Benjamin Cardin on AmericansElect Senate Quiz

Quiz Responses (Click here for AmericansElect quiz)
AmericansElect Question & Answer (Summary answer based on details in right-hand column)	Based on these stances: (Click on answers for full excerpt & citation)
Question 1 answer D on Economy: When you think about the US budget deficit, which of the following solutions is closest to your opinion? A: Cutting existing programs B: More spending cuts than tax increases (mix of both solutions) C: More tax increases than spending cuts (mix of both solutions) D: Raising Taxes E: Unsure	Summary answer 'D' from 5 out of 7 statements: Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2016: C on question 1 NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years: D on question 1 NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent: D on question 1 YES on providing tax relief and simplification: A on question 1 YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: D on question 1 YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package: D on question 1 YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending: D on question 1 This question weighted at 16% importance. (Relative importance: 7 out of 45 statements.)
Question 2 answer A on Energy: When you think about America’s energy needs, which of the following solutions comes closest to your opinion? A: Strong investment in renewable energy like wind and solar B: More drilling than investment in renewables (mix of both solutions) C: More investment in renewable than drilling (mix of both solutions) D: Strong focus on offshore drilling and allowing drilling in federal lands including wildlife reserves E: Unsure	Summary answer 'A' from 6 out of 7 statements: Preserve Alaska's ANWR instead of drilling it: A on question 2 50% clean and carbon free electricity by 2030: A on question 2 YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol: A on question 2 YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR: A on question 2 YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore: A on question 2 NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: A on question 2 YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: C on question 2 This question weighted at 15% importance. (Relative importance: 7 out of 46 statements.)
Question 3 answer A on Healthcare: When you think about healthcare reform in the United States, which of the following solutions is closest to your opinion? A: The Government should be the sole provider of healthcare insurance B: The Government should have a major role in providing healthcare insurance C: The Government should have a limited role in providing healthcare insurance D: Only private companies should provide healthcare insurance E: Unsure	Summary answer 'A' from 2 out of 4 statements: NO on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts: A on question 3 NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: B on question 3 YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare: A on question 3 YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program: B on question 3 This question weighted at 9% importance. (Relative importance: 4 out of 46 statements.)
Question 4 answer A on Immigration: When you think about illegal immigration, which of the following solutions come closest to your opinion? A: All illegal immigrants should be able to stay in the US legally B: Most illegal immigrants should be able to stay in the US, with some exceptions C: Most illegal immigrants should be deported, with some exceptions D: All illegal immigrants should be deported E: Unsure	Summary answer 'A' from 3 out of 5 statements: Terminate national emergency at the Southern border: B on question 4 NO on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment: A on question 4 NO on building a fence along the Mexican border: A on question 4 YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": A on question 4 YES on declaring English as the official language of the US government: D on question 4 This question weighted at 11% importance. (Relative importance: 5 out of 47 statements.)
Question 5 answer C on Foreign Policy: When you think about the US pursuing its interests abroad, which of the following is closest to your opinion? A: The US should always act in its own interest regardless of what other countries think B: The US should rarely listen to other countries C: The US should listen to other countries more often than not D: The US should always listen to other countries before pursuing its own interests E: Unsure	Summary answer 'C' from 3 out of 7 statements: Integrate gender into diplomatic and foreign aid processes: D on question 5 Disallow Palestine from joining ICC to threaten Israel: B on question 5 Two-state solution despite Israeli settlements on West Bank: B on question 5 Enforce humanitarian aid access to South Sudan: C on question 5 NO on withholding $244M in UN Back Payments until US seat restored: C on question 5 NO on authorizing military force in Iraq: D on question 5 NO on reforming the UN by restricting US funding: C on question 5 This question weighted at 14% importance. (Relative importance: 7 out of 51 statements.)
Question 6 answer D on Education: When you think about education in the US, which of the following is closest to your opinion? A: School curriculums should be set entirely at a local school board level B: School curriculums should be set more by local school boards than at a national level C: School curriculums should be set more by national standards than at a local level D: School curriculums should be set entirely at a national standardized level E: Unsure	Summary answer 'D' from 2 out of 3 statements: Rated 91% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: D on question 6 NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools: C on question 6 YES on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects: D on question 6 This question weighted at 6% importance. (Relative importance: 3 out of 51 statements.)
Question 7 answer B on Social Issues: When you think about the rights of same-sex couples, which of the following is closest to your personal opinion? A: Same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry or form any kind of civil union B: Same-sex couples should be allowed to form civil unions, but not to marry in the traditional sense C: Same-sex couples should be allowed to marry legally, with all the same rights as traditional marriages D: Unsure	Summary answer 'B' from 5 out of 8 statements: Supports civil unions, no comment on gay marriage: B on question 7 ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays: B on question 7 Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays: B on question 7 Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools: C on question 7 Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools: C on question 7 Let states recognize same sex marriage: B on question 7 NO on banning gay adoptions in DC: B on question 7 NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage: C on question 7 This question weighted at 15% importance. (Relative importance: 8 out of 53 statements.)
Question 8 answer D on Environment: Which of the following statements comes closest to your personal view? A: Natural resources exist for the benefit of humanity B: Natural resources exist for the benefit of humanity, but should be somewhat protected C: Natural resources should be mostly protected, but also exist for the benefit of humanity D: Natural resources exist on their own and should be completely protected E: Unsure	Summary answer 'D' from 5 out of 8 statements: Rated 100% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes: D on question 8 Grants for beach water pollution under Clean Water Act: C on question 8 Regulate all dog breeders down to kennels of 50 dogs: C on question 8 Sponsored matching grants for wetlands conservation projects: D on question 8 Fund projects for international conservation of cranes: D on question 8 NO on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species: D on question 8 YES on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems: D on question 8 NO on prohibiting eminent domain for use as parks or grazing land: C on question 8 This question weighted at 15% importance. (Relative importance: 8 out of 55 statements.)
Question 9 answer B on Reform: Which of the following comes closest to your personal opinion? A: To make this country great, we should return to the examples and values of our forefathers B: This country is already great, we shouldn't change a thing C: To make this country great, we should keep building and adapting for the future	Summary answer 'B' from 3 out of 6 statements: NO on withdrawing from the WTO: C on question 9 NO on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance: C on question 9 YES on approving removal of Saddam & valiant service of US troops: B on question 9 YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent: B on question 9 YES on extending the PATRIOT Act's roving wiretaps: B on question 9 NO on requiring photo ID to vote in federal elections: C on question 9 This question weighted at 11% importance. (Relative importance: 6 out of 55 statements.)