Bob Smith on SenateMatch

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 right (-5 points on Social scale)	Abortion is not a woman's right: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Against all aspects of abortion; for Human Life Amendment: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Against taxpayer-funded abortions at military hospitals: Opposes topic 1 Pro-life litmus test for Supreme Court: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Abortions limited to endangered mother: Favors topic 1 YES on banning partial birth abortions: Strongly Opposes topic 1 YES on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions: Opposes topic 1
Strongly Opposes topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (+5 points on Economic scale)	Don't require companies to hire more women & minorities: Opposes topic 2 YES on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions: Opposes topic 2 YES on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds: Strongly Opposes topic 2 YES on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business: Strongly Opposes topic 2 YES on prohibiting same-sex basic training: Opposes topic 2 NO on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women: Opposes topic 2
Strongly Opposes topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (-5 points on Social scale)	Support same-sex benefits but not same-sex marriage: Opposes topic 3 Against ambassadorship of gay activist James Hormel: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Against homosexual advocacy in the classroom: Opposes topic 3 YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation: Strongly Opposes topic 3 NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation: Opposes topic 3 NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes: Strongly Opposes topic 3
Strongly Favors topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (-5 points on Social scale)	Teacher-led prayer in public schools: Favors topic 4 Amend Constitution for school prayer: Strongly Favors topic 4 For constitutional amendment against flag burning: Favors topic 4 Supports school prayer: Strongly Favors topic 4 Supports anti-flag desecration amendment: Favors topic 4 YES on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer: Favors topic 4 YES on $75M for abstinence education: Strongly Favors topic 4 YES on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors: Opposes topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 8: Death Penalty (-5 points on Social scale)	Support the Death Penalty: Favors topic 8 Punish swiftly & severely; including death penalty: Strongly Favors topic 8 Broaden use of death penalty; limit death row appeals: Strongly Favors topic 8 Prosecute juvenile murderers as adults: Favors topic 8 YES on rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals: Favors topic 8 YES on limiting death penalty appeals: Favors topic 8
Favors topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (-3 points on Social scale)	Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws: Favors topic 9 Include violent crime victims in sentence policy-making: Favors topic 9 Victim’s Bill of Rights: notification & restitution: Favors topic 9 More prisons; more full sentences; more boot camps: Strongly Favors topic 9 YES on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms: Strongly Favors topic 9 NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes topic 9 NO on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program: Favors topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Absolute right to gun ownership: Favors topic 10 I fought the gun grabbers in Congress for 18 years: Strongly Favors topic 10 No Brady Bill; problem is moral decay, not personal freedom: Strongly Favors topic 10 Supports rights of law-abiding gun owners: Strongly Favors topic 10 Repeal infringements of 2nd Amendment rights: Strongly Favors topic 10 Ease ownership, registration, & concealed-carry laws: 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
Opposes topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (+2 points on Economic scale)	Avoid federal funding for health coverage: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Supports public health measures, but supports right to smoke: Favors topic 5 New non-VA programs for military retirees’ health care: Favors topic 5 HMO cost control shouldn’t hurt patients: Favors topic 5 HMOs: more info; prudent emergency care; external appeal: Favors topic 5 Health-care vouchers; tax incentives; limit med.mal.: Opposes topic 5 NO on blocking medical savings acounts: Opposes 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
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+2 points on Economic scale)	Allow younger workers to opt into private investments: Strongly Favors topic 6 Keep Trust Fund off-budget; adminster it independently: Favors topic 6 Must act now to avoid insolvency in 2030: Neutral on topic 6 Long-term changes needed, via bipartisan approach: Neutral on topic 6 YES on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes: Favors topic 6 YES on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees: Favors topic 6 YES on allowing personal retirement accounts: Favors topic 6
Strongly Favors topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (+5 points on Economic scale)	Parents choose schools via vouchers: Favors topic 7 Replace federal control with local accountability: Favors topic 7 A+ accounts: $2000/yr to private or parochial schools: Strongly Favors topic 7 Consumer choice in education will improve failing schools: Favors topic 7 Supports school choice; abolish Dept. of Education: Strongly Favors topic 7 Public, private & parochial vouchers; plus charters: Strongly Favors topic 7 YES on vouchers for private & parochial schools: Strongly Favors 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
Opposes topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (+2 points on Economic scale)	Use coal & oil as well as seeking alternatives: Opposes topic 18 Cap-and-trade has huge costs for utilities & taxpayers: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Global climate treaty stifles US economy: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Protect environment andprotect property rights: Neutral on topic 18 Pro-community & pro-schools trumps pro-environment: Opposes topic 18 Supports CWA, alternative fuels, & pollution credits: Favors topic 18 Reduce liability for hazardous waste cleanup: Opposes topic 18 NO on do not require ethanol in gasoline: Favors topic 18 NO on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests: Opposes topic 18 YES on defunding renewable and solar energy: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards: Favors topic 18 NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling: Favors topic 18 YES on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months: Strongly Opposes topic 18
Favors topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (-3 points on Social scale)	Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it: Favors topic 19 Unhealthy pleasures should be decided by individuals: Strongly Opposes topic 19 More penalties & drug testing, more education & treatment: Strongly Favors topic 19 YES on spending international development funds on drug control: Strongly Favors topic 19 NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes topic 19 YES on increasing penalties for drug offenses: Favors topic 19
Favors topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (+2 points on Economic scale)	Churches have the right to provide welfare services: Strongly Favors topic 20 Welfare reform promotes families: Favors topic 20 Preserve welfare as temporary safety net: Opposes topic 20 Block grants to states for most federal programs: Favors topic 20 Fund public works & job training for unemployed: Opposes topic 20 Strict limits on federal "General Welfare" clause: Favors topic 20 YES on welfare overhaul: Favors topic 20 YES on allowing state welfare waivers: Favors topic 20 NO on eliminating block grants for food stamps: Favors topic 20 YES on welfare block grants: Favors topic 20
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (+5 points on Economic scale)	Reduce taxes instead of making taxes more progressive: Opposes topic 11 Reduce taxes to promote small business: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Throw out tax code & fire IRS agents who harass citizens: Opposes topic 11 Lower taxes for individuals and businesses: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Overhaul the entire tax system: Opposes topic 11 Ban local and state taxes on Internet commerce: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Flat tax ok, consumption tax not.: 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 YES on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts: Opposes 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
Opposes topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (-3 points on Social scale)	Illegal immigrants should not earn citizenship: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Amnesty is unfair; deny opportunities for illegals: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Tighten immigration laws; enhance border patrol: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Fewer immigrants; less aid; Offical English: Strongly Opposes topic 12 YES on more immigrant visas for skilled workers: Favors topic 12 YES on limit welfare for immigrants: Strongly Opposes 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
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-3 points on Economic scale)	Expand free trade: Favors topic 13 No trade rewards to oppressive regimes like China: Opposes topic 13 Retaliatory tariffs OK against Cuba, China: Opposes topic 13 Against NAFTA, GATT, & WTO: Strongly Opposes topic 13 YES on 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements: Strongly Favors topic 13 NO on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority: Opposes topic 13 NO on permanent normal trade relations with China: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on expanding trade to the third world: Opposes topic 13 NO on removing common goods from national security export rules: Opposes topic 13 NO on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam: Opposes topic 13 YES on extending free trade to Andean nations: Strongly Favors topic 13
Strongly Favors topic 15: Expand the armed forces (-5 points on Social scale)	Expand the armed forces: Strongly Favors topic 15 Correct shortages in military equipment & personnel: Strongly Favors topic 15 Raise military pay & benefits: Favors topic 15 YES on 1996 Defense Appropriations: Favors topic 15 YES on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty: Favors 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
Opposes topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (+2 points on Economic scale)	Political donations are free speech: Strongly Opposes topic 16 Campaign Finance: Full disclosure replace PACs & franking: Favors topic 16 Campaign Finance: independent commission to reform rules: Favors topic 16 NO on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance: Opposes topic 16 NO on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations: Opposes topic 16 NO on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads: Opposes topic 16
Favors topic 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (+2 points on Social scale)	The Patriot Act needs reform but not repeal: Favors topic 14
Strongly Opposes topic 17: US out of Iraq & Afghanistan (-5 points on Social scale)	US should leave Iraq, but on favorable terms: Opposes topic 17 Get US out of UN: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Foreign aid: only for disasters or US security interests: Strongly Opposes topic 17