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)
Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (+2 points on Social scale)	Support buffer zone and access to contraceptive care: Strongly Favors topic 1 2003: Supported "right-to-know" law; now opposes it: Opposes topic 1 High marks from NARAL: Favors topic 1 Voted YES on overriding veto on Stem Cell Research Bill: Favors topic 1
Neutral on topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (0 points on Economic scale)	Supported $900K for disability & mentoring aid: Favors topic 2 Opposed "Turning 22" mental disability program: Opposes topic 2
Opposes topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (-3 points on Social scale)	Evolved on gay marriage; now favors it: Strongly Favors topic 3 Voted YES on affirming marriage for heterosexuals only: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Voted YES on defining marriage as one man and one woman: Strongly Opposes topic 3
Strongly Favors topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (-5 points on Social scale)	Voted YES on 'one nation under God' in pledge of allegiance: Strongly Favors topic 4 Voted NO on allowing parents on welfare to attend school: Favors topic 4 Voted YES on workfare for mothers of 2- to 6-year-olds: Favors topic 4
Opposes topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (+2 points on Economic scale)	Voted YES on maintaining two state psychiatric hospitals: Favors topic 5 Voted NO on Constitutional call for universal health care: Strongly Opposes topic 5
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+2 points on Economic scale)	No pensions for politicians; retirement reform for others: Favors topic 6
Strongly Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+5 points on Economic scale)	Opposed federal school breakfast supplement: Favors topic 7 Voted NO on 3-year moratorium on charter schools: Strongly Favors topic 7
Favors topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (-3 points on Social scale)	Voted NO on requiring dental amalgam (mercury) separators: Favors topic 8 Opposed keeping park maintenance funding within MDC: Favors topic 8 Voted NO on reduced fees for blood lead level testing: Favors topic 8
Strongly Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-5 points on Social scale)	Leading advocate for the passage of "Jessica's Law": Strongly Favors topic 9 Voted YES on reinstating capital punishment: Strongly Favors topic 9 Opposed funding Mass Correctional Legal Services: Strongly Favors topic 9
Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+2 points on Economic scale)	Reducing firearm licensing fee from $100 to $40: Favors topic 10
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+5 points on Economic scale)	Don't treat taxpayers as an ATM when money gets tight: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Voted NO on in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Voted NO on postponing reduction of income tax to 5%: Opposes topic 11 Voted NO on closing $85 million in corporate tax loopholes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Voted YES on capital gains tax rebates: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Voted NO on municipal meals tax, in addition to state tax: Opposes topic 11 Voted NO on Defeating corporate tax disclosure: Favors topic 11 Voted YES on Extending corporate tax credit 5 years: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Voted NO on $300M to offset the budget deficit via bonds: Opposes topic 11
Opposes topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (-3 points on Social scale)	Opposed two-way bilingual programs; supported English-only: Opposes topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-3 points on Economic scale)	Voted NO on International Trade Council to promote exports: Opposes topic 13
Neutral on topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Neutral on topic 15: Expand the military (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+2 points on Social scale)	Fight corrupt Beacon Hill culture; no legislative pay raises: Favors topic 16
Neutral on topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Neutral on topic 18: Prioritize green energy (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-5 points on Social scale)	Voted NO on earmark for women's substance abuse program: Strongly Favors topic 19
Opposes topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+2 points on Economic scale)	Expand gaming: economic engine without higher taxes: Opposes topic 20 Voted YES on rejecting $25M earmarked for Housing Trust Fund: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Voted NO on removing funds for Affordable Housing Trust: Favors topic 20 Voted NO on raising income tax to 5.95% to offset deficit: Strongly Opposes topic 20