Cory Booker on SenateMatch

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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)	OpEd: In mainstream of NJ, supporting abortion rights: Favors topic 1 No restrictions before viability; exceptions after viability: Favors topic 1 Vigorously defend women's access to affordable birth control: Strongly Favors topic 1 Fix Hobby Lobby: it's not about religious freedom: Favors topic 1 Claimed to support post-viability exceptions, but voted no: Strongly Favors topic 1 Create Office of Reproductive Freedom & Reproductive Rights: Strongly Favors topic 1 Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1 Access safe, legal abortion without restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 1 Keep federal funding for family planning clinics: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated Born-Alive Survivors bill tries to illegalize abortion: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Until college, tolerated gays but was disgusted personally: Opposes topic 2 Growing up gay today is like growing up Black decades ago: Strongly Favors topic 2 Creative civil rights activism revealed rampant injustice: Strongly Favors topic 2 Blacks more likely to be suspended in school & jailed later: Strongly Favors topic 2 Recognize Native Americans but no Indigenous Peoples' Day: Neutral on topic 2 Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2 Yes to reparations, but as part of larger conversation: Strongly Favors topic 2 Next president must talk openly and honestly about race: Strongly Favors topic 2 Don't give a damn about the politics: racism is racism: Favors topic 2 Not enough to say "not a hatemonger myself": Strongly Favors topic 2 Supports Women, Minority and Small Business Assistance: Strongly Favors topic 2 Government procurement should promote women-owned business: Strongly Favors topic 2 Fund minority businesses with KIVA microloans: Favors topic 2 Prisoner re-entry is the new front line of civil rights: Favors topic 2 Gender wage gap problematic; minority wage gap worse: Strongly Favors topic 2 First African-American senator from New Jersey: Favors topic 2 Raised in only black family in segregated neighborhood: Favors topic 2 It's not who's racist; it's what are you doing about it: Favors topic 2 Enforce against wage discrimination based on gender: Strongly Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Support transgender and LGBTQ+ rights (+5 points on Social scale)	Equal marriage rights for same-sex couples are coming: Strongly Favors topic 3 Supports gay marriage: We are all equal under the law: Strongly Favors topic 3 African-Americans & gays should both be equal under the law: Strongly Favors topic 3 Officiated same-sex marriage at first moment legally allowed: Strongly Favors topic 3 Parents experienced racist "redlining" at family home in NJ: Strongly Favors topic 3 Will fight for LGBTQ rights; everyone should feel safe: Strongly Favors topic 3 Threats to LGBTQ people can no longer be ignored: Strongly Favors topic 3 Transgender troops should be allowed to serve: Strongly Favors topic 3 Let states recognize same sex marriage: Favors topic 3 Maintain LGBT health info on federal websites: Strongly Favors topic 3
Opposes topic 4: America was founded on Christian values (+2 points on Social scale)	Show your religion in how you treat other people: Opposes topic 4 Even those with no religion are entitled to rights: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Pragmatic Democrat: support private/faith-based initiatives: Favors topic 4 Resided in housing project after law school, to help tenants: Opposes topic 4 Led effort for religious freedom via no religious registry: Strongly Opposes topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	We need a national solution and also local solutions: Favors topic 5 Newark Rx: affordable medications for uninsured Newarkers: Strongly Favors topic 5 Control healthcare cost; no comment on single-payer: Favors topic 5 ObamaCare needs to be improved, but is helping people now: Strongly Favors topic 5 ObamaCare is a vital step in the right direction: Strongly Favors topic 5 Repealing ObamaCare hurts working-class: Strongly Favors topic 5 Ok to consider single-payer, but I'm not behind it: Opposes topic 5 Repealing ObamaCare with no replacement just hurts Americans: Favors topic 5 Allow importing prescription drugs to lower Rx prices: Favors topic 5 Backs Medicare-for-All: Strongly Favors topic 5 Medicare for all; start with commonsense reforms: Strongly Favors topic 5 Health care is a right; public option is step towards goal: Strongly Favors topic 5 Support Medicare for All but do what's possible now: Strongly Favors topic 5 Public option is first step, negotiate lower drug prices: Strongly Favors topic 5 Too many profiting off of people's pain: Strongly Favors topic 5 Reduce Medicare eligibility to 55 from current age of 65: Strongly Favors topic 5 We spend multiple times what other countries do on health: Strongly Favors topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	Government funded savings account at birth: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Opposes raising the retirement age for several decades: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Opposes raising retirement age; expand entitlements: Opposes topic 6 COLA adjustments needed for retirement plans: Opposes topic 6 Don't raise retirement age, except maybe for young workers: Favors topic 6 Once supported raising retirement age; now opposes it: Opposes topic 6 Raise the cap on Social Security taxes to fund system: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+2 points on Economic scale)	Vouchers and charters can work in inner cities: Favors topic 7 Charters & alternatives for persistently failing schools: Favors topic 7 Brother runs a charter school in inner-city Memphis: Favors topic 7 Supports school voucher proposal, like other Democrats: Strongly Favors topic 7 Supports school vouchers: Strongly Favors topic 7 Pre-school for 3-year-olds; more teacher empowerment: Favors topic 7 Fundamental right to high quality public education: Strongly Favors topic 7 Supports "Race to the Top" education reform: Favors topic 7 Urban school districts are beholden to public worker union: Favors topic 7 Star fundraiser for Democrats for Education Reform: Favors topic 7 New public school models & more public education options: Favors topic 7 2010: Make Newark the nation's charter school capital: Favors topic 7 Radical reform needed for youth to move forward: Strongly Favors topic 7 Investment in education helps the whole society: Opposes topic 7 Support public education including some charter schools: Opposes topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Businesses have a right to pollute (+5 points on Social scale)	Parks and green spaces are associated with safer communities: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Save our environment while creating jobs and wealth: Opposes topic 8 Vegetarian because of environmental impact of eating meat: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Vegetarian since 1992; vegan since 2014: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Passaic River poisoned because it was cheaper for business: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Dumping pollutants into rivers externalizes costs: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Trees reduce erosion & increase property values: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Green space; green housing; green jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Rated 100% on all animal welfare ratings: Strongly Opposes topic 8 GreenSpaces: public-private partnership for city parks: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Support next-generation advanced nuclear reactors: Favors topic 8 Deforestation of Amazon started long before current fires: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Businesses realize a return on our infrastructure investment: Opposes topic 8 Require labeling genetically engineered food: Opposes topic 8 Endorsed Endorsed by LCV; supports conservation efforts: 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
Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+2 points on Social scale)	ReLeSe: Pro bono legal services to ex-offenders: Opposes topic 9 Ran off armed assailant: "Not in our city anymore!": Favors topic 9 Got celebrities to donate cash for police equipment: Favors topic 9 Launch Fatherhood Center and pro-bono legal help for ex-cons: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Applied "broken windows theory" in Newark policing: Favors topic 9 Long-term believer in "broken windows" theory: Favors topic 9 Prisons grow irrespective of crime rates: Opposes topic 9 1960s cities had mostly white cops & mostly black majority: Opposes topic 9 Anti-recidivism funds much scanter than prison funds: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Police doesn't solve problem; they just attend to symptoms: Favors topic 9 Reduced crime by helping prisoners coming home: Opposes topic 9 Theory of "broken windows" doesn't drive down crime: Strongly Favors topic 9 Poor & minorities bear the brunt of policing practices: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Mass incarceration has failed: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Prison construction draws resources from other priorities: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Incarceration isn't working; focus on preventing recidivism: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Increase the number of police in all neighborhoods: Strongly Favors topic 9 Evolved from supporting Broken Windows theory to opposition: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Rich-and-guilty treated better than poor-and-innocent: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Make lynching a hate crime: Favors topic 9 Opportunities for dropouts: avoid school-to-prison pipeline: Opposes topic 9 Cut mandatory minimum sentences; end solitary for juveniles: Strongly Opposes topic 9 More black men are in jails now than under slavery: Strongly Favors topic 9 Legalize marijuana; restore ex-con voting rights: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Ended "three strike penalty"; more reform is needed: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Opioid manufacturers should be held criminally liable: Strongly Favors topic 9 First step: reduce recidivism & mass incarceration: Opposes topic 9 Rated 9% by the NAPO, indicating a police-the-police stance: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	$1,000 reward for crime tips leading to gun recovery: Favors topic 10 Insane to carry concealed loaded weapons cross-state: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Coalition "Mayors Against Illegal Guns"; Keep state laws: Strongly Opposes topic 10 $1,000 reward for tip on illegal weapons: Opposes topic 10 Prohibit firearms to suspected terrorists: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Common sense gun reform on day one: Strongly Opposes topic 10 More background checks & gun trace data: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Criminal gun runners shouldn't have Second Amendment rights: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Failed to pass gun legislation after Orlando mass shooting: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Require background checks; ban assault weapons: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Consensus on common sense gun laws; ready to fight NRA: Strongly Opposes topic 10 14-part gun control plan, with criminal enforcement: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Supports national gun licensing every 5 years: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Gun control works; refuse to believe it's not doable: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Evidence-based laws can lower gun violence: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Tired of "thoughts and prayers"--this is personal: Strongly Opposes topic 10 We require licenses to drive; so require licenses for guns: Strongly Opposes topic 10 As with civil rights, we can build coalitions for gun laws: Strongly Opposes topic 10 I'm bringing a fight against the corporate gun lobby: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Yes on red flag law, but nowhere near enough: Strongly 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)	Replace spending with tax incentives to stimulate hiring: Opposes topic 11 Budget crisis: cut $60M in spending; cut municipal taxes: Opposes topic 11 Lower corporate tax rate & close loopholes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 New estate tax to fund "baby bond" program: Favors topic 11 One-time building sale, plus tax increase, to balance budget: Favors topic 11 Raise taxes because quick fix of cuts wasn't enough: Favors topic 11 Promised no taxes; but meant "no on one city tax increase": Favors topic 11 Helped people claim earned-income tax credit: Favors topic 11 Expand Earned Income Tax Credit: Favors topic 11 Tax plan that rewards hard work: Opposes topic 11 Assist beneficiaries with earned income tax credit: Favors topic 11 Rated Reducing tax rates balloons federal deficit & cuts programs: Favors topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+5 points on Social scale)	Opposes family separation policy at southern border: Favors topic 12 Blocking the DREAM Act is crazy; it's how we built America: Strongly Favors topic 12 Against involving city police in immigration matters: Strongly Favors topic 12 Against involving city police in immigration matters: Favors topic 12 Welcome Syrian refugees and fight any bans: Strongly Favors topic 12 Supports DACA and DREAMers: Strongly Favors topic 12 Support DREAMers, reform immigration to reflect our values: Strongly Favors topic 12 Intervene in refugees' home countries; reform asylum process: Favors topic 12 Make major investments in the Northern Triangle: Strongly Favors topic 12 Get rid of section 1325 & deal with ICE abuses at home: Strongly Favors topic 12 Decriminalize border crossings and treat people humanely: Strongly Favors topic 12 We should not pit some immigrants against others: Strongly Favors topic 12 Provide lawyers and evidence for children being deported: 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
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-3 points on Economic scale)	China is engaging in unfair trade practices: Opposes topic 13 African trade makes stable countries & good for our security: Strongly Favors topic 13 China cheats via currency manipulation & IP theft: Strongly Opposes topic 13 No fast-track for Trans-Pacific Partnership: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Deal with China despite their cheating: Favors topic 13 Promote exports, but restrict multilateral trade deals: Opposes topic 13 No fast-track trade authority for Trans-Pacific Partnership: Opposes topic 13 Labor & environment should be at center of every trade deal: Opposes topic 13 Declare Turkish rebar subject to anti-dumping duties: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Fight Chinese predatory trade practices on car tires: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Rated Voted FOR reauthorizing Ex-Im Bank: Strongly Favors topic 13 $25B more loans from Export-Import Bank: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated Oppose USMCA until more environmental & job protections: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Ban imports from Xinjiang made by Uyghur forced labor: Opposes topic 13
Opposes topic 14: Stay away from the UN & Globalism (-3 points on Economic scale)	No head in the sand; but no global police: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Trump would denigrate relationships with Muslim countries: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Where Israel's security is at stake, so is America's: Favors topic 14 Development funds via international organizations for Africa: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Robust diplomacy and international development: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Fund the life-saving work done by diplomats: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Would rejoin Iran nuclear deal & work with allies: Strongly Favors topic 14 Disallow Palestine from joining ICC to threaten Israel: Favors topic 14 Enforce humanitarian aid access to South Sudan: Opposes topic 14 Two-state solution despite Israeli settlements on West Bank: Favors topic 14 Sponsored bill to monitor forced Uyghur labor in Xinjiang: Strongly Favors topic 14
Favors topic 15: Peace through Strength (-3 points on Social scale)	Incentives to train & hire troops returning home: Opposes topic 15 Maintain the strongest military force in the world: Strongly Favors topic 15 Irresponsible to spend on irrelevant weapon systems: Opposes topic 15 Form National Guard Cyber Protection Team: Favors topic 15 No irresponsible spending on weapons military doesn't want: Favors topic 15 Supports military spending on Foreign Affairs Committee: Opposes topic 15 Technology empowers individuals but creates diverse threats: Favors 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)	Wants new Voting Right Act; end gerrymandering: Strongly Favors topic 16 Campaign PAC money shouldn't speak louder than people: Strongly Favors topic 16 Declined lavish perks as Newark City Councilor: Favors topic 16 Make it harder for wealthy to influence politicians: Strongly Favors topic 16 Founding principle: make laws open to public debate: Favors topic 16 Threat to voting rights in America remains very real: Strongly Favors topic 16 Even billionaires need transparency in confirmation hearings: Favors topic 16 Must lead the fight against voter suppression: Strongly Favors topic 16 Average black voter waits in line 2X as long as white voter: Strongly Favors topic 16 Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements: Favors topic 16 Statehood for the District of Columbia: Favors topic 16 Automatic voter registration for all citizens: Strongly Favors topic 16 Sponsored bill for election holiday & easier voting access: Strongly 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)	Re-examine relationship with Saudi Arabia: Favors topic 17 Support our allies, not our enemies: Opposes topic 17 Not working with allies on Iran makes us weaker: Opposes topic 17 We're spending billions on a war based on unjust pretenses: Strongly Favors topic 17 Direct military intervention in Syria only as last resort: Favors topic 17 All options on the table with Iran, including military: Strongly Opposes topic 17 End intervention in Yemen & Iran, but not Israel: Favors topic 17 Get back into nuclear deal with Iran; negotiate if possible: Opposes topic 17 No military action by Tweet; out of Afghanistan later: Opposes topic 17 War & Peace: Strongly Favors topic 17 Iran must accept long-term intrusive nuke inspection: Opposes topic 17 Hold Assad accountable for slaughter of civilians: Opposes topic 17 No military force against Iran without Congress approval: Strongly Favors topic 17 Sponsored resolution to repeal 2002 AUMF against Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Create green economy with lower carbon output: Strongly Favors topic 18 Has never taken a public position on a carbon tax: Neutral on topic 18 Sustainability programs: slow growth of carbon footprint: Favors topic 18 Eliminate unfair subsidies for oil and ga: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rejoin Greenhouse Gas Initiative under Clean Power Plan: Favors topic 18 Treat carbon pollution like mercury and particle pollution: Strongly Favors topic 18 Climate change requires American leadership: Strongly Favors topic 18 Ice-melt is literally creating climate refugees: Favors topic 18 Support existing nuclear power by pricing carbon: Neutral on topic 18 Supports tax-funded carbon reduction, but not carbon tax: Favors topic 18 Mixed score on "350 Action's 2020 Climate Test": Favors topic 18 Leadership in dealing with climate change, including nuclear: Favors topic 18 Carbon tax should go to alleviating inequality: Favors topic 18 Rejoin Paris Climate Agreement, plus domestic legislation: Strongly Favors topic 18 Climate change is the lens through which we view every issue: Strongly Favors topic 18 Incentivize farmers that help them enrich environment: Strongly Favors topic 18 Federal collaboration for advanced nuclear technologies: Opposes topic 18 50% clean and carbon free electricity by 2030: Strongly Favors topic 18 Green New Deal: 10-year national mobilization: Favors topic 18
Strongly Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+5 points on Social scale)	Community courts for minor crimes like drug possession: Opposes topic 19 The war on drugs has failed; support medical marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Never attracted to drink and drugs, even as teenager: Favors topic 19 Minorities imprisoned for drugs at 6 times rate for whites: Opposes topic 19 End mandatory sentencing for nonviolent drug offenders: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Give addicts treatment instead of long sentences: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Drug war isn't waged in privileged communities: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Staged sit-in at urban housing to disrupt drug trade: Strongly Favors topic 19 Opposes Drug War, but control border for opioid precursors: Favors topic 19 Legalize marijuana federally, plus state incentives: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Decriminalize marijuana; expunge past criminal records: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Legalize marijuana nationally including recreational use: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Remove cocaine sentencing disparities: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Marijuana Justice Act: decriminalize pot & expunge records: Opposes topic 19 The war on drugs has been a war on people: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Rated B+ by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes 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)	We will not be able to cut our way out of the jobs crisis: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Performance-based budgeting with no tax increases: Opposes topic 20 2010 recession: sold city buildings and raised city taxes: Favors topic 20 SOAR Act: $25M for Startup Opportunity Accelerator: Strongly Favors topic 20 Don't condemn high tech business; regulate them: Favors topic 20 Pilot program to fund jobs paying at least $15/hour: Strongly Favors topic 20 One-time building sale, plus tax increase, to balance budget: Favors topic 20 Raise taxes because quick fix of cuts wasn't enough: Favors topic 20 We can't afford to ignore aging infrastructure anymore: Favors topic 20 Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2016: 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

Cory Booker is a Hard-Core Liberal
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