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)	Support Roe v. Wade; oppose Parental Notice law: Strongly Favors topic 1
Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-3 points on Economic scale)	Advantage Illinois: microloans to MWOB minority firms: Favors topic 2 Allow women of color & low-income access to mammograms: Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Marriage equality is coming to Illinois: Strongly Favors topic 3 Same rights for same-sex couples as heterosexual couples: Strongly Favors topic 3
Opposes topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (+2 points on Social scale)	Maintain human services even during the Great Recession: Opposes topic 4
Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-3 points on Economic scale)	Comprehensive Medicaid reform: save taxpayers $550M: Opposes topic 5 Independent review of denial of care by insurance companies: Favors topic 5 Adopt national health reform legislation before the end of the year: Strongly Favors topic 5 3.2% funding increase for National Institutes of Health: Strongly Favors topic 5
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+2 points on Economic scale)	Balance budget by reforming our public pension systems: Favors topic 6
Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-3 points on Economic scale)	Charter schools give parents more options to ensure success: Favors topic 7 Consolidate from 868 school districts to save $100M: Opposes topic 7 Race to the Top: Invest in elementary & secondary education: Opposes topic 7
Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+2 points on Social scale)	Clean Water Initiative: $1B for wastewater & stormwater: Opposes topic 8 Leave no child inside: Opposes topic 8
Strongly Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+5 points on Social scale)	Alternative sentencing for low-level non-violent offenders: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Sold unused state prison to federal prison agency: Opposes topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	Comprehensive plan for gun safety & violence prevention: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-3 points on Economic scale)	Restrain spending by $220B by Budgeting For Results: Opposes topic 11 Shift from property tax to taxing ability to pay: Strongly Favors topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+5 points on Social scale)	Embrace immigrants and their contributions to America: Strongly Favors topic 12
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	Exports support 500,000 jobs in IL; double that in 5 years: Favors topic 13 Reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank: Favors topic 13
No opinion on topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	Supports the Illinois Military Family Relief Trust Fund: Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Online voter registration and no party in primary voting: Favors topic 16 Enact power of petition to recall a corrupt governor: Favors topic 16 Limits on campaign contributions and much more disclosure: Strongly Favors topic 16
No opinion on topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-3 points on Economic scale)	$400M for IL as center of Midwestern high-speed rail network: Strongly Favors topic 18 Invest in both clean coal and wind power: Opposes topic 18 Letter to Congress supporting renewable energy tax credit: Strongly Favors topic 18
No opinion on topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-3 points on Economic scale)	Hardest Hit: affordable homeownership in Great Recession: Strongly Favors topic 20 Largest infrastructure construction program in IL history: Favors topic 20 Restrain spending by $220B by Budgeting For Results: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Maintain human services even during the Great Recession: Strongly Favors topic 20