors topic 18 NO on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Opposes topic 18
Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+2 points on Social scale)	Rated -30 by NORML, indicating a "hard-on-drugs" stance: Strongly Favors topic 19 Exclude industrial hemp from definition of marijuana: Opposes topic 19 Exempt industrial hemp from marijuana laws: Opposes topic 19 Rated 50% by NORML, indicating a mixed record on drug reform: Neutral on topic 19 Rated B by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19 NO on subjecting federal employees to random drug tests: Strongly Opposes topic 19 NO on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC: Strongly Opposes topic 19 YES on more funding for Mexico to fight drugs: Favors topic 19
Opposes topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+2 points on Economic scale)	Audit the Federal Reserve & its actions on mortgage loans: Opposes topic 20 NO on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy: Strongly Opposes topic 20 YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending: Strongly Favors topic 20

Collin Peterson is a Moderate Populist
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