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 unrestricted right
 (+2 points on Social scale)
 | 2006: I'm pro-life; 2014: That was for Republicans: Opposes topic 1 Favors embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 1995: Opposed mandatory 24-hour waiting period for abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1 I'm pro-life, but stay out of other people's lives: Favors topic 1 Vetoed bill requiring ultrasound exams before abortions: Favors topic 1 Tea Party is too extreme on outlawing abortion: Opposes topic 1 Defend parental notification rights: Opposes topic 1 Prohibit partial-birth abortion: Opposes topic 1 Abortion is a personal decision; but ban partial-birth: Favors topic 1 Supports both federal abortion funding & judicial activism: Strongly Favors topic 1  Opposes prohibiting human embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1  Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1  Access safe, legal abortion without restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 1  Supports public funding for abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1  | 
Strongly Favors
 topic 2:Legally require hiring women & minorities
 (-5 points on Economic scale)
 | I left GOP because they bash Obama's race: Strongly Favors topic 2 Civil rights is an American value that all should embrace: Strongly Favors topic 2 Diversity is one of our strengths in America: Strongly Favors topic 2 Lifetime member of NAACP: Favors topic 2 Provide compensation to victims of racial discrimination: Strongly Favors topic 2 Discontinue affirmative action programs: Strongly Opposes topic 2 Voted YES on private lawsuits for school race discrimination: Favors topic 2  | 
Favors
 topic 3:Comfortable with same-sex marriage
 (+2 points on Social scale)
 | 2006: Came out for civil unions; denied rumors he was gay: Strongly Favors topic 3 2010: Backed gay marriage ban; 2014: supports gay marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3 I support marriage equality in Florida: Strongly Favors topic 3 Military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy has worked: Opposes topic 3 Uphold Florida’s Defense of Marriage Act: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Opposes banning homosexuals in the military: Strongly Favors topic 3  Supports sexual preference as a protected minority status: Strongly Favors topic 3  | 
Strongly Favors
 topic 4:Keep God in the public sphere
 (-5 points on Social scale)
 | Constitutional amendment for school prayer: Strongly Favors topic 4 | 
Strongly Favors
 topic 5:Expand ObamaCare
 (-5 points on Economic scale)
 | 2007 & 2010: opposed ObamaCare; now supports fixing it: Favors topic 5 AdWatch: unwavering support of ObamaCare: Strongly Favors topic 5 Cover Florida: 6,000 uninsured given peace of mind: Strongly Favors topic 5 Cover Florida: $150 a month plan for 3.8 million uninsured: Strongly Favors topic 5 Expand tax-free medical savings accounts: Opposes topic 5 Opposes repealing mandated health insurance: Strongly Favors topic 5  | 
Opposes
 topic 6:Privatize Social Security
 (-3 points on Economic scale)
 | Reducing COLA is unfair to seniors living on fixed income: Opposes topic 6 Focus on waste & fraud, not retirement age & COLA: Favors topic 6 Invest budget surplus into Trust Fund: Opposes topic 6 Don't raise eligibility age; don't tax benefits: Opposes topic 6 | 
Favors
 topic 7:Vouchers for school choice
 (+2 points on Economic scale)
 | Supports charter schools and standardized testing: Favors topic 7 Some public school teachers should earn $100,000: Strongly Opposes topic 7 National testing mostly favors for-profit testing firms: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Vetoed merit-based pay for teachers: Opposes topic 7 School choice gives kids the best chance for success: Favors topic 7 As Commissioner of Educ., implemented school accountability: Favors topic 7 Propose $3.8 billion to reduce class size: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Early advocate for parental choice in education: Strongly Favors topic 7 Allow vouchers for any public, private or religious school: Strongly Favors topic 7 Supports vouchers to let parents choose public or private school: Strongly Favors topic 7  | 
Strongly Opposes
 topic 8:Fight EPA regulatory over-reach
 (+5 points on Social scale)
 | 1992: Elected to State Senate on pro-environment message: Opposes topic 8 Asked BP to pay $65M for tourism promotion, after oil spill: Opposes topic 8 Appropriate $100 million to continue to restore Everglades: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Rated  Deregulating banks encourages discriminatory practices: Opposes topic 8  Rated  Keep restrictive rules for predator control in Alaska: Strongly Opposes topic 8  | 
Strongly Favors
 topic 9:Stricter punishment reduces crime
 (-5 points on Social scale)
 | Reimagine law enforcement; restore trust with police: Strongly Opposes topic 9 "Chain Gang Charlie": reinstitute prisoner labor on highways: Favors topic 9 1993: Sponsored STOP law: Stop Turning Out Prisoners: Strongly Favors topic 9 Chain-Gang Charlie: reinstitute prison chain gangs: Strongly Favors topic 9 Stop Turning Out Prisoners: serve at least 85% of sentence: Strongly Favors topic 9 Toughened penalties for identity theft and Internet spam: Favors topic 9 Supports 10-20-Life and Stop Turning Out Prisoners program: Strongly Favors topic 9 Require that prisoners serve at least 85% of their sentences: Strongly Favors topic 9 Broaden use of federal death penalty: Favors topic 9 More federal prisons; more “truth in sentencing”: Strongly Favors topic 9 First step: reduce recidivism & mass incarceration: Opposes topic 9  | 
Strongly Favors
 topic 10:Absolute right to gun ownership
 (+5 points on Economic scale)
 | Strongly supports Second Amendment rights: Strongly Favors topic 10 Repeal gun restrictions; allow concealed carry: Strongly Favors topic 10 Opposes restrictions on the right to bear arms: Strongly Favors topic 10  Rated A- by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record: Strongly Favors topic 10  Opposes restrictions on right to bear arms: Strongly Favors topic 10  Require background check for every firearm sale and transfer: Strongly Opposes topic 10  | 
Favors
 topic 11:Higher taxes on the wealthy
 (-3 points on Economic scale)
 | Humble roots led to values of lower taxes & less government: Opposes topic 11 Replace income tax with a flat tax or national sales tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Supports increasing income tax rates: Strongly Favors topic 11  Rated  Reducing tax rates balloons federal deficit & cuts programs: Favors topic 11  $12B in federal economic stimulus as state block grants: Favors topic 11  | 
Opposes
 topic 12:Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens
 (-3 points on Social scale)
 | No amnesty, but an earned path to citizenship: Favors topic 12 Seal borders; enforce laws; send illegals to back of line: Opposes topic 12 Close the door of illegal immigration; protect our borders: Strongly Opposes topic 12 | 
No opinion on
 topic 13:Support & expand free trade
 (0 points on Economic scale)
 | Opposes NAFTA; supports tariffs; opposes Fast Track: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Implement USMCA for improved North American trade: Strongly Favors topic 13  | 
Opposes
 topic 14:Support American Exceptionalism
 (-3 points on Economic scale)
 | Lift the Cuban embargo; it has failed for 50 years: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Find a way to work with our international allies: Strongly Opposes topic 14 2008: I don't believe in torture: Opposes topic 14 Rated  Maintain World Bank funding as part of multilateralism: Strongly Opposes topic 14  Two-state solution despite Israeli settlements on West Bank: Favors topic 14  Voted YES to monitor forced Uyghur labor in Xinjiang: Favors topic 14  | 
Strongly Favors
 topic 15:Expand the military
 (-5 points on Social scale)
 | Led effort to ensure veterans had access to COVID vaccine: Favors topic 15 Supports strong national defense: Strongly Favors topic 15 | 
Strongly Favors
 topic 16:Make voter registration easier
 (+5 points on Social scale)
 | Extend voting hours across the state for all: Strongly Favors topic 16 Criticized restrictive elections bill & anti-riot bill: Strongly Favors topic 16 Supports term limits & instant contribution reporting: Favors topic 16 Statehood for the District of Columbia: Favors topic 16  Automatic voter registration for all citizens: Strongly Favors topic 16  Holiday on election day; revamp for easier voting access: Favors topic 16  | 
Strongly Favors
 topic 17:Avoid foreign entanglements
 (+5 points on Social scale)
 | Remove US Forces from Hostilities Against Yemen: Favors topic 17  No military force against Iran without Congress approval: Strongly Favors topic 17  | 
Strongly Favors
 topic 18:Prioritize green energy
 (-5 points on Economic scale)
 | I'm not a scientists, but I can use my brain & talk to one: Strongly Favors topic 18 Reduce climate change by doing things we should do anyway: Strongly Favors topic 18 BP oil spill made me oppose offshore oil drilling: Favors topic 18 Instituted state cap-and-trade by Executive Order: Strongly Favors topic 18 Open to cap-and-trade plan for carbon emissions: Favors topic 18 $200M package for solar, wind, & biofuel from citrus: Favors topic 18 Propose almost $70 million on alternative energy development: Favors topic 18 Supports renewable energy tax credits: Strongly Favors topic 18  Voted YES to assist rural electric renewable energy: Favors topic 18  | 
Favors
 topic 19:Marijuana is a gateway drug
 (-3 points on Social scale)
 | Supports legalizing recreational marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19 More penalties against drugs; more funds for enforcement: Strongly Favors topic 19 Voted YES on combatting epidemic of synthetic drugs: Favors topic 19  | 
Favors
 topic 20:Stimulus better than market-led recovery
 (-3 points on Economic scale)
 | Worked to pass the American Rescue Plan: Strongly Favors topic 20 Supports economic stimulus and some parts of ObamaCare: Strongly Favors topic 20 $8B stimulus funds saved or created 87,000 jobs in Florida: Strongly Favors topic 20 Reduce the tax brackets to let private enterprise flourish: Strongly Opposes topic 20 2006: Pledged no taxes; 2009: $2.2B in fees on 16M people: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Best to extend all tax cuts; but compromise and push later: Opposes topic 20 Voted YES on $900 billion COVID relief package: Favors topic 20  |