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)	Joined Democrats to fund Planned Parenthood: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated 83% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record: Strongly Favors topic 1 Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors topic 1 Voted YES to protect infant survivors of abortion: Opposes topic 1 Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1 Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception: Favors topic 1 Strict Constitutionalist, according to CC survey: Opposes topic 1 Pro-Planned Parenthood, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 1 Anti-parental notification, according to CC survey: 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 NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions: Favors topic 1 NO on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life: Strongly Favors topic 1 YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime: Opposes topic 1 YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives: Favors 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
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	For Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act: Strongly Favors topic 2 Maintain role of women in armed forces in Iraq: Favors topic 2 Rated 57% by NAACP, indicating a mixed record on affirmative-action: Neutral on topic 2 Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy: Favors topic 2 More funding & services for victims of domestic violence: Strongly Favors topic 2 Afghan laws violate women's human rights on sex & divorce: Favors topic 2 Sponsored bill for ratifying Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2 YES on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act: Favors topic 2 NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on prohibiting same-sex basic training: Favors topic 2 YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women: Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Co-sponsored Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA): Strongly Favors topic 3 More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 Rated 78% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3 ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays: Favors topic 3 YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation: Favors topic 3 YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3
Favors topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (-3 points on Social scale)	Block grants for state and local flexibility in welfare: Favors topic 4 Supports anti-flag desecration amendment: Favors topic 4 Rated 66% by the Christian Coalition: mixed voting record on Family Values: Neutral on topic 4 Constitutionally prohibit flag desecration: 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 5: Expand ObamaCare (-3 points on Economic scale)	End unfair copays charged to veterans for contraception: Strongly Favors topic 5 Improve advance transparency on medical billing: Favors topic 5 Authored law letting pharmacists help patients save money: Neutral on topic 5 Strong supporter of home care: Favors topic 5 Helped pass law lowering drug prices, speeding generics: 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 Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations: Favors topic 5 Rated 38% by APHA, indicating a mixed record on public health issues: Neutral on topic 5 Merge Alzheimers diagnosis and care benefit: Favors topic 5 Religious exemption from ObamaCare individual mandate: Opposes topic 5 Provide for treatment of autism under TRICARE: Favors topic 5 Expand health services for women veterans: Favors topic 5 NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5 YES on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Opposes topic 5 NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: Favors topic 5 YES on Medicare means-testing: Opposes topic 5 YES on limiting self-employment health deduction: Opposes 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 YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Favors 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)	Foundation of retirement income for most Americans: Opposes topic 6 Rated 0% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record: Strongly Favors topic 6 Rated 41% by ARA, indicating a mixed record on senior issues: Neutral on topic 6 Supports individual savings accounts and work incentives: Favors topic 6 YES on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees: Favors topic 6 NO on allowing personal retirement accounts: Opposes topic 6 NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Opposes topic 6
Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+2 points on Economic scale)	Support Ed-Flex: more flexibility if more accountable: Favors topic 7 Rated 55% 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 education savings accounts: 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 YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Opposes topic 7
Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+2 points on Social scale)	End commercial whaling and illegal trade in whale meat: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Supports grants for brownfields remediation: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Rated 68% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 EPA must do better on mercury clean-up: Opposes topic 8 Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements: Opposes topic 8 Regulate all dog breeders down to kennels of 50 dogs: Opposes topic 8 Prohibit invasive research on great apes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 No EPA permits required for forest road runoff: 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 Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Fund studies of invasive species and algal blooms: Opposes topic 8 YES on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems: Opposes topic 8 NO on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests: Opposes topic 8 NO on prohibiting eminent domain for use as parks or grazing land: Opposes topic 8
No opinion on topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (0 points on Social scale)	Rated 25% by CURE, indicating anti-rehabilitation crime votes: Strongly Favors topic 9 Moratorium on death penalty; more DNA testing: Opposes topic 9 Require DNA testing for all federal executions: Opposes 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 Facilitate recovering crime victim restitution fees: Strongly Favors topic 9 First step: reduce recidivism & mass incarceration: Opposes topic 9 Rated 64% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues: Neutral on topic 9 Support law enforcement, according to CC survey: Favors topic 9 YES on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Favors topic 9 NO on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program: Favors topic 9 YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Rated B+ by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record: Strongly Favors topic 10 Limit gun rights, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 10 NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets: Strongly Favors topic 10 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 NO on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains: Opposes topic 10
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+5 points on Economic scale)	Rated 64% by NTU, indicating "Satisfactory" on tax votes: Neutral on topic 11 Rated 20% by the CTJ, indicating opposition to progressive taxation: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Reduce corporate tax rates from 35% to 21% to create jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Pro-tax cuts, according to CC survey: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Keep inheritance tax, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors 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 YES on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset: Opposes topic 11 YES on Internet sales tax moratorium: Opposes topic 11 YES on requiring super-majority for raising taxes: Opposes 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 NO on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction: Opposes 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: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+2 points on Social scale)	Co-sponsored bill for path to citizenship for DREAMers: Favors topic 12 English immersion over bilingual education: Opposes topic 12 Cover child resident aliens under Medicaid and SCHIP: Favors topic 12 Rated 25% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12 Increase limitations for H-1B, H-2B, and L-visas: Favors topic 12 Terminate national emergency at the Southern border: Favors topic 12 Increase both high-skill and family-based visa caps: Favors topic 12 Pro-border security, according to CC survey: Strongly Opposes 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 more foreign workers into the US for farm work: Favors topic 12 NO on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Opposes 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 NO on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Opposes 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 67% by CATO, indicating a pro-free trade voting record: Strongly Favors topic 13 Free trade with post-Orange Revolution Ukraine: Favors topic 13 Impose tariffs against countries which manipulate currency: Opposes topic 13 Rated Voted FOR reauthorizing Ex-Im Bank: Strongly Favors 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 Ban imports from Xinjiang made by Uyghur forced labor: Opposes topic 13 YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority: Favors topic 13 YES on permanent normal trade relations with China: Strongly Favors topic 13 NO on expanding trade to the third world: Opposes topic 13 YES on removing common goods from national security export rules: Favors 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 YES on establishing free trade between US & Singapore: Favors 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 NO on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Opposes topic 13 YES on promoting free trade with Peru: Favors topic 13
Favors topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (+2 points on Economic scale)	Prohibit torture of terrorists in US custody: Opposes topic 14 Oppose the United Nations' Arms Trade Treaty: Favors topic 14 Disallow Palestine from joining ICC to threaten Israel: Favors topic 14 Two-state solution despite Israeli settlements on West Bank: Favors topic 14 Allow travel between the United States and Cuba: Opposes topic 14 NO on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls: Favors topic 14 YES on $17.9 billion to IMF: Opposes topic 14 YES on capping foreign aid at only $12.7 billion: Strongly Favors topic 14 NO on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Favors topic 14 NO on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods: Strongly Favors topic 14 YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Favors topic 14
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	Cuts in defense are very troubling to me personally: Strongly Favors topic 15 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 Sponsored bill for Iraq budget to be part of defense budget: Opposes topic 15 Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11: Favors topic 15 Improve mental health care benefits for returning veterans: Favors topic 15 $515B for military plus $89B off sequester for wars: Favors topic 15 Secure the grid, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 15 Reduce federal government size & scope, including military: Opposes 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: Make voter registration easier (+2 points on Social scale)	Reform public financing system to get more opt-in: Strongly Opposes topic 16 Reform campaign finance (after fighting massive warchests): Strongly Favors topic 16 Subject independent 527s to rules for political committees: Strongly Favors topic 16 Require Internet disclosure of all earmarks: Favors topic 16 Ban stock trading based on Congressional insider knowledge: Strongly Favors topic 16 Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements: Favors topic 16 Public financing of federal campaigns by voter vouchers: 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 YES on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Favors topic 16 YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Opposes topic 16
Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-3 points on Social scale)	Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Sponsored shutting down Iranian foreign reserves: Opposes topic 17 Iran must accept long-term intrusive nuke inspection: Opposes topic 17 No military force against Iran without Congress approval: Strongly Favors topic 17 Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program: Opposes topic 17 Pro-Israel, according to CC survey: Opposes topic 17 Sponsored resolution to repeal 2002 AUMF against Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17 YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 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
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Make EPA into a Cabinet department: Strongly Favors topic 18 Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 67% 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 Sponsored bill to assist rural electric renewable energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards: Strongly Favors topic 18 Supports immediate reductions in greenhouse gases: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 NO on defunding renewable and solar energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards: Opposes topic 18 NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling: Favors topic 18 NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill: Favors topic 18 NO on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%): Strongly Opposes topic 18 YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Favors 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 YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation: Strongly Favors 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
Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+2 points on Social scale)	Medical marijuana ok; but no marijuana banking: Favors topic 19 Declines to take sides in marijuana legalization petition: Neutral on topic 19 Provide prison inmates with drug addiction treatment: Opposes topic 19 Rated B- by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use: 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: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-3 points on Economic scale)	Multi-year increase for NIH funding for biomedical research: Strongly Favors topic 20 Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business: Favors topic 20 Rated 14% by UFCW, indicating a pro-management voting record: Opposes topic 20 Audit the Federal Reserve & its actions on mortgage loans: Opposes topic 20 Voted YES on $900 billion COVID relief package: Favors topic 20 YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 20 YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package: Strongly Favors topic 20 YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending: Strongly Favors topic 20

Susan Collins is a Moderate Libertarian Liberal
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