Arlen Specter on SenateMatch

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)
Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's right (+2 points on Social scale)	Rated 21% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors topic 1 Protect the reproductive rights of women: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP: Favors topic 1 YES on banning partial birth abortions: Strongly Opposes topic 1 NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions: Favors topic 1 YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life: Strongly Opposes topic 1 YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime: Opposes topic 1 NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives: Opposes topic 1 NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions: Favors topic 1 YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Favors topic 1 NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions: Favors topic 1 NO on restricting UN funding for population control policies: Favors topic 1
Favors topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (-3 points on Economic scale)	Rated 32% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Opposes topic 2 NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business: Strongly Favors topic 2 YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women: Favors topic 2
Favors topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (+2 points on Social scale)	Oppose gay marriage but support civil union: Opposes 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 ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays: Favors topic 3 Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays: Favors topic 3 YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation: Strongly Favors topic 3 YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation: Favors topic 3 NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes: Strongly Opposes topic 3 NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3
Favors topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (-3 points on Social scale)	Rated 81% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-family voting record: Strongly Favors topic 4 Rated 33% by the AU, a mixed record on church-state separation: Neutral on topic 4 NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer: Opposes topic 4 YES on $75M for abstinence education: Strongly Favors topic 4 YES on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors: Opposes topic 4 YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Favors topic 4
Favors topic 8: Death Penalty (-3 points on Social scale)	YES on rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals: Favors topic 8 YES on limiting death penalty appeals: Favors topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (+2 points on Social scale)	Rated 63% by CURE, indicating mixed votes on rehabilitation: Neutral on topic 9 Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program: Opposes topic 9 Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Permanent crime database for volunteers with kids: Favors topic 9 NO on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms: Strongly Opposes topic 9 YES on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Favors topic 9 YES on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program: Opposes topic 9 YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9
Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+2 points on Economic scale)	YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows: Favors topic 10 NO on background checks at gun shows: Strongly Favors topic 10 NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence: Strongly Opposes topic 10 YES on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership: Favors topic 10 YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains: Favors topic 10
Favors topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (-3 points on Economic scale)	Invest funds to alleviate the nursing shortage: Favors topic 5 Tax credits for those without employee health insurance: Strongly Favors topic 5 $350 billion for prescriptions for poor seniors: Favors topic 5 Rated 12% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Provide for treatment of autism under TRICARE: Favors topic 5 YES on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare: Strongly Opposes topic 5 NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Favors topic 5 NO on blocking medical savings acounts: Opposes topic 5 NO on Medicare means-testing: Favors topic 5 NO on limiting self-employment health deduction: Favors topic 5 NO on including prescription drugs under Medicare: Opposes topic 5 YES on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit: Opposes topic 5 YES on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit: Favors topic 5 YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics: Favors topic 5 NO on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Opposes topic 5 YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D: Favors topic 5 YES on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000: Favors topic 5 YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D: Favors topic 5 YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility: Favors topic 5 YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare: 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
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+2 points on Economic scale)	Considered Social Security privatization but saw it unwise: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Rated 0% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record: Strongly Favors topic 6 Supports individual savings accounts and work incentives: Favors topic 6 NO on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes: Opposes topic 6 YES on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees: Favors topic 6 YES on allowing personal retirement accounts: Favors topic 6 YES on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Favors topic 6
Strongly Favors topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (+5 points on Economic scale)	Support Ed-Flex: more flexibility if more accountable: Favors topic 7 Rated 36% by the NEA, indicating a mixed record on public education: Neutral on topic 7 YES on school vouchers in DC: Strongly Favors topic 7 YES on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules: Strongly Favors topic 7 YES on Educational Savings Accounts: Favors topic 7 NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors: Favors topic 7 NO on funding student testing instead of private tutors: Favors topic 7 NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Favors topic 7
Favors topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (-3 points on Economic scale)	Make EPA into a Cabinet department: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 32% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Raise CAFE by a 4% per year until 2018: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 50% by CAF, indicating a mixed record on energy independence: Neutral on topic 18 Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: Strongly Favors topic 18 Open the Outer Continental Shelf for oil & gas leasing: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Supports immediate reductions in greenhouse gases: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on do not require ethanol in gasoline: Favors topic 18 NO on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests: Opposes topic 18 YES on defunding renewable and solar energy: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards: Favors topic 18 YES on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling: Opposes topic 18 YES on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months: Strongly Opposes topic 18 YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill: Opposes topic 18 YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%): Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Opposes topic 18 YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning: Favors topic 18 YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China: Favors topic 18 NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation: Strongly Opposes 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: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (-3 points on Social scale)	YES on spending international development funds on drug control: Strongly Favors topic 19 YES on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Favors topic 19 NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses: Opposes topic 19
Favors topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (+2 points on Economic scale)	YES on welfare overhaul: Favors topic 20 YES on allowing state welfare waivers: Favors topic 20 YES on eliminating block grants for food stamps: Opposes topic 20 YES on welfare block grants: Favors topic 20
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (+5 points on Economic scale)	Rated 65% 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 Keep reduction of capital gains tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Implement socially fair, broad-based tax cuts: Favors topic 11 YES on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset: Opposes topic 11 NO on Internet sales tax moratorium: Favors topic 11 NO on requiring super-majority for raising taxes: Favors topic 11 YES on eliminating the 'marriage penalty': Opposes topic 11 NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts: Favors topic 11 NO on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates: Opposes topic 11 YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction: Favors topic 11 YES on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut: Opposes topic 11 YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11
Favors topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (+2 points on Social scale)	English immersion over bilingual education: Opposes topic 12 Rated 16% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Favors topic 12 NO on limit welfare for immigrants: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on visas for skilled workers: Favors topic 12 YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on establishing a Guest Worker program: Favors topic 12 YES on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Opposes topic 12 NO on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program: Neutral topic 12 YES on declaring English as the official language of the US government: Strongly Opposes topic 12 YES on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Favors topic 12
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	Promote the Andean Free Trade Agreement: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 75% by CATO, indicating a pro-free trade voting record: Strongly Favors topic 13 Tariffs against countries undervaluing their currency: Opposes topic 13 Review free trade agreements biennially for rights violation: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority: Opposes topic 13 NO on permanent normal trade relations with China: Strongly Opposes topic 13 YES on expanding trade to the third world: Favors topic 13 NO on removing common goods from national security export rules: Opposes topic 13 YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam: Favors topic 13 YES on extending free trade to Andean nations: Strongly Favors topic 13 NO on establishing free trade between US & Singapore: Opposes topic 13 YES on establishing free trade between the US and Chile: Favors topic 13 NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13 YES on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on promoting free trade with Peru: Favors topic 13
Favors topic 15: Expand the armed forces (-3 points on Social scale)	Supports $48 billion in new spending for anti-terrorism: Favors topic 15 Rated 0% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record: Strongly Favors topic 15 Improve mental health care benefits for returning veterans: Favors topic 15 Reduce federal government size & scope, including military: Opposes topic 15 YES on 1996 Defense Appropriations: Favors topic 15 YES on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty: Favors topic 15 YES on favoring 36 vetoed military projects: Strongly Favors topic 15 NO on allowing another round of military base closures: Favors topic 15 YES on military pay raise of 4.8%: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding: Opposes topic 15 NO on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Favors topic 15
Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (-3 points on Economic scale)	Military spouses don't lose voting residency while abroad: Favors topic 16 YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance: Favors topic 16 YES on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations: Favors topic 16 YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads: Favors topic 16 NO on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Opposes topic 16 YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Opposes topic 16
Opposes topic 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (-3 points on Social scale)	Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror: Favors topic 14 NO on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act: Opposes topic 14 YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Favors topic 14 NO on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Strongly Opposes topic 17: US out of Iraq (-5 points on Social scale)	NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months: Opposes topic 17