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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)	No right to privacy, that resulted in the Roe v. Wade: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Require ultrasounds before performing abortions: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Voted against funding stem cell research: Opposes topic 1 Pro-life, but understands that woman's right is the law: Favors topic 1 Expand birth control exemption for faith-based organizations: Opposes topic 1 Opposed Sotomayor nomination based on her Roe support: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Consensus that life begins at conception; so no abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Ban abortion after 20 weeks: Opposes topic 1 Barbarians of our age have murdered millions of the unborn: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Abortion is complex issue; we must reduce the number of them: Neutral on topic 1 Leave it to state's voters; Democrats want no restrictions: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Opposes both federal abortion funding & judicial activism: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Supports prohibiting human embryonic stem cell research: Opposes topic 1 Supports giving legal protection to unborn children: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Prohibit federal funding for abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Voted YES to protect infant survivors of abortion: Opposes topic 1
Opposes topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (+2 points on Economic scale)	Opposes Paycheck Fairness: don't require equal pay for women: Strongly Opposes topic 2 Incentivize foreign language curriculum in elementary school: Favors topic 2 Voted against Paycheck Fairness Act (equal pay for women): Strongly Opposes topic 2
Strongly Opposes topic 3: Support transgender and LGBTQ+ rights (-5 points on Social scale)	Defining marriage does not demean a class of people: Strongly Opposes topic 3 I believe in historical marriage, but ok if states redefine: Opposes topic 3 Balance gay anti-discrimination with religious rights: Favors topic 3 Leave gay marriage to states, but keep DOMA: Opposes topic 3 Men's bathrooms are for men & women's bathrooms for women: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Collect DNA of those convicted of sexually deviant behavior: Opposes topic 3 No gay couples as foster parents; no social experimentation: Opposes topic 3 No evidence to change policy of don't ask, don't tell: Opposes topic 3 Supports Amendment to prevent same sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Supports banning homosexuals in the military: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Opposes Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA): Opposes topic 3 Respect faith-based opposition to same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3
Strongly Favors topic 4: America was founded on Christian values (-5 points on Social scale)	Silent on voluntary school prayer: Neutral on topic 4 Theistic evolution: science and faith are not incompatible: Favors topic 4 We cannot keep God out of our lives, even in public realm: Strongly Favors topic 4 Acknowledge God in everything we do & everywhere we go: Favors topic 4 Communities & churches once took care of neighbors: Strongly Favors topic 4
Opposes topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (+2 points on Economic scale)	Launch a marketplace of affordable health insurance: Opposes topic 5 Medicare's hospice care let my father die with dignity: Favors topic 5 Expand prescription benefits to low-income seniors: Favors topic 5 Let people decide how to spend health care dollars: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Opposes government-run healthcare: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Defund, repeal, & replace federal care with free market: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Repeal any federal health care takeover: Strongly Opposes topic 5
Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-3 points on Economic scale)	Reduce debt to save key programs like Social Security: Opposes topic 6 Tough choices include raising retirement age & reducing COLA: Opposes topic 6 Raise retirement age for those now under 55: Opposes topic 6 Benefits have to be less generous to save Social Security: Opposes topic 6 No benefits changes for my mom and others of her generation: Opposes topic 6 Rated 7% by ARA, indicating a pro-privatization stance: Strongly Favors topic 6
Strongly Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+5 points on Economic scale)	Voted for more scholarships for private schools: Favors topic 7 More options for student and parent choice in education: Favors topic 7 A+ Plan for Education: charters and choice: Favors topic 7 $4,500 voucher saves state $10,000 in per-student cost: Strongly Favors topic 7 Presided over $2.3B cut to Florida public education: Favors topic 7 Supports No Child Left Behind Opportunity Scholarships: Favors topic 7 No national school board; end Department of Education: Favors topic 7 Empower parents to overcome disastrous public system: Strongly Favors topic 7 Supports less federal & more local control of education: Favors topic 7
Strongly Favors topic 8: Businesses have a right to pollute (-5 points on Social scale)	Utilize toll revenues to widen & improve expressways: Favors topic 8 Increase funding for making homes hurricane-resistant: Favors topic 8 Fix environment with free market, not government mandates: Strongly Favors topic 8 No EPA permits required for forest road runoff: Strongly Favors topic 8 Regulatory relief for smaller banks stimulates growth: Favors topic 8 Loosen restrictions on predator control in Alaska: Strongly Favors topic 8
Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-3 points on Social scale)	Toughen laws against prostitution & sex trafficking: Favors topic 9 Mandatory life sentence for repeat sex offenders: Strongly Favors topic 9 Endless death row appeals hinder justice: Strongly Favors topic 9 Black Lives Matter is a legitimate issue: Opposes topic 9 Courts are used to persecute and prosecute Donald Trump: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Halt illegal activities at strip clubs & porn websites: Favors topic 9 Increase criminal penalties for identity theft: Favors topic 9 Death penalty for killing police officers: Favors topic 9 Rated Don't compromise community safety with sentencing reform: Strongly Favors topic 9 Rated 45% by the NAPO, indicating a police-the-police stance: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+2 points on Economic scale)	Bad idea to arm teachers against school shootings: Opposes topic 10 2nd Amendment is a cornerstone of our democracy: Strongly Favors topic 10 As Speaker, failed to push law allowing guns at work: Opposes topic 10 Deal with gun violence, but do it constitutionally: Favors topic 10 New gun laws are ineffective, so don't pass them: Strongly Favors topic 10 Ban bump stocks; limit magazine size; more background checks: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Opposes restrictions on the right to bear arms: Strongly Favors topic 10 Rated B+ by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record: Strongly Favors topic 10 Reciprocity across state lines for concealed carry: Strongly Favors topic 10
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+5 points on Economic scale)	Eliminate taxes on capital gains; lower corporate tax rates: Opposes topic 11 End double-taxes: capital gains; dividends; & inheritance: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Simplify our tax code; reduce the tax burden: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Supermajority vote for any tax increases: Opposes topic 11 Address market uncertainty by making Bush cuts permanent: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Capital gains tax is double taxation: Strongly Opposes topic 11 2007: Replace all property taxes by adding 2.5% to sales tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 We need new taxpayers, not new taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Supports flat-rate federal tax; opposes increased tax rates: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Adopt a single-rate tax system: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Repeal tax hikes in capital gains and death tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Supports the Taxpayer Protection Pledge: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Reduce corporate tax rates from 35% to 21% to create jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 11
Opposes topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (-3 points on Social scale)	Oppose amnesty in any reform: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Don't count illegal immigrants in the 2010 census: Opposes topic 12 AZ law may unreasonably single out some citizens: Favors topic 12 No amnesty in any form, not even back-of-the-line: Strongly Opposes topic 12 GOP DREAM Act: visas for going to college or military: Favors topic 12 AZ anti-immigrant law demands papers like "police state": Favors topic 12 Legal status, but not citizenship, to migrant's children: Opposes topic 12 Green cards after 10 years; secure border; & e-Verify: Favors topic 12 Give kids of illegal immigrants in-state tuition rates: Favors topic 12 Human trafficking law & deferred action caused border crisis: Opposes topic 12 Bar any company abusing H1 visas from future visas: Favors topic 12 No green card for 10 years for current illegal immigrants: Opposes topic 12 Comprehensive immigration reform is politically infeasible: Opposes topic 12 2013 lessons: do necessities first; then get to citizenship: Favors topic 12 If we don't know who you are, you don't get into America: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Amnesty means no consequences; I was never for that: Opposes topic 12 My parents immigrated on family connections; but stop that: Opposes topic 12 Child separation policy at border is simply un-American: Favors topic 12 Children are trafficked into US illegally by criminal groups: Opposes topic 12 Finish the border wall; deport all who came in illegally: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Opposes granting amnesty to illegal immigrants: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Supports full implementation of current border security laws: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Terminate national emergency at the Southern border: Favors topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-3 points on Economic scale)	Produce more American oil and not buy Russian oil: Opposes topic 13 Continue reducing barriers to free and fair trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 Instead of trade war against Mexico, bring jobs home: Opposes topic 13 Bring back American car-manufacturing via high automation: Favors topic 13 Ban Xinjiang trade to fight Communist China on human rights: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Assume something made in China is from slave labor: Opposes topic 13 Voted YES to kill reauthorization of Ex-Im Bank: Opposes topic 13 Implement USMCA for improved North American trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 50% by the USAE, indicating a mixed record on trade: Neutral on topic 13 Ban imports from Xinjiang made by Uyghur forced labor: Opposes topic 13
Favors topic 14: Stay away from the UN & Globalism (+2 points on Economic scale)	America needs a foreign policy of engaging abroad: Opposes topic 14 Only America can stand up to world totalitarianism: Strongly Favors topic 14 Promote democracy via engagement abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Foreign aid spreads positive influence around the world: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Three main threats: Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Russia: Opposes topic 14 Engage with Putin, but recognize he supports zero sum games: Opposes topic 14 Trade with Cuba won't translate into political freedom: Favors topic 14 9/11 about people who hate what America stands for: Strongly Favors topic 14 World is safer when America is the strongest military power: Strongly Favors topic 14 Plenty of crescent moons in Arlington National Cemetery: Strongly Opposes topic 14 I believe God has blessed our country: Strongly Favors topic 14 The greatest nation on earth, not an inherently evil one: Strongly Favors topic 14 Sponsored opposing the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty: Strongly Favors topic 14 Oppose the United Nations' Arms Trade Treaty: Favors topic 14 Disallow Palestine from joining ICC to threaten Israel: Favors topic 14 Move US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem; recognize as cap: Favors topic 14 Sponsored bill supporting Israeli settlements on West Bank: Strongly Favors topic 14 Sponsored bill to monitor forced Uyghur labor in Xinjiang: Strongly Favors topic 14
Strongly Favors topic 15: Peace through Strength (-5 points on Social scale)	Freeze spending for everything but defense at 2008 levels: Strongly Favors topic 15 Safer place when America is strongest country in the world: Strongly Favors topic 15 Increased military investment demonstrates leadership: Strongly Favors topic 15 Empower V.A. to care more about vets than bureaucrats: Favors topic 15 We're eviscerating our military in dangerous times: Strongly Favors topic 15 Modernize all three legs of the nuclear triad: Strongly Favors topic 15
Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+2 points on Social scale)	Allow transferring surplus campaign funds to other campaigns: Opposes topic 16 Reduce paid petition business in citizen initiative process: Favors topic 16 2003: Anonymous contributors; 2004: backed down & disclosed: Opposes topic 16 Vice President doesn't have power to overturn election: Neutral on topic 16 Ban stock trading based on Congressional insider knowledge: Strongly Favors topic 16 Constitutional amendment for Congressional term limits: No opin. on topic 16
Strongly Opposes topic 17: Stay out of foreign wars (-5 points on Social scale)	We need a long-term commitment to Afghanistan: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Military action should be on the table in Iran & Syria: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Tough sanctions against Russia for Ukraine aggression: Opposes topic 17 Pre-conditions for Iran: end enrichment & ballistic missiles: Opposes topic 17 Opposes nuclear deal with Iran; but supported deal in 2012: Opposes topic 17 Do not leave it to Russia to get rid of ISIS: Strongly Opposes topic 17 I voted against the president's inadequate Syria strategy: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Prisoner swaps put a price tag on Americans: Favors topic 17 2007 troop surge was the right thing to do: Opposes topic 17 New Iranian leader is more moderate but still supports nukes: Opposes topic 17 Confront and defeat ISIL now, or we will have to do so later: Strongly Favors topic 17 Supports intervention in Libya & tougher sanctions on Syria: Opposes topic 17 Theocratic ayatollahs should never possess nuclear weapons: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Keep sanctions against Iran instead of Obama's nuke deal: Opposes topic 17 No mistake to invade Iraq in 2003; we thought Iraq had WMDs: Strongly Opposes topic 17 ISIS hates our way of life; either they win or we win: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Boots on ground in Syria; coordinate with Kurds: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Declare war on ISIS, fight via Sunni tribes and Kurds: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Against ISIS, either they win, or we win: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Selling arms to Saudi Arabia gives us leverage over them: Opposes topic 17 Khashoggi: stop Saudi arms sales & reduce Yemen involvement: Favors topic 17 North Korea's nukes are about prestige, not about diplomacy: Opposes topic 17 We cannot live in a world where North Korea can nuke us: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Imminent, credible threat obliges president to act: Opposes topic 17 There is no U.S. combat role in Ukraine; use sanctions: Favors topic 17 A no-fly zone in Ukraine means World War III: Favors topic 17 Opposes timetable for troop withdrawal from Afghanistan: Opposes topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Sponsored funding and supplying the Syrian rebels: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Sponsored shutting down Iranian foreign reserves: Opposes topic 17 Iran must accept long-term intrusive nuke inspection: Opposes topic 17 No nuclear deal with Iran without Congressional input: Opposes topic 17 Hold Assad accountable for slaughter of civilians: Opposes topic 17 Rated President ok to use military force against Iran: Opposes topic 17
Opposes topic 18: Prioritize green energy (+2 points on Economic scale)	Cap-and-trade scheme destroys jobs: Opposes topic 18 Explore ANWR & outer continental shelf: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Tax incentives for energy-efficient appliances: Favors topic 18 Loans to public institutions for energy efficiency: Strongly Favors topic 18 Florida has obvious advantages in solar energy: Favors topic 18 Let hybrid drivers use HOV lanes & discount parking: Favors topic 18 I dislike cap-&-trade, but it is inevitable as national law: Favors topic 18 Grow our energy industry, not "clean energy" like Solyndra: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Human activity is not causing climate change: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Climate is always changing; it's not from human activity: Opposes topic 18 Addressing global warming would destroy our economy: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Let ethanol program expire: Opposes topic 18 Climate change is reality, but we're a country, not a planet: Opposes topic 18 Address rising sea levels by using natural gas & nuclear: Opposes topic 18 Solar panels are not realistic; focus on mitigation: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Signed the No Climate Tax Pledge by AFP: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Cap-and-trade has no impact on global temperatures: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Explore proven energy reserves & keep energy prices low: Opposes topic 18 Opposes passage of Cap-and-Trade energy legislation: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Let states lease energy rights on federal lands: Strongly Opposes topic 18
Strongly Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-5 points on Social scale)	Teach students skills to avoid gangs, violence, & drugs: Favors topic 19 There is no responsible way to recreationally use marijuana: Strongly Favors topic 19 Enforce federal laws even where states have legalized pot: Strongly Favors topic 19 No responsible way to recreationally use marijuana: Strongly Favors topic 19 Enforce federal law even in states with legal pot: Strongly Favors topic 19 Medical marijuana could be OK, but not recreational use: Favors topic 19 Prove medical benefits to FDA before legalizing marijuana: Favors topic 19 Rated F by NORML, indicating a "hard-on-drugs" stance: Strongly Favors topic 19
Opposes topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+2 points on Economic scale)	Oppose Obama stimulus package; it's bad for America: Opposes topic 20 Tax, borrow, & spend is not the way out of the recession: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Paycheck Protection Program most effective relief program: Strongly Favors topic 20 Supports emergency relief to be spent immediately: Favors topic 20 Increased child tax credit plus paid family leave: Favors topic 20 Extend Bush tax cuts, even for high earners: Strongly Opposes topic 20 No one should pay higher taxes in recession, not even top 2%: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Limit federal spending growth to per-capita inflation rate: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Supports the Cut-Cap-and-Balance Pledge: Opposes topic 20 Disapprove of increasing the debt limit: Opposes topic 20 Rated 14% by UFCW, indicating a pro-management voting record: Opposes topic 20 Audit the Federal Reserve & its actions on mortgage loans: Opposes topic 20 Voted YES on $900 billion COVID relief package: Favors topic 20 Rated Opposed $1.9 trillion ARPA bill for COVID relief: Strongly Opposes topic 20

Marco Rubio is a Populist-Leaning Conservative
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