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)	Fund Planned Parenthood; contraception reduces abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated 50% by NARAL, indicating a mixed voting record on abortion: Neutral on topic 1 Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Rated 25% by the NRLC, indicating a mixed record on abortion: Neutral on topic 1 Keep federal funding for family planning clinics: Strongly Favors topic 1 CC:Oppose strict Constitutionalist judges: Favors topic 1 CC:Publicly fund abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1 CC:No parental notification for abortions by minors: Favors topic 1 Rated Born-Alive Survivors bill tries to illegalize abortion: Favors topic 1 Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1 Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception: Favors topic 1
Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-3 points on Economic scale)	Favors requiring companies to hire more women & minorities: Favors topic 2 Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all: Neutral on topic 2 Rated 79% by NAACP, indicating a mixed record on affirmative-action: Neutral on topic 2 Endorsed as "preferred" by The Feminist Majority indicating pro-women's rights: Strongly Favors topic 2 More funding & services for victims of domestic violence: Strongly Favors topic 2 Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2 Investigate deportation of Japanese during WWII: Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Support transgender and LGBTQ+ rights (+5 points on Social scale)	Supports "Sexual orientation protected by civil rights laws": Strongly Favors topic 3 Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act: Favors topic 3 Let state legislatures decide who can get married: Favors topic 3 Repeal DOMA; it's unconstitutional: Strongly Favors topic 3 More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 Rated 67% by the HRC, indicating a mixed record on gay rights: Neutral on topic 3 Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays: Favors topic 3 Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools: Strongly Favors topic 3
Strongly Opposes topic 4: America was founded on Christian values (+5 points on Social scale)	Opposes allowing churches to provide welfare services: Opposes topic 4 Rated 16% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4
Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-3 points on Economic scale)	Universal coverage for children is within our grasp: Strongly Favors topic 5 Supports More Federal Funding for Health Coverage: Favors topic 5 I don't expect to read confusing ObamaCare bill: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care: Favors topic 5 Rated 71% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors topic 5 Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations: Favors topic 5 Keep healthcare mandate, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 5 Protect state tobacco settlement funds from federal seizure: Neutral on topic 5
No opinion on topic 6: Privatize Social Security (0 points on Economic scale)	Opposes privatizing Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Private accounts as an add-on, not full privatization: Favors topic 6 Create Retirement Savings Accounts: Favors topic 6 Rated 60% by the ARA, indicating a mixed record on senior issues: Neutral on topic 6 Rated 82% by ARA, indicating a mixed record on senior issues: Neutral on topic 6
Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-3 points on Economic scale)	Public school choice OK: Opposes topic 7 Opposes parents choosing schools via vouchers: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Introduce market forces into our schools: Favors topic 7 Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice: Opposes topic 7 Rated 82% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Support the goals and ideals of Charter Schools: Favors topic 7
Opposes topic 8: Businesses have a right to pollute (+2 points on Social scale)	America's Water Infrastructure Act :good for entire nation: Opposes topic 8 Rated 89% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 EPA must do better on mercury clean-up: Opposes topic 8 Regulate all dog breeders down to kennels of 50 dogs: Opposes topic 8 Sponsored no permits for legal pesticide runoff into lakes & streams: Strongly Favors topic 8 Regulatory relief for smaller banks stimulates growth: Favors topic 8 Rated Keep restrictive rules for predator control in Alaska: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-3 points on Social scale)	Keep violent offendors behind bars: Strongly Favors topic 9 Agressively clean up criminal "hot spots": Strongly Favors topic 9 Supports mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws: Favors topic 9 Focus on discipline in schools: Favors topic 9 $15M in community development grants & loans: Opposes topic 9 Facilitate recovering crime victim restitution fees: Strongly Favors topic 9 First step: reduce recidivism & mass incarceration: Opposes topic 9 Rated 73% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues: Neutral on topic 9 Tougher juvenile crime penalties; but let states set them: Favors topic 9
Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-3 points on Economic scale)	Opposes absolute right to gun ownership: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology: Opposes topic 10 Close the Gun Show Loophole; restrict show sales: Opposes topic 10 Ban large-capacity ammunition: Opposes topic 10 Restrict right to bear arms, according to CC survey: Opposes topic 10 Co-sponsored background check for every firearm sale: Strongly Favors topic 10 Sponsored bill for background checks for private transfers: Strongly Favors topic 10
Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-3 points on Economic scale)	Criticizes ‘Splurging Away' Surplus: Favors topic 11 Roadmap for deficit reduction should raise corporate taxes: Strongly Favors topic 11 If immigrants stay out of trouble, they can stay: Favors topic 11 Likes cutting taxes, but fairly and sustainably: Opposes topic 11 Remove marriage tax & estate tax; but no $1.9T tax cut: Favors topic 11 Opposes making income tax flatter & lower: Favors topic 11 Broaden the base of taxable income by removing deductions: Opposes topic 11 No national sales tax or VAT: Neutral on topic 11 Rated 16% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated Reducing tax rates balloons federal deficit & cuts programs: Favors topic 11 CC:Reverse federal income tax cuts: Favors topic 11 CC:Keep the inhertiance tax: Strongly Favors topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+5 points on Social scale)	Rated 25% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12 Opposes more border security, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 12 Terminate national emergency at the Southern border: Favors topic 12 Sponsored bill to disallow religion-based immigration ban: Strongly Favors topic 12
Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale)	Supports expanding Free Trade: Favors topic 13 Work very, very hard to knock down trade barriers: Strongly Favors topic 13 Push TPP to remove limits on US poultry exports: Strongly Favors topic 13 Build a rule-based global trading system: Favors topic 13 Rated 50% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues: Neutral on topic 13 Implement USMCA for improved North American trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 88% by the USAE, indicating support for trade engagement: Strongly Favors topic 13
Strongly Opposes topic 14: Stay away from the UN & Globalism (-5 points on Economic scale)	Apply habeas corpus to Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror: Opposes topic 14 Sponsored bill to oppose Israeli annexation of West Bank: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Opposes topic 15: Peace through Strength (+2 points on Social scale)	Rated 90% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Rated Funding wars separately is gimmick against sequestration: Opposes topic 15 Exempt Veterans Affairs from federal hiring freeze: Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Require Internet disclosure of all earmarks: Favors topic 16 Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures: Strongly Favors topic 16 Signed term limit pledge: 6 years House; 12 years Senate: Favors topic 16 Repeal automatic Congressional pay raises: Favors topic 16 Sponsored bill to expand voter registration and voter access: Strongly Favors topic 16
Favors topic 17: Stay out of foreign wars (+2 points on Social scale)	Supports continuing Foreign Aid to Russia, Israel, & others: Strongly Favors topic 17 Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence: Favors topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17 CC:Keep alliance with Israel: Opposes topic 17 Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program: Opposes topic 17 No military force against Iran without Congress approval: Strongly Favors topic 17
Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-3 points on Economic scale)	More funding for Amtrak's high-speed rail: Strongly Favors topic 18 Supports spending resources to stop Global Warming: Favors topic 18 Cleanest energy is the energy we save and never have to use: Favors topic 18 Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 Voluntary partnerships reduce greenhouse gases economically: Neutral on topic 18 Kyoto Treaty must include reductions by all countries: Opposes topic 18 Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 67% by CAF, indicating a mixed record on energy independence: Neutral on topic 18 Fund nanomaterial research project for car batteries: Favors topic 18
Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-3 points on Social scale)	Monitor hot spots and parolees to ensure "Safe Streets": Favors topic 19 Supports "Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it": Favors topic 19 More federal funding for all aspects of Drug War: Favors topic 19 Rated F by NORML, indicating a "hard-on-drugs" stance: Strongly Favors topic 19 Keep ObamaCare's prevention, treatment, & recovery services: Opposes topic 19
Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-3 points on Economic scale)	Rated 71% by UFCW, indicating a mixed management/labor voting record: Neutral on topic 20 CC:No Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment: Favors topic 20 Voted YES on $900 billion COVID relief package: Favors topic 20 $1.9 trillion ARPA bill for COVID relief: Favors topic 20

Tom Carper is a Libertarian-Leaning Progressive
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