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)
Strongly Opposes topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (-5 points on Social scale)	Signed law making abortion illegal at 20 weeks: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Parental notification; partial-birth abortion ban; pro-life: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Supports prohibiting human embryonic stem cell research: Opposes topic 1 Opposes federal abortion funding: Opposes topic 1
No opinion on topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Opposes topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (-5 points on Social scale)	Define marriage as the union of one man and one woman: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Supports Amendment to prevent same sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3
No opinion on topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Opposes topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (+2 points on Economic scale)	ObamaCare is unaffordable, unworkable, and unsustainable: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Transform mental health system to community-based model: Favors topic 5 Lifestyle changes make people healthier & save state money: Favors topic 5 Mental Health Care Reform: secure vulnerable Iowans: Favors topic 5 Opposes government-run healthcare: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Loosen "one-size-fits-all" approach to Medicaid: Opposes topic 5
No opinion on topic 6: Privatize Social Security (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+2 points on Economic scale)	$40m more for schools despite budget cuts elsewhere: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Score every Iowa high school for Post-Secondary Readiness: Favors topic 7 Teacher Leadership System for every public school: Strongly Opposes topic 7 One Unshakable Vision: World-Class Schools for Iowa: Strongly Favors topic 7 Tuition tax credit for private schools: Favors topic 7 Supports education vouchers for public or private school: Strongly Favors topic 7
Strongly Favors topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (-5 points on Social scale)	Fight EPA on biofuel rules; protect agricultural sector: Strongly Favors topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+2 points on Social scale)	Rehabilitation over punishment to reduce recidivism: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Investigate wrongful convictions, especially for racial bias: Opposes topic 9 Judicial discretion in releasing individual juvenile records: Opposes topic 9 Retroactively allow DNA evidence for all felony convictions: Opposes topic 9 Supports capital punishment for certain crimes: Strongly Favors topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Kids over age 14 can use guns with parental approval: Strongly Favors topic 10 Opposes restrictions on the right to bear arms: Strongly Favors topic 10
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+5 points on Economic scale)	High commercial property taxes mean higher prices: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Reduce commercial & residential property tax: Opposes topic 11 Reduce state corporate income tax from 12% to 6%: Strongly Opposes topic 11
No opinion on topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale)	Letter to Obama: Pass trade agreements: Strongly Favors topic 13
Favors topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (+2 points on Economic scale)	Protect residents with info on where Syrian refugees are: Favors topic 14
Strongly Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-5 points on Social scale)	Exempt active-duty military from paying state income tax: Strongly Favors topic 15 Remain vigilant in support of 3,000 National Guard overseas: Favors topic 15 Partnership with Kosovo will benefit National Guard: Favors topic 15
Strongly Opposes topic 16: Make voter registration easier (-5 points on Social scale)	Require identification to vote: Strongly Opposes topic 16
No opinion on topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-3 points on Economic scale)	Keep corn-based ethanol in nation's fuel supply: Favors topic 18 Expand and protect American energy resources: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Supports wind energy by signing HF 672: Favors topic 18 Letter to Congress supporting renewable energy tax credit: Strongly Favors topic 18
Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-3 points on Social scale)	Medical cannabis oil ok, but nothing more: Opposes topic 19 Rated D by NORML, indicating a "hard-on-drugs" stance: Strongly Favors topic 19
Opposes topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+2 points on Economic scale)	Restored Iowa's rainy day and economic emergency funds: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress: investment for jobs: Favors topic 20 End the days of unsustainable commitments: Opposes topic 20

Terry Branstad is a Moderate Conservative
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