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)	Private & public life inseparable on faith & life issues: Strongly Favors topic 1 Life begins at conception, so protect unborn children: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Church-provided contraception is about rights & conscience: Opposes 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 Prohibit federal funding for abortion: Strongly 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 Life and human rights begin at fertilization or cloning: Strongly Opposes topic 1 No family planning assistance that includes abortion: 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
Neutral on topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (0 points on Economic scale)	Annual pilgrimage to Selma AL for 1965 march anniversary: Favors topic 2 Rated 36% by NAACP, indicating a mixed record on affirmative-action: Neutral on topic 2 YES on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act: Favors 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)	Supports DOMA; supports constitutional ban on gay marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation: Favors topic 3 Let each state separately define DOMA and marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Let each state separately define DOMA and marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance: 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 YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation: Strongly Favors 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)	The left offers people a full stomach and an empty soul: Favors topic 4 Stop pushing God from the public realm & public schools: Strongly Favors topic 4 Cold social programs have displaced civility and charity: Favors topic 4 Subsidize and deregulate our wealth of faith based charities: Strongly Favors topic 4 Left federal barriers to community & institution empowerment: Favors topic 4 Supports anti-flag desecration amendment: Favors topic 4 Rated 91% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Favors topic 4 YES on responsible fatherhood via faith-based organizations: Favors 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 protecting the Pledge of Allegiance: Favors topic 4 NO on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance: Favors topic 4
Strongly Opposes topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (+5 points on Economic scale)	Regulators don't want your opinion on ObamaCare mandates: Strongly Opposes topic 5 ObamaCare's mandates & fines have no place in a free country: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Choice of Medicare or certified plan, starting in 2022: Opposes topic 5 Replace ObamaCare with patient-centered reforms: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Under age 54, provided with subsidy for private insurance: Opposes topic 5 ObamaCare is government takeover of healthcare: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Younger workers choose from subsidized coverage options: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Don't just repeal ObamaCare; curb out-of-control costs: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Open-ended healthcare entitlement moves US toward bankruptcy: Strongly Opposes topic 5 ObamaCare passed with no GOP support & split Democrats: Strongly Opposes topic 5 For tax credits; high-risk pools; & regulatory reform: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Road Map: buy health insurance from any state in the country: Opposes topic 5 Replace Medicare with $9500/year private insurance payment: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Washington Way: closed-door deals & one-party votes: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Rated 11% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Repeal the Job-Killing Health Care Law: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Repeal ObamaCare reporting requirements for small business: Opposes 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 YES on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: Opposes 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 YES on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients: Opposes topic 5 YES on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay: Strongly Opposes topic 5 NO on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D: Opposes 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)	Voluntary privatization for younger workers: Strongly Favors topic 6 Give millions a chance to prosper in investor class: Strongly Favors topic 6 Enthusiastically promoted Bush's semi-privatization scheme: Strongly Favors topic 6 Invest 1/3 of payroll tax in personal savings account: Favors topic 6 Road Map: invest 5.1% income into personal account: Strongly Favors topic 6 Proposed bill to invest 50% of FICA in personal accounts: Strongly Favors topic 6 Rated 10% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record: Strongly Favors topic 6 Rated 5% by ARA, indicating a pro-privatization stance: Strongly 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)	A-PLUS: Local decisions, not one-size-fits-all mandates: Favors topic 7 Rated 8% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes: Strongly Favors topic 7 YES on reauthorizing the DC opportunity scholarship program: Strongly Favors topic 7 NO on $40B for green public schools: Favors topic 7
Favors topic 8: EPA regulations are too restrictive (-3 points on Social scale)	Deficit from "green pork": cronyism on windmills: Favors topic 8 Strong conservation programs important for avid sportsmen: Favors topic 8 Prevent pollution and invasive species in the Great Lakes: Opposes topic 8 Rated 10% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes: Strongly Favors topic 8 Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements: Opposes 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 NO on protecting free-roaming horses and burros: Favors topic 8
Strongly Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-5 points on Social scale)	Death penalty only for lethal crimes against minors: Favors topic 9 Rated 30% by CURE, indicating anti-rehabilitation crime votes: Strongly Favors topic 9 Rated 69% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues: Neutral on 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 NO on expanding services for offenders' re-entry into society: Favors topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Avid bow hunter who skins his own prey: 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 Allow veterans to register unlicensed guns acquired abroad: Favors topic 10 Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC: Strongly Favors topic 10 Allow reloading spent military small arms ammunition: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1: Strongly Favors 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)	Are we for more revenues? No, we're not.: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Lower corporate tax rate to improve global competitiveness: Opposes topic 11 Eliminate double taxes like the death tax and AMT: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Reduce deficit by $6.2T over 10 years with no tax increase: Strongly Opposes topic 11 25% top individual rate and top corporate tax rate: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Phaseout the death tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Rated 72% by NTU, indicating "Satisfactory" on tax votes: Neutral on topic 11 Rated 0% by the CTJ, indicating opposition to progressive taxation: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Taxpayer Protection Pledge: no new taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Supports the Taxpayer Protection Pledge: Strongly 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 NO on extending AMT exemptions to avoid hitting middle-income: Favors topic 11
Opposes topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (-3 points on Social scale)	Send illegal immigrant kids back to Central America: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Immigration reform possible after the border is secure: Favors topic 12 Earned legalization while respecting the rule of law: Favors topic 12 Demand enforcement of immigration laws, without amnesty: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Make border fence construction a top priority: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration: Strongly Favors topic 12 Comprehensive immigration reform without amnesty: Strongly Favors topic 12 Rated 83% by USBC, indicating a sealed-border stance: Strongly Opposes topic 12 YES on extending Immigrant Residency rules: Favors topic 12 NO on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment: Strongly Favors 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 Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale)	Level the playing field instead of pushing jobs overseas: Opposes topic 13 8.5% tax on imports from foreign countries: Strongly Opposes topic 13 End economic protectionism: let dairy compacts expire : Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 67% by CATO, indicating a pro-free trade voting record: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 75% by the USAE, indicating support for trade engagement: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China: Strongly Favors topic 13 NO on withdrawing from the WTO: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on implementing US-Singapore free trade agreement: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on implementing free trade agreement with Chile: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on implementing US-Australia Free Trade Agreement: Favors topic 13 YES on end offshore tax havens and promote small business: Opposes topic 13 YES on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on promoting free trade with Peru: Favors topic 13
Strongly Favors topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (+5 points on Economic scale)	Being American is about rights and responsibilities: Opposes topic 14 Withhold UN funding until voluntary and program-specific: Strongly Favors topic 14 Condemn China's organ harvesting from Falun Gong prisoners: 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 YES on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight: Favors topic 14 YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Favors topic 14
Strongly Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-5 points on Social scale)	We shouldn't cut 80,000 soldiers; it invites weakness: Strongly Favors topic 15 More funding for veterans: Favors topic 15 $554B for national defense spending instead of $55B cut: Strongly Favors topic 15 Rated 22% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record: Strongly 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
Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+2 points on Social scale)	Restrict campaign donations from foreigners or 3rd parties: 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 YES on restricting independent grassroots political committees: Opposes topic 16 YES on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations: Strongly Favors topic 16
Strongly Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-5 points on Social scale)	Nuclear Iran is worse than war: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Make Afghan withdrawal succeed by providing resources: Opposes topic 17 Supported the Iraqi Surge; opposed call for sudden retreat: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Don't let Afghanistan return to a terrorist training camp: Strongly Opposes topic 17 No artificial surrender dates in Iraq and Afghanistan: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Remain vigilant in global War on Terrorism: Opposes topic 17 Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine: Strongly Favors topic 17 Strengthen sanctions on Syria & assist democratic transition: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Boycott & sanctions against Iran for terrorism & nukes: Opposes topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program: Opposes topic 17 NO on removing US armed forces from Afghanistan: Strongly Opposes 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 YES on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq: Opposes topic 17
Strongly Opposes topic 18: Prioritize green energy (+5 points on Economic scale)	No policies that might benefit environment but harm economy: Opposes topic 18 Cap-and-trade bureaucratically rations conventional energy: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Develop all American-made energy, including nuclear: 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 Drill the Outer Continental Shelf; & license new nuke plants: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on tax incentives for renewable energy: Strongly Opposes topic 18 YES on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Opposes topic 18 YES on opening Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling: Strongly Opposes 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 YES on authorizing construction of new oil refineries: Strongly Opposes 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 NO on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on investing in homegrown biofuel: Strongly Opposes topic 18 YES on criminalizing oil cartels like OPEC: Favors topic 18 NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets: Opposes topic 18 NO on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution: Opposes topic 18 NO on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Opposes topic 18
Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-3 points on Social scale)	Speechwriter for Director of National Drug Control Policy: Strongly Favors topic 19 Rated -10 by NORML, indicating a "hard-on-drugs" stance: Strongly Favors topic 19 Rated 0% by NORML, indicating an anti-legalization stance: Strongly Favors topic 19 YES on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC: Strongly Favors topic 19 NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism: Strongly Opposes topic 19 NO on more funding for Mexico to fight drugs: Opposes topic 19
Strongly Opposes topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+5 points on Economic scale)	Raising corporate tax will cost us 710,000 jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Tax cuts grow the economy and create jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Stimulus was political patronage & corporate welfare: Strongly Opposes topic 20 12M new jobs by capping federal spending at 20% of GDP: Opposes topic 20 Stimulus spending spree created debt but few jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 20 YES on prioritizing spending in case debt limit is reached: Opposes topic 20 NO on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy: Strongly Opposes topic 20 YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending: Strongly Favors topic 20