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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)	I was pro-life, but we should leave decision to women: Strongly Favors topic 1 Expand education & access to contraception to avoid abortion: Favors topic 1 Opposed abortion; now supports woman's choice: Favors topic 1 Late term abortion only when something tragic is happening: Favors topic 1 Abortion rights should codify Roe v. Wade standards: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated 10% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Rated 80% by the NRLC, indicating a mixed record on abortion: Neutral on topic 1 Expand contraceptive services for low-income women: Favors topic 1 Provide emergency contraception at military facilities: Favors topic 1 Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1 Access safe, legal abortion without restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated Funding abortion avoids discrimination against poor women: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated Constitutional right to terminate pregnancy for health: Strongly Favors topic 1 Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1 Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Rated 86% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2 Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2 Constitutional Amendment for women's equal rights: Strongly Favors topic 2 Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy: Favors topic 2 Sponsored removing deadline for ratification of the ERA: Strongly Favors topic 2 More funding & services for victims of domestic violence: Strongly Favors topic 2 Enforce against wage discrimination based on gender: Strongly Favors topic 2 Recruit women & minorities for STEM teaching: Strongly Favors topic 2 Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2 Stronger enforcement against gender-based pay discrimination: Favors topic 2 Honor the 100th anniversary of the NAACP: Favors topic 2 Voted YES on private lawsuits for school race discrimination: Favors topic 2 Sponsored bill for ratifying Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2 Combat international and domestic Islamophobia: Favors topic 2
Favors topic 3: Support transgender and LGBTQ+ rights (+2 points on Social scale)	Rated 63% by the HRC, indicating a mixed record on gay rights: Neutral on topic 3 ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays: Favors topic 3 Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays: Favors topic 3 Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools: Strongly Favors topic 3 Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools: Strongly Favors topic 3 Don't elevate gender identity as a protected class: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Let states recognize same sex marriage: Favors topic 3
Opposes topic 4: America was founded on Christian values (+2 points on Social scale)	Rated 25% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Sex Ed including both abstinence and contraception: Opposes topic 4 Sponsored supporting the contributions of Catholic schools: Favors topic 4 Religious freedom means no religious registry: Strongly Opposes topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	Has supported Obamacare & single payer: Favors topic 5 Prevention should be key focus: Favors topic 5 Unions fought for healthcare; let them keep their plans: Opposes topic 5 Medicare for 50-year-olds, and allow buy-in: Favors topic 5 Focus on working class people who take showers after work: Favors topic 5 Reauthorize the Healthy Start for Infants program: Strongly Favors topic 5 Rated 89% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors topic 5 Establish a National Diabetes Coordinator: Favors topic 5 Require insurers to cover breast cancer treatment: Strongly Favors topic 5 Establish a public insurance option via healthcare Exchanges: Strongly Favors topic 5 Sponsored merging Alzheimers diagnosis and care benefit: Favors topic 5 Rated GOP can't beat ObamaCare, so they pretend it's a "disaster": Strongly Favors topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	Repeal offsets that reduce Social Security payments: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Rated 90% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Sponsored keeping CPI for benefits instead of lower "Chained CPI": Strongly Opposes topic 6 Rated 96% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Endorsed by NCPSSM for protecting Social Security and Medicare: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-5 points on Economic scale)	I've pushed for social and emotional learning in our schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Rated 100% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Sponsored 10/10 Loan Forgiveness: cancel college loans after 10 years: Opposes topic 7 Sponsored extending subsidized federal student loan rates until 2015: Opposes topic 7 Rated No-strings-attached block grant will kill transparency: Opposes topic 7 Rated Oppose private and religious school voucher programs: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Businesses have a right to pollute (+5 points on Social scale)	Nuclear power needs to be part of the future for us: Favors topic 8 Protect streams from the impact of coal mining: Opposes topic 8 Rated 100% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Prohibits breeding or possessing Big Cat species: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Require labeling genetically engineered food: Opposes topic 8 Create database on algal blooms in the Great Lakes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Require reporting lead in drinking water to the public: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Rated Voted NO on requiring limited GMO labeling: Favors topic 8 Rated Deregulating banks encourages discriminatory practices: Opposes topic 8 Rated Keep restrictive rules for predator control in Alaska: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+2 points on Social scale)	Moratorium on the death penalty--for now: Opposes topic 9 Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program: Opposes topic 9 First step: reduce recidivism & mass incarceration: Opposes topic 9 Rated 92% by the NAPO, indicating a tough-on-crime stance: Favors topic 9 Sponsored stricter rules for police accountability: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+2 points on Economic scale)	Soured on NRA after Sandy Hook: Opposes topic 10 Went from NRA A-rating to pro-gun control: Opposes topic 10 We need mental health counseling to prevent mass shootings: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Voluntary buyback for assault weapons, plus a ban: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Supports universal background checks: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Rated A by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record: Strongly Favors topic 10 National cross-state standard for concealed carry: Strongly Favors topic 10 Teach kids Eddie Eagle GunSafe's lifesaving message: Favors topic 10 Loosen restrictions on interstate gun purchases: Strongly Favors topic 10 Allow veterans to register unlicensed guns acquired abroad: Favors topic 10 Require background check for every firearm sale and transfer: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC: 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)	Against tax cuts; they're counterproductive: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated 23% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated 75% by CTJ, indicating a mixed record on progressive taxation: Neutral on topic 11 Rated Raising estate tax to 1990s level means $448B in new revenue: Strongly Opposes 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)	Terrorists treated better than children at the border: Favors topic 12 No additional funding for Southern Border wall: Strongly Favors topic 12 Don't decriminalize people just walking into the US: Favors topic 12 Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration: Strongly Favors topic 12 Rated 33% by USBC, indicating a mixed record on open borders: Neutral on topic 12 Rated Voted to legalize DREAMer immigrants via military service: Strongly Favors topic 12 Increase both high-skill and family-based visa caps: 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)	Use tariffs to crack down on certain countries: Strongly Opposes topic 13 China steals intellectual property; out compete 'em: Opposes topic 13 China steals intellectual property & steals steel jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Sponsored bill for tariffs against undervalued currency: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Review free trade agreements biennially for rights violation: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Impose tariffs against countries which manipulate currency: Opposes topic 13 Require open markets for US goods in all trade agreements: Opposes topic 13 Sponsored imposing import fee on countries with undervalued currency: Opposes topic 13 $25B more loans from Export-Import Bank: Strongly Favors topic 13 Implement USMCA for improved North American trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 25% by the USAE, indicating support for trade sanctions: Opposes topic 13
Strongly Opposes topic 14: Stay away from the UN & Globalism (-5 points on Economic scale)	Rated Maintain World Bank funding as part of multilateralism: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Allow travel between the United States and Cuba: Opposes topic 14
Opposes topic 15: Peace through Strength (+2 points on Social scale)	Boost the defense budget: Strongly Favors topic 15 Give our troops everything they need, including after return: Strongly Favors topic 15 Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Establish a Department of Peace and Nonviolence: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Rated Funding wars separately is gimmick against sequestration: Opposes topic 15 Rated Let NSF decide research grants, not Congress: Opposes topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Eliminate the Electoral College: Favors topic 16 Mandate paper ballots: Favors topic 16 End deeply partisan way district lines are drawn: Strongly Favors topic 16 Ban stock trading based on Congressional insider knowledge: Strongly Favors topic 16 Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures: Strongly Favors topic 16 Establish 15 days of early voting in all states: Favors topic 16 Full disclosure of campaign spending: Strongly Favors topic 16 Corporate political spending is not free speech: Favors topic 16 Establish "My Voice Voucher" small campaign contributions: Strongly Favors topic 16 Public financing of federal campaigns by voter vouchers: 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 Sponsored bill to expand voter registration and voter access: Strongly Favors topic 16
Opposes topic 17: Stay out of foreign wars (-3 points on Social scale)	If the US isn't engaged in Afghanistan, Taliban will regrow: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Keep the troops deployed abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Don't let Putin roll right through Ukraine: Opposes topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Aid the Syrian opposition with training & equipment: Opposes topic 17 Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program: Opposes topic 17 No military force against Iran without Congress approval: Strongly Favors topic 17 Repeal 2002 Military Force Authorization against Iraq: Favors topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Renewable energy will bring economic benefits: Favors topic 18 Green New Deal means manufacturing jobs: Strongly Favors topic 18 Paris Climate Agreement doesn't go nearly far enough: Strongly Favors topic 18 Must reconnect with working class to address climate change: Favors topic 18 We have to invent our way out of this: Strongly Favors topic 18 Regenerative agriculture sequesters carbon in soil: Strongly Favors topic 18 We burned oil in 100 years that took a billion years to form: Strongly Favors topic 18 We must get serious about reducing carbon emissions: Strongly Favors topic 18 No fossil fuel donations was only for presidential campaign: Opposes topic 18 Chief manufacturing officer will move US on green technology: Favors topic 18 Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence: Favors topic 18 Extend through 2016 the renewable energy tax credit: Strongly Favors topic 18 Voted YES on banning offshore oil drilling in Gulf of Mexico: Strongly Favors topic 18 50% clean and carbon free electricity by 2030: Strongly Favors topic 18 Voted YES to assist rural electric renewable energy: Favors topic 18
Strongly Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+5 points on Social scale)	Legalize marijuana, but no expungement: Opposes topic 19 Supports medical and recreational marijuana: Opposes topic 19 Mindfulness-based programs to prevent relapses: Opposes topic 19 Advocated for treatment & diversion in lieu of incarceration: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Rated +10 by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Allow rehabilitated drug convicts get student loans: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Exempt industrial hemp from marijuana laws: Opposes topic 19 Rated 75% by NORML, indicating a pro-legalization stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Rated B by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Rated Voted NO on additional Drug War funding for synthetic drugs: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Distribute sterile syringes to reduce AIDS and hepatitis: Opposes topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-5 points on Economic scale)	Give American manufacturing the tools it needs to grow: Strongly Favors topic 20 CHIPS Act is all about reshoring high-end manufacturing jobs: Strongly Favors topic 20 Spending like American Rescue Plan creates Ohio jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Need industrial policy to reinvent American manufacturing: Strongly Favors topic 20 Progressive goals should be sold as job creation: Favors topic 20 Rebuild the middle class: just getting by not enough: Favors topic 20 Public/private partnership to rebuild manufacturing base: Strongly Favors topic 20 My experience is focusing on workers and their families: Favors topic 20 It can't be businesses versus workers; this is a partnership: Strongly Favors topic 20 Support infrastructure bill and Build Back Better Act: Strongly Favors topic 20 Increase debt limit from $14.3 trillion to $16.7 trillion: Favors topic 20 Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business: Favors topic 20 Sponsored investing $1 billion in transportation projects: 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

Tim Ryan is a Hard-Core Liberal
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