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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 Opposes topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (-5 points on Social scale)	Fund community health centers instead of Planned Parenthood: Neutral on topic 1 Force a Senate vote on defunding Planned Parenthood: Opposes topic 1 Stop flow of taxpayer dollars to fund abortions: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Supports "Plan B" morning-after contraception: Opposes topic 1 Re-establish inter-country adoptions from Guatemala: Opposes topic 1 Supports religious freedom to deny contraceptive coverage: Opposes topic 1 Thousands of exceptions follow from maternal health: Opposes topic 1 Personhood at conception, including embryonic stem cells: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Coarsening of our culture led to 50 million unborn deaths: Strongly Opposes topic 1 My opponents call me libertarian but I'm pro-life: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Life begins at conception: Opposes topic 1 Opposes federal abortion funding: Opposes topic 1 Prohibit federal funding for abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Include pre-born human beings in 14th Amendment protection: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Voted YES to protect infant survivors of abortion: Opposes topic 1
Opposes topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (+2 points on Economic scale)	Boycott countries that demonize women, like Saudi Arabia: Strongly Favors topic 2 Be aware of those who are missing out on American Dream: Favors topic 2 War on drugs has unintentionally had a racial outcome: Favors topic 2 Women won the "war on women": they're no longer downtrodden: Strongly Opposes topic 2 Illegal to impose racial segregation in the private sector: Opposes topic 2 Opposes affirmative action: Strongly Opposes topic 2 NO on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act: Opposes topic 2
Opposes topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (-3 points on Social scale)	I don't believe in rights based on your behavior: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Gay contracts ok, but gay marriage is offensive: Opposes topic 3 Don't register guns federally, nor marriages: Favors topic 3 Redefining marriage leads to economic and moral problems: Strongly Opposes topic 3 No national law on same-sex marriage; leave it to states: Favors topic 3 Make federal benefits equal for gay couples: Favors topic 3 Let states decide same-sex marriage; don't federalize it: Favors topic 3 Military should decide don't-ask-don't-tell policy: Opposes topic 3 Opposes same-sex marriage: Opposes topic 3 Supports Amendment to prevent same sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Supports banning homosexuals in the military: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Respect faith-based opposition to same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3
Opposes topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (+2 points on Social scale)	Resist government imposing religious views of marriage: Opposes topic 4
Strongly Opposes topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (+5 points on Economic scale)	Insure as many as people, but without mandates: Opposes topic 5 Health system was over-regulated before ObamaCare: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Compassion cannot be delivered in the form of coercion: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Supports tort reform & free-market principles: Strongly Opposes topic 5 ObamaCare cuts hundreds of choices down to just four: Opposes topic 5 ObamaCare is still unconstitutional, despite Supreme Court: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Restrain ObamaCare from using Commerce Clause: Opposes topic 5 Obamacare will cost $3T & health insurance still goes up 15%: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Replace over-regulation with free market principles: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Opposes government-run healthcare: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Defund, repeal, & replace federal care with free market: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Repeal any federal health care takeover: Strongly Opposes topic 5 NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: Favors topic 5
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+2 points on Economic scale)	Raise the retirement age to deal with Baby Boomers: Opposes topic 6 Raise retirement age gradually; allow opting out: Favors topic 6 Social Security is a Ponzi scheme: Strongly Favors topic 6 Supports private retirement accounts: Strongly Favors topic 6 Rated 17% by ARA, indicating a mixed record on senior issues: Neutral on topic 6
Strongly Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+5 points on Economic scale)	COVID: Opening schools doesn't lead to a surge: Neutral on topic 7 Don't constrict kids to one-size-fits-all Common Core: Strongly Favors topic 7 Transfer $100B spent on federal DOE to states & local: Strongly Favors topic 7 Charters & flexibility instead of federal one-size-fits-all: Strongly Favors topic 7 Allow school choice for everyone, white, brown, or black: Strongly Favors topic 7 No Child Left Behind is federal takeover of schools: Strongly Favors topic 7 Support homeschooling and parental responsibility: Strongly Favors topic 7 Block funding for Common Core; it's too heavy-handed: Favors topic 7
Strongly Favors topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (-5 points on Social scale)	Repeal energy regulations like Clean Power Act: Favors topic 8 Balance environmental safety with business deregulation: Strongly Favors topic 8 EPA regulations cost $15 trillion in 2012: Strongly Favors topic 8 Regulatory relief for smaller banks stimulates growth: Favors topic 8 Loosen restrictions on predator control in Alaska: Strongly Favors topic 8 NO on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems: Favors topic 8
Strongly Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+5 points on Social scale)	Replace bail system with jail only for flight risk: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Focus on violent criminals, not nonviolent African-Americans: Strongly Opposes topic 9 REDEEM Act: seal non-violent criminal records to allow jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Defend the whole Bill of Rights, including speedy trials: Opposes topic 9 Defend the 4th & 5th Amendments against Big Government: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Blacks look who's in prison & conclude cops out to get them: Opposes topic 9 Death penalty is a state issue: Favors topic 9 Justice cannot occur without a trial, especially minorities: Opposes topic 9 Defend trial by jury & oppose unlawful searches: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Stop over-criminalization in vague laws like Lacey Act: Opposes topic 9 Many criminal statutes lack requirement of criminal intent: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Drones have executed people wrongfully, like death penalty: Strongly Opposes topic 9 First step: reduce recidivism & mass incarceration: Opposes topic 9 Rated 45% by the NAPO, indicating a police-the-police stance: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	2015: Introduced Arming All Pilots Act: Favors topic 10 Oppose laws which would limit the right to gun ownership: Strongly Favors topic 10 Don't let the liberals tread on the Second Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 10 Supports 2nd amendment; vote against restricting handguns: Strongly Favors topic 10 Opposes restrictions on the right to bear arms: Strongly Favors topic 10 Rated AQ by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record: Strongly Favors topic 10 Endorsed Liberty Candidate: no point in keeping guns you can't access: Strongly Favors topic 10 NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets: Strongly Favors topic 10
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+5 points on Economic scale)	Shifting payroll tax to business helps middle class the most: Favors topic 11 Flat tax 14.5% on personal income; & 14.5% value added tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Flat tax doesn't exacerbate income inequality: Strongly Opposes topic 11 EZ Tax: $700B tax cut via 17% flat tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Balanced budget and a simple, fair tax system: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Help the unemployed by lowering taxes dramatically: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Cut corporate tax in half to create millions of jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Stand firm and say NO to any MORE tax hikes!: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Opposed to increasing taxes during recession: Opposes topic 11 Lower taxes encourage spending, saving, and investing: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Taxpayer Protection Pledge: no new taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Supports flat-rate federal tax; opposes increased tax rates: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Adopt a single-rate tax system: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Repeal tax hikes in capital gains and death tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Supports the Taxpayer Protection Pledge: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Reduce corporate tax rates from 35% to 21% to create jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 11
Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+2 points on Social scale)	To defend against terrorism, we need to defend the border: Opposes topic 12 Secure border with Mexico; do away with sanctuary cities: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Move beyond amnesty, but eventually to path to citizenship: Favors topic 12 Latinos support GOP stances of faith and family values: Favors topic 12 Legal status, but not citizenship, for illegal immigrants: Favors topic 12 We will find a place for illegal immigrants in America: Strongly Favors topic 12 Replace de facto amnesty with bipartisan reform: Favors topic 12 See immigrants as assets, not liabilities: Strongly Favors topic 12 No amnesty; respect the law: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Terminate national emergency at the Southern border: Favors topic 12
Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale)	China trade improves economy AND makes fight less likely: Strongly Favors topic 13 Accompany free trade laws with other export inducers: Favors topic 13 Voted YES to kill reauthorization of Ex-Im Bank: Opposes topic 13 Implement USMCA for improved North American trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 75% by the USAE, indicating support for trade engagement: Strongly Favors topic 13
Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-3 points on Economic scale)	Oppose Trump nominees who supported Iraq War or torture: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Both refugees and visa waivers pose threat: Favors topic 14 Good idea to end Cuba embargo; it hasn't worked: Opposes topic 14 Neocons are neoisolationist: 'all should behave like us': Opposes topic 14 My worldview: engage both friend and foe in dialogue: Strongly Opposes topic 14 No isolationism; but don't go abroad seeking enemies: Opposes topic 14 We spoke to Russians throughout the Cold War; keep doing so: Opposes topic 14 Sponsored opposing the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty: Strongly Favors topic 14 Oppose the United Nations' Arms Trade Treaty: Favors topic 14
Opposes topic 15: Expand the military (+2 points on Social scale)	Don't sell arms abroad as a jobs program: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Fiscal conservatives must oppose unlimited military spending: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Provide veterans support tools to adjust to civilian life: Favors topic 15 US aid enables a war on Christianity in the Middle East: Opposes topic 15 End US aid to countries that burn our flag: Opposes topic 15 Military sacrifice spreads flame of freedom around the world: Strongly Favors topic 15 Treat armed service members like heroes: Strongly Favors topic 15 How is it conservative to add $1T in military expenditures?: Strongly Opposes topic 15 $76B in defense spending via cuts to EPA, HUD & foreign aid: Strongly Favors topic 15 Military should be second to none; so audit the Pentagon: Opposes topic 15 National defense is important, but no blank check: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Put defense spending on the table for reducing budget: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Defense should be largest part of much smaller budget: Favors topic 15 How much of what is spent on defense is actual "defense"?: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Remove waste from last decade's doubling of military budget: Opposes topic 15 Defense policy is influenced by the makers of weapons: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Fiscal conservative on both domestic & military spending: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Not every military dollar is necessary,nor every entitlement: Opposes topic 15 Rated Funding wars separately is gimmick against sequestration: Opposes topic 15
Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+2 points on Social scale)	Supports early voting; but voter ID also ok: Favors topic 16 Let convicted felons regain the right to vote: Strongly Favors topic 16 Voter ID laws offend African Americans: Strongly Favors topic 16 Paid speech is still protected free speech: Strongly Opposes topic 16 Federal contracts should include no-PAC clauses: Favors topic 16 Lobbyists' sole goal is to rip you off: Favors topic 16 Signed term limit pledge: 6 years House; 12 years Senate: Favors topic 16 Constitutional amendment for Congressional term limits: No opin. on topic 16
Strongly Favors topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (+5 points on Social scale)	A strong America cannot fight endless wars: Strongly Favors topic 17 Congress needs to take back power to go to war: Strongly Favors topic 17 End support of Saudis and Iran won't need nukes: Strongly Favors topic 17 We're actively in war in 7 countries, and none are declared: Strongly Favors topic 17 Stop funding & arming allies of ISIS: Strongly Favors topic 17 We've over-militarized our foreign policy: Favors topic 17 Normalizing relations with Cuba can lead to positive change: Favors topic 17 GOP is too eager for war; and so is Hillary: Favors topic 17 We don't need grandstanding tough talk against Russia: Favors topic 17 9/11 justified eliminating Taliban, but not nation-building: Opposes topic 17 Staying in Afghanistan will not make America safer: Strongly Favors topic 17 Lesson of Iraq: unintended consequences from regime change: Strongly Opposes topic 17 If we had bombed Syria, ISIS would control Damascus today: Strongly Favors topic 17 I brought fighting ISIS to the forefront of discussion: Neutral on topic 17 Create & arm a Kurdish state as support against ISIL: Opposes topic 17 Hillary's War: Ousting Gadhafi in Libya gave rise to ISIS: Favors topic 17 Supporting rebels in Syrian Civil War gave rise to ISIS: Favors topic 17 Assist Iraqi government against ISIS, but not Syrian rebels: Opposes topic 17 No US troops in Iraq, even against ISIS: Strongly Favors topic 17 Cut off arms sales to Saudis; war in Yemen hurts US security: Strongly Favors topic 17 Decide if Saudis are an ally or an enemy: Strongly Favors topic 17 Yemen War is part of 1000-year civil war: Strongly Favors topic 17 Only Sunni-Shiite coalition forces, not US, in Syria: Strongly Favors topic 17 A no-fly zone in Iraq means shooting war with Russia: Strongly Favors topic 17 I opposed Iraq war in 2003 & I oppose Syria war now: Strongly Favors topic 17 Fight Iran with diplomacy and military strength, not war: Favors topic 17 Arming Syrian rebels wades into another civil war: Strongly Favors topic 17 How many Americans should die to defend Iraq?: Favors topic 17 ISIS are nasty terrorists but no clear-cut American interest: Strongly Favors topic 17 Iraq War gave Iran regional hegemony & caused Mideast chaos: Favors topic 17 Keep all options on the table, but don't declare war on Iran: Favors topic 17 Opposed to Iraq War; no direct threat & no declared war: Strongly Favors topic 17 Would have voted against a declaration of war against Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17 No nuclear deal with Iran without Congressional input: Opposes topic 17 No military force against Iran without Congress approval: Strongly Favors topic 17 Endorsed Liberty Candidate: US abroad unconstitutional & unaffordable: Opposes topic 17
Strongly Opposes topic 18: Prioritize green energy (+5 points on Economic scale)	Cut red tape to allow energy freedom & traditional energy: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Compete on the free market, including nuclear plants: Opposes topic 18 Develop mineral & energy resources on public lands: Opposes topic 18 Supports Keystone XL, plus domestic oil & gas exploration: Strongly Opposes topic 18 End subsidies to solar companies; they're donation kickbacks: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Energy crisis stems from too much government intervention: Opposes topic 18 Signed the No Climate Tax Pledge by AFP: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Supports renewable energy tax credits: Strongly Favors topic 18 Cap-and-trade has no impact on global temperatures: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Explore proven energy reserves & keep energy prices low: Opposes topic 18 Let states lease energy rights on federal lands: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Endorsed Liberty Candidate: tax incentives for US-based alternatives: Opposes topic 18 YES on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Opposes topic 18
Strongly Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+5 points on Social scale)	More rehabilitation and less incarceration: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Apply 10th Amendment to let states keep pot legal: Strongly Opposes topic 19 End hypocrisy and over-criminalization of marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Jailing people for 10 years for marijuana is ridiculous: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Whites & blacks use drugs, but prisons are full of blacks: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Don't promote marijuana but don't jail non-violent criminals: Strongly Favors topic 19 Community treatment instead of federal anti-drug programs: Opposes topic 19 Drug abuse isn't a pressing issue; 10-20 years is too harsh: Opposes topic 19 Favors legalizing medical marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Exclude industrial hemp from definition of marijuana: Opposes topic 19 Exempt industrial hemp from marijuana laws: Opposes topic 19 Rated B+ by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Immunity for banks offering services to marijuana businesses: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Strongly Opposes topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+5 points on Economic scale)	Trillion-dollar deficits are bad, whether by Dems or by GOP: Strongly Opposes topic 20 We borrow a million dollars a minute: no more debt!: Strongly Opposes topic 20 We borrow $1M per minute; mandate a balanced budget: Strongly Opposes topic 20 The sequester is the law of the land: can't compromise on it: Opposes topic 20 Government not serious about controlling spending: Opposes topic 20 Debt crisis is approaching a point of no return: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Limit federal spending growth to per-capita inflation rate: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Sponsored bill increasing debt limit to $16.7 trillion: Strongly Favors topic 20 Supports the Cut-Cap-and-Balance Pledge: Opposes topic 20 Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business: Favors topic 20 Disapprove of increasing the debt limit: Opposes topic 20 Rated 14% by UFCW, indicating a pro-management voting record: Opposes topic 20 Sponsored auditing the Fed & its actions on mortgage loans: Opposes topic 20 Rated Voted NO on $900 billion COVID relief package: Strongly Opposes topic 20

Rand Paul is a Conservative-Leaning Libertarian
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