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)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Co-chaired "Mayors for the Freedom to Marry" effort: Strongly Favors topic 3 All Americans should be allowed to marry: Strongly Favors topic 3 Supports gay marriage as fundamental right: Strongly Favors topic 3 Repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell," is a success: Strongly Favors topic 3 Acknowledge and celebrate LGBT Awareness Month: Strongly Favors topic 3
Strongly Favors topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (-5 points on Social scale)	Reinsert "God" into DNC platform despite vote against it: Strongly Favors topic 4
No opinion on topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 6: Privatize Social Security (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-3 points on Economic scale)	Charter schools and competition to improve education: Favors topic 7 Academic performance measures need to be more comprehensive: Opposes topic 7 Invest in our schools to reform Latino education: Opposes topic 7
No opinion on topic 8: Human needs over animal rights (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+2 points on Social scale)	Reduce prison population & deal with recidivism: Opposes topic 9
No opinion on topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+2 points on Economic scale)	Need new business tax structure to grow sales tax base: Opposes topic 11 Business Tax Holiday should be permanent: Opposes topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+5 points on Social scale)	Approves of undocumented students receiving financial aid: Strongly Favors topic 12 AZ immigration law is unpatriotic & unconstitutional: Strongly Favors topic 12
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	LA economy depends on close ties to Pacific Rim: Favors topic 13
No opinion on topic 14: Maintain US sovereignty from UN (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	Death of bin Laden reminder to guard against threats: Favors topic 15
No opinion on topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 17: Stay out of Iran (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	GREEN LA: reach Kyoto targets and use renewables: Strongly Favors topic 18 More energy efficiency to spur green economy in LA: Strongly Favors topic 18 Retrofitting buildings helps economy and environment: Favors topic 18 Solar power good for environment AND businesses: Strongly Favors topic 18
No opinion on topic 19: Never legalize marijuana (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+5 points on Economic scale)	Supports higher debt ceiling to avoid government shutdown: Strongly Favors topic 20