Mark Begich on VoteMatch

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 new regulations on women's access to medical care: Favors topic 1 Accepts contributions from abortion-rights group NARAL: Favors topic 1 Mayor’s Charity Ball donated $25K to Planned Parenthood: Strongly Favors topic 1 Let military perform abortions in cases of rape or incest: Favors topic 1 Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on restricting UN funding for population control policies: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Privatization undermines the integrity of Medicare: No opin. on 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 Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: 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)	Added sexual orientation to Anchorage non-discrimination law: 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
No opinion on topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	AdWatch: Promised we could keep our plans under ObamaCare: Favors topic 5 AdWatch: Begich supports ObamaCare for Alaskans: Favors topic 5 Increase Medicare reimbursements and affordable health care: Favors topic 5 Favors expanding Alaska’s Denali KidCare program: Favors topic 5 Merge Alzheimers diagnosis and care benefit: Favors topic 5 Expand the National Health Service Corps: Strongly Favors topic 5 Expand health services for women veterans: 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 YES on regulating tobacco as a drug: Favors topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	No privatization; no individual investment accounts: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Elderly are entitled to solvent & reliable Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Sponsored keeping CPI for benefits instead of lower "Chained CPI": Strongly Opposes topic 6 Rated 94% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-3 points on Economic scale)	Local control and accountability of America’s schools: Opposes topic 7 Local control and accountability of America’s schools: Strongly Favors topic 7 Professional development grants for elementary principals: Opposes topic 7 $25B to renovate or repair elementary schools: Opposes topic 7
Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+2 points on Social scale)	Supports the "Stand for Salmon" ballot measure: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Gold mine can co-exist with Native subsistence lifestyle: Favors topic 8 No metal mining at Pebble Mine; it damages salmon fishery: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Allow gravel road through federal refuge to isolated village: Favors topic 8 Invest in Port of Anchorage & pedestrian-friendly downtown: Opposes topic 8 Implemented energy efficiency and conservation in Anchorage: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Respect unique cultural role of subsistence whaling: Favors topic 8 No EPA permits required for forest road runoff: Strongly Favors topic 8 Sponsored enforcing against illegal ocean fishing: Opposes topic 8 Require labeling genetically engineered food: Opposes topic 8 YES on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems: Opposes topic 8
Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-3 points on Social scale)	Added city police; pushed anti-gang & cyber-crime units: Favors topic 9 Three strikes traffic violators should face felonies: Favors topic 9 Rated 82% by the NAPO, indicating a tough-on-crime stance: Favors topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Strongly supports Constitutional right to bear arms: Strongly Favors topic 10 Lifetime member of NRA: Favors topic 10 National cross-state standard for concealed carry: Strongly Favors topic 10 Sponsored loosening restrictions on interstate gun purchases: Favors topic 10 Allow veterans to register unlicensed guns acquired abroad: Favors topic 10 Apply concealed carry permit to all other states where legal: Strongly Favors topic 10 NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains: Favors topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Minimum tax rate of 30% for those earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 11
Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+2 points on Social scale)	Only Congress can grant amnesty, not President: Opposes topic 12 Reservations about denying illegals’ retirement benefits: Strongly Favors topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-3 points on Economic scale)	Capitalize on our assets in the global economy: Favors topic 13 Fight Chinese predatory trade practices on car tires: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Rated 38% by the USAE, indicating support for trade sanctions: Opposes topic 13
Strongly Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-5 points on Economic scale)	Pay dues to UN, and cooperate with ICC: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Fully fund US contribution to UN operations in Darfur: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Integrate gender into diplomatic and foreign aid processes: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Oppose the United Nations' Arms Trade Treaty: Favors topic 14
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	Pledges full support for the 21st Century GI Bill: Favors topic 15 Increased Anchorage’s support for military personnel: Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Campaign transparency with sortable online database: Favors topic 16 No campaign fundraising through private foundations: Strongly Favors topic 16 Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures: Strongly Favors topic 16 Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements: Favors topic 16 Military spouses don't lose voting residency while abroad: Favors topic 16 Repeal automatic Congressional pay raises: Favors topic 16
Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-3 points on Social scale)	I was too gung-ho supportive of Afghanistan war: Strongly Favors topic 17 Air strikes against ISIS but no US forces on the ground: Opposes topic 17 We must responsibly re-deploy out of Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Sponsored shutting down Iranian foreign reserves: Opposes topic 17 Iran must accept long-term intrusive nuke inspection: Opposes topic 17 Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program: Opposes topic 17
Opposes topic 18: Prioritize green energy (+2 points on Economic scale)	Green Bank to fund energy conservation and development: Strongly Favors topic 18 Drill in the Arctic Ocean; drill in National Forests: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Advocate for opening up ANWR to drilling: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Long term: develop ANWR; build renewable energy plants: Opposes topic 18 Open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Alaska is ground zero for global warming: Strongly Favors topic 18 Allow horizontal drilling into Alaska's Coastal Plain: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 YES on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade: Opposes topic 18 YES on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax: Opposes topic 18 YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Favors topic 18
Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-3 points on Social scale)	Prevent youth from trying the deadly drug methamphetamine: Favors topic 19
Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-3 points on Economic scale)	Extend tax cuts; and end the AMT: Strongly Opposes topic 20 As mayor: bond rating up; jobs increased; taxes down: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business: Favors topic 20 Rated 71% by UFCW, indicating a mixed management/labor voting record: Neutral on topic 20 Audit the Federal Reserve & its actions on mortgage loans: Opposes topic 20 Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2016: Favors topic 20 YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package: Strongly Favors topic 20 YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending: Strongly Favors topic 20