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)
No opinion on topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (0 points on Social scale)	Legal only for incest, rape, or maternal health: Opposes topic 1 Rated 29% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Rated 50% by the NRLC, indicating a mixed record on abortion: Neutral on 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 YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life: Strongly Opposes 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 YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions: Opposes 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)	Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all: Neutral on topic 2 Increase subsidies for women-owned non-profit business: Strongly Favors topic 2 Issue a commemorative postage stamp of Rosa Parks: Favors topic 2 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 More funding & services for victims of domestic violence: Strongly Favors topic 2 Enforce against wage discrimination based on gender: Strongly Favors topic 2 Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2 YES on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act: Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Rated 89% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3 NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3
No opinion on topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (0 points on Social scale)	AdWatch: I believe in God; and only God has all the answers: Favors topic 4 AdWatch: I believe in God and I believe in His word: Strongly Favors topic 4 Rated 16% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Opposes topic 4
Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-3 points on Economic scale)	Extend insurance coverage with tax credits: Strongly Favors topic 5 Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care: Favors topic 5 Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations: Opposes topic 5 Rated 75% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Favors topic 5 NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: Favors 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 NO on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000: Opposes 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
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	Preserve trust fund; no privatization: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Create Retirement Savings Accounts: Favors 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 92% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance: Strongly Opposes topic 6 NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Opposes topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-5 points on Economic scale)	Increase federal funding; raise teacher salaries: Opposes topic 7 Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice: Opposes topic 7 Rated 82% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7 YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Opposes topic 7
No opinion on topic 8: EPA regulations are too restrictive (0 points on Social scale)	Rated 42% by the LCV, indicating a mixed record on environment: Neutral on topic 8 EPA must do better on mercury clean-up: Opposes topic 8 Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements: Opposes topic 8 No EPA permits required for forest road runoff: Strongly Favors topic 8 Sponsored no permits for legal pesticide runoff into lakes & streams: Strongly Favors topic 8 YES on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems: 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)	More resources for police & more enforcement: Favors topic 9 Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program: Opposes topic 9 Rated 91% by the NAPO, indicating a tough-on-crime stance: Favors topic 9 YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9
Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+2 points on Economic scale)	No new restrictions; 2nd amendment is vital: Strongly Favors topic 10 Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology: Opposes topic 10 Rated D by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Allow veterans to register unlicensed guns acquired abroad: Favors topic 10 NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence: Strongly Favors 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
Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-3 points on Economic scale)	Rated 19% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated 50% by CTJ, indicating a mixed record on progressive taxation: Neutral on topic 11 NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset: Favors topic 11 NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut: Favors topic 11 YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax: Strongly Favors topic 11
Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+2 points on Social scale)	Rated 16% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Favors 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
Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale)	Build a rule-based global trading system: Favors topic 13 Insist on access to post-mad-cow Japanese beef markets: Favors topic 13 Rated 63% by the USAE, indicating a mixed record on trade: Neutral on 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 YES on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on promoting free trade with Peru: Favors topic 13
Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-3 points on Economic scale)	Oppose the United Nations' Arms Trade Treaty: Favors topic 14 Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror: Opposes 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 preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Favors topic 14
Opposes topic 15: Expand the military (+2 points on Social scale)	Rated 80% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11: Favors topic 15 YES on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding: Opposes topic 15 YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Opposes topic 15
Opposes topic 16: Make voter registration easier (-3 points on Social scale)	Repeal automatic Congressional pay raises: Favors topic 16 NO on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Opposes topic 16 YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Opposes topic 16
Strongly Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-5 points on Social scale)	Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence: Favors topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program: 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
Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-3 points on Economic scale)	Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 Rated 67% by CAF, indicating a mixed record on energy independence: Neutral on topic 18 YES on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Opposes 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 YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%): Strongly Favors 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 NO on factoring global warming into federal project planning: Opposes topic 18 YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China: Opposes 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
Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-3 points on Social scale)	More penalties & more jail sentences for illegal drug sales: Favors topic 19 Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use: Favors topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-5 points on Economic scale)	Remain committed to balancing our budget: Opposes topic 20 Rated 83% by UFCW, indicating an anti-management/pro-labor record: 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