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 Opposes topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (-5 points on Social scale)	No federal funding of abortion, but no litmus test: Neutral on topic 1 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 Prohibit transporting minors across state lines for abortion: 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 Congress shall protect life beginning with fertilization: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Prohibit federal funding to groups like Planned Parenthood: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Encourage adoption of children in foster care: Opposes topic 1 Sponsored prohibiting abortion information at school health centers: Opposes topic 1 Life and human rights begin at fertilization or cloning: Strongly Opposes topic 1 No family planning assistance that includes abortion: Strongly 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 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
Opposes topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (+2 points on Economic scale)	Rated 39% by NAACP, indicating a mixed record on affirmative-action: Neutral on topic 2 NO on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act: Opposes topic 2 YES on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions: Opposes topic 2 NO on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges: Strongly Opposes topic 2
Strongly Opposes topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (-5 points on Social scale)	Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Amend Constitution to define traditional marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays: Favors topic 3 Protect anti-same-sex marriage opinions as free speech: Strongly Opposes topic 3 State definition of marriage supersedes federal gay marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Rated Religious objections to GLBT services same as 1960s racism: Strongly Favors topic 3 Respect faith-based opposition to same-sex marriage: 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 NO on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation: Strongly Opposes topic 3 NO on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes: Opposes topic 3
Strongly Favors topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (-5 points on Social scale)	Let schools display the words "God Bless America": Strongly Favors topic 4 Supports anti-flag desecration amendment: Favors topic 4 Rated 100% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Favors topic 4 Recognize Christianity's importance to western civilization: Favors topic 4 Designate first weekend in May as Ten Commandments Weekend: Strongly Favors topic 4 Sponsored supporting the contributions of Catholic schools: Favors topic 4 Supports a Constitutional Amendment for school prayer: Strongly Favors topic 4 NO on responsible fatherhood via faith-based organizations: Opposes topic 4 YES on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks: Strongly Favors 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
Opposes topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (+2 points on Economic scale)	Abolish federal Medicare entitlement; leave it to states: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Rated 33% by APHA, indicating a mixed record on public health issues: Neutral on topic 5 Repeal the Job-Killing Health Care Law: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Repeal ObamaCare reporting requirements for small business: Opposes topic 5 Require insurers to cover breast cancer treatment: Strongly Favors topic 5 Remove all funding from the 2010 national healthcare law: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Fully repealing ObamaCare is important, but not sufficient: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Provide for treatment of autism under TRICARE: Favors topic 5 NO on giving mental health full equity with physical health: Opposes topic 5 NO on Veto override: Extend SCHIP to cover 6M more kids: Strongly Opposes 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 YES on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts: Opposes 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 NO on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients: Favors 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 NO on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility: Opposes topic 5 YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare: Favors topic 5 NO on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program: Opposes topic 5 NO on regulating tobacco as a drug: Opposes topic 5
Strongly Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+5 points on Economic scale)	Create personal retirement accounts within Social Security: Strongly Favors topic 6 Rated 30% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record: Strongly Favors topic 6 Rated 36% by ARA, indicating a mixed record on senior issues: Neutral on topic 6 Reduce taxes on Social Security earnings: Favors topic 6 NO on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox: Favors topic 6 YES on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits: Favors topic 6 YES on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable: Favors topic 6
Strongly Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+5 points on Economic scale)	Abolish the federal Department of Education: Strongly Favors topic 7 Rated 17% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes: Strongly Favors topic 7 Denounce the Common Core State Standards: Favors topic 7 A-PLUS lets states escape No Child Left Behind: Favors topic 7 Vouchers break link of low-income and low-quality schools: Strongly Favors topic 7 YES on reauthorizing the DC opportunity scholarship program: Strongly Favors topic 7 YES on vouchers for private & parochial schools: Strongly Favors topic 7 YES on allowing vouchers in DC schools: Favors topic 7 NO on $40B for green public schools: Favors topic 7
Favors topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (-3 points on Social scale)	Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes: Strongly Favors topic 8 Regulate all dog breeders down to kennels of 50 dogs: Opposes topic 8 Stop considering manure as pollutant or hazardous: Favors topic 8 Allow longer than 10 years to rebuild depleted fisheries: 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 Limit EPA oversight to allow mining over fishing: Strongly Favors topic 8 No EPA expansion of regulated waters: Favors topic 8 Rated Voted NO on requiring limited GMO labeling: Favors topic 8 Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8 YES on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species: Strongly Favors topic 8 NO on environmental education grants for outdoor experiences: Favors topic 8 YES on protecting free-roaming horses and burros: Opposes topic 8
Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-3 points on Social scale)	Rated 10% by CURE, indicating anti-rehabilitation crime votes: Strongly Favors topic 9 Sponsored evidence-based & proven prevention for street gangs: Opposes topic 9 Sponsored Constitutional Amendment defining victims' rights: Strongly Favors topic 9 Rated 69% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues: Neutral on topic 9 More prisons, more enforcement, effective death penalty: Favors topic 9 Prevent luxurious conditions in prisons: 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)	Support the Second Amendment : Strongly Favors topic 10 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 Interstate transportation of firearms is federally prote: 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 Allow firearms in National Parks: 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
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+5 points on Economic scale)	Overhaul income tax; end capital gains & inheritance tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Phaseout the death tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Abolish IRS--replace income tax with national sales tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Rated 76% by NTU, indicating a "Taxpayer's Friend" on tax votes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Rated 0% by the CTJ, indicating opposition to progressive taxation: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Repeal the Death Tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Taxpayer Protection Pledge: no new taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Permanently repeal the estate tax: Opposes topic 11 Supports the Taxpayer Protection Pledge: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Repeal the death tax, immediately and with no expiration: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Rated Raising estate tax to 1990s level means $448B in new revenue: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Repeal marriage tax; cut middle class taxes: Opposes topic 11 YES on eliminating the "marriage penalty": Opposes topic 11 YES on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business: Opposes topic 11 YES on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years: Opposes topic 11 YES on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years: Opposes topic 11 YES on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax"): Opposes topic 11 YES on making the Bush tax cuts permanent: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on providing tax relief and simplification: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on extending AMT exemptions to avoid hitting middle-income: Opposes topic 11
Strongly Opposes topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (-5 points on Social scale)	Rated 100% by FAIR, indicating a voting record restricting immigration: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Rated 92% by USBC, indicating a sealed-border stance: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Government services in English only: Strongly Opposes topic 12 End Birthright Citizenship; no more anchor babies: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Rated A+ by the ALI, indicating a strongly anti-amnesty stance: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Deport foreign criminals;punish nations denying repatriation: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Redefine "birthright citizenship" to exclude illegal aliens: Strongly Opposes topic 12 No birthright citizenship unless one parent is an American: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Stop releasing low-risk illegal immigrants: Opposes topic 12 Voted YES to ban DREAMer immigrants from military service: Strongly Opposes 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 YES on more immigrant visas for skilled workers: Favors topic 12 NO on extending Immigrant Residency rules: Opposes topic 12 YES on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment: Strongly Opposes 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)	No restrictions on import/export; but maintain sovereignty : Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 17% by CATO, indicating a pro-fair trade voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Tariffs against countries undervaluing their currency: 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 Require open markets for US goods in all trade agreements: Opposes topic 13 Sponsored imposing import fee on countries with undervalued currency: Opposes topic 13 Rated 13% by the USAE, indicating support for trade sanctions: Opposes 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 NO on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalization: Favors topic 13 NO on promoting free trade with Peru: Opposes topic 13
Favors topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (+2 points on Economic scale)	Foreign aid often more harmful than helpful : Strongly Opposes topic 14 Sponsored opposing the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty: Strongly Favors topic 14 Sponsored resuming normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan: Favors topic 14 Condemn China's organ harvesting from Falun Gong prisoners: Opposes topic 14 Ban admission of Syrian refugees & any Syrian residents: Strongly Favors topic 14 Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror: Opposes topic 14 NO on Veto override: Congressional oversight of CIA interrogations: Favors topic 14 NO on requiring FISA warrants for wiretaps in US, but not abroad: Strongly Favors topic 14 YES on withholding $244M in UN Back Payments until US seat restored: Strongly Favors topic 14 YES on reforming the UN by restricting US funding: Strongly Favors topic 14 NO on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight: Opposes topic 14 NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	End draft registration; all-volunteer forces : Strongly Opposes topic 15 Federal duty to provide missile defense : Strongly Favors topic 15 Rated 22% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record: Strongly Favors topic 15 Oppose Arms Treaty that limits gun trade to Israel & Taiwan: Strongly Favors topic 15 No US troops under UN command; more defense spending: 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
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Citizens United one of the worst decisions in my lifetime: Strongly Favors topic 16 Require Internet disclosure of all earmarks: Favors topic 16 Ban stock trading based on Congressional insider knowledge: Strongly Favors topic 16 Full disclosure of campaign spending: Strongly Favors topic 16 Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements: 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 Military spouses don't lose voting residency while abroad: Favors topic 16 Repeal automatic Congressional pay raises: Favors topic 16 NO on banning soft money and issue ads: Opposes topic 16 YES on banning soft money donations to national political parties: Favors 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
Favors topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (+2 points on Social scale)	Terminate funding for Iraq War on Dec. 31, 2011: Strongly Favors topic 17 Defund US military presence in Afghanistan: Strongly Favors topic 17 YES on removing US armed forces from Afghanistan: Strongly Favors topic 17 YES on banning armed forces in Libya without Congressional approval: Favors topic 17 YES on authorizing military force in Iraq: 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
Opposes topic 18: Prioritize green energy (+2 points on Economic scale)	Repeal the gas tax: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence: Opposes topic 18 Bar greenhouse gases from Clean Air Act rules: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Signed the No Climate Tax Pledge by AFP: Strongly Opposes topic 18 No EPA regulation of greenhouse gases: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Let wind energy production tax credit expire: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Voted YES on banning offshore oil drilling in Gulf of Mexico: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on tax incentives for renewable energy: Strongly Opposes topic 18 YES on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Opposes topic 18 NO on opening Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling: Strongly Favors 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 YES on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries: Strongly Opposes 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 NO on investing in homegrown biofuel: Strongly Opposes 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 NO on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution: 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)	War on Drugs has abused Bill of Rights : Strongly Opposes topic 19 Rated -30 by NORML, indicating a "hard-on-drugs" stance: Strongly Favors topic 19 Rated 25% by NORML, indicating an anti-legalization stance: Strongly Favors topic 19 Rated B+ by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Disallow buying marijuana with food stamps: Strongly Favors topic 19 YES on subjecting federal employees to random drug tests: Strongly Favors topic 19 YES on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC: Strongly Favors topic 19 YES on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism: Strongly Favors topic 19 NO on more funding for Mexico to fight drugs: Opposes topic 19
Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-3 points on Economic scale)	Ban roadway signs indicating Recovery Act funding: Opposes topic 20 Apply all remaining stimulus funds to budget deficit: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Disapprove of increasing the debt limit: Opposes topic 20 Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business: Favors topic 20 Audit the Federal Reserve & its actions on mortgage loans: Opposes topic 20 NO on prioritizing spending in case debt limit is reached: Favors topic 20 YES on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy: Strongly Favors topic 20 YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending: Strongly Favors topic 20