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 right (+2 points on Social scale)	It's a woman's right to make her own medical decisions: Strongly Favors topic 1 No funding; no second trimester; no partial-birth: Opposes topic 1 Supports churches providing birth control: Strongly Favors topic 1
Favors topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (-3 points on Economic scale)	End discriminatory hiring practices: Strongly Favors topic 2 No affirmative action in state government decisions: Opposes topic 2
Favors topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (+2 points on Social scale)	Marriage equality for all Americans: Strongly Favors topic 3 No same-sex marriage; no hate crime definition for gays: Opposes topic 3 Opposes defining traditional marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3
Opposes topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (+2 points on Social scale)	Prohibit mandatory prayer and teacher-led prayer: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Supports abstinence education in schools: Favors topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 8: Death Penalty (-5 points on Social scale)	Supports the death penalty for heinous crimes: Strongly Favors topic 8 Supports the death penalty: Strongly Favors topic 8
Favors topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (-3 points on Social scale)	Vary sentencing laws based on each offense: Opposes topic 9 End parole for repeat violent felons: Strongly Favors topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	Supports common-sense gun laws: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Maintain existing restrictions on firearms: Opposes topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (-5 points on Economic scale)	Keep ObamaCare benefits for young adults & elderly: Strongly Favors topic 5 No Medicare overhaul; just strengthen the system: Favors topic 5 Supports the Affordable Care Act: Strongly Favors topic 5 Quality affordable healthcare is a fundamental value: Strongly Favors topic 5 Opposes repealing ObamaCare: Strongly Favors topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	Modest reforms but no overhaul; system is sound: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Opposes privatizing Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (-5 points on Economic scale)	Opposes private school vouchers: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Support Texas public schools; raised teacher pay 3 times: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Strongly Favors topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (-5 points on Economic scale)	Nationally recognized expert on wind energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Invest in alternative forms of energy & conservation: Strongly Favors topic 18
Strongly Favors topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (-5 points on Social scale)	Enforce America's drug laws: Strongly Favors topic 19 Strengthen drug penalties; also strengthen rehabilitation: Favors topic 19
Favors topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (+2 points on Economic scale)	Church-based welfare needs no government permission: Favors topic 20
Strongly Favors topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (-5 points on Economic scale)	Allow tax cuts to expire for nation's wealthiest residents: Strongly Favors topic 11 Allow tax cuts to expire for nation's wealthiest residents: Strongly Favors topic 11 Make the tax code more progressive: Strongly Favors topic 11 No state sales tax; decrease property tax: Opposes topic 11 Supports increasing tax rates: Strongly Favors topic 11 Opposes eliminating the inheritance tax: Strongly Favors topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (+5 points on Social scale)	Path to citizenship for 1.65 million illegals in Texas: Strongly Favors topic 12 Pathway to citizenship for children of illegal immigrants: Strongly Favors topic 12 Supports the DREAM Act & a path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-3 points on Economic scale)	Supports fair trade policies: Opposes topic 13
Strongly Favors topic 15: Expand the armed forces (-5 points on Social scale)	Give armed forces the equipment they need: Favors topic 15 Keep armed forces best trained & best-equipped in the world: Strongly Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (-5 points on Economic scale)	Citizens United threatens our country's democracy: Strongly Favors topic 16 Limit PAC and other contributions to legislative campaigns: Strongly Favors topic 16
Opposes topic 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (-3 points on Social scale)	Give law enforcement the tools they need: Opposes topic 14
No opinion on topic 17: US out of Iraq & Afghanistan (0 points on Social scale)	We're out of Iraq; no further decisions needed: Neutral on topic 17