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 Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (+5 points on Social scale)	No test before being allowed birth control: Strongly Favors topic 1 I consider myself pro-choice: 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
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Pass the Equal Right Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2 Supports affirmative action in state hiring & colleges: Strongly Favors topic 2 Endorsed as "preferred" by The Feminist Majority indicating pro-women's rights: Strongly Favors topic 2 Sponsored removing deadline for ratification of the ERA: 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 Recognize 1961 Freedom Riders against segregated buses: Strongly 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)	Repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act: Strongly Favors topic 3 Supports same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3 Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools: Strongly Favors topic 3 Sponsored supporting No Name-Calling Week in schools: Favors topic 3 Apply copyright inheritance to same-sex couples: 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
Strongly Opposes topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (+5 points on Social scale)	Training, transport, and childcare for welfare recipients: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Comprehensive sex ed for sexually-active adolescents: Opposes topic 4 Religious freedom means no religious registry: Strongly Opposes topic 4
Neutral on topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (0 points on Economic scale)	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
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	Lift the cap on earnings subject to payroll tax: 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)	More funding for public schools and teachers: 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
Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+2 points on Social scale)	Sponsored tightening restrictions on hydrogen sulfide emissions: Favors topic 8 Extend to 2023 Superfund hazardous waste cleanup: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Require reporting lead in drinking water to the public: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Rated Voted NO on requiring limited GMO labeling: Favors topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+2 points on Social scale)	Alternative sentencing, plus rehab for criminals: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Rated 69% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues: Neutral on topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	Supports restrictions on gun purchases: Opposes topic 10 Ban "fire sale" of firearms after delicensing closure: Opposes topic 10 Ban large-capacity ammunition: Opposes topic 10 Stricter regulation on gun show firearm sales: Opposes topic 10 Require background check for every firearm sale and transfer: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-3 points on Economic scale)	Millionaires and billionaires should pay their fair share: Strongly Favors topic 11 Supports an income tax increase: Favors topic 11 Rated Raising estate tax to 1990s level means $448B in new revenue: Strongly Opposes topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+5 points on Social scale)	In-state tuition & drivers licensing for foreign-born: Strongly Favors topic 12 Opposes exiting US to apply for citizenship: Favors topic 12 Rated Voted to legalize DREAMer immigrants via military service: Strongly Favors topic 12 Increase both high-skill and family-based visa caps: Favors topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-3 points on Economic scale)	Oppose trade deals that hurt US jobs or environment: Strongly 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
Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-3 points on Economic scale)	Condemn China's organ harvesting from Falun Gong prisoners: Opposes topic 14 $500M and 3,000 troops to Africa to fight Ebola: Opposes topic 14
Strongly Opposes topic 15: Expand the military (+5 points on Social scale)	Reduce the size of the defense budget: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Supports reducing defense spending: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Sponsored defunding nuclear-armed aircraft and nuclear R&D or testing: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	100% public financing for political campaigns: Strongly Favors topic 16 Limit campaign contributions and campaign spending: Strongly Favors topic 16 Full disclosure of campaign spending: Strongly Favors topic 16 No photo IDs to vote; they suppress the vote: Favors topic 16 Corporate political spending is not free speech: 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
Strongly Favors topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (+5 points on Social scale)	Iraq War was "Not in Our Name": Strongly Favors topic 17 Opposes combat operations in Afghanistan: Strongly 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)	Supports regulating greenhouse gas emissions: Strongly Favors topic 18 Opposes offshore energy production: 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
Strongly Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+5 points on Social scale)	Decriminalize possession of marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Exclude industrial hemp from definition of marijuana: Opposes topic 19 Sponsored no federal enforcement against legal state marijuana: Strongly 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
Neutral on topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (0 points on Economic scale)	Supports federal stimulus spending: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Supports tax incentives for job creation: Opposes topic 20 Sponsored investing $1 billion in transportation projects: Favors topic 20 Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2016: Favors topic 20 NO on prioritizing spending in case debt limit is reached: Favors topic 20

Mark Pocan is a Hard-Core Liberal
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