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 Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (+5 points on Social scale)	Lifetime pro-choice record, plus funding for family planning: Strongly Favors topic 1 Advocate for family planning and funding for contraceptives: Favors topic 1 Women have the right to choose, regardless of income: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record: Strongly Favors topic 1 Emergency contraception for rape victims at all hospitals: Favors topic 1 Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors topic 1 Provide emergency contraception at military facilities: Favors topic 1 Require pharmacies to fulfill contraceptive prescriptions: Favors topic 1 Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1 Access safe, legal abortion without restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 1 Protect the reproductive rights of women: Strongly Favors topic 1 Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1 Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception: Favors topic 1 NO on barring transporting minors to get an abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on banning partial-birth abortions: Favors topic 1 NO on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad: Favors topic 1 NO on Unknown roll call for 2001-89: Favors topic 1 NO on funding for health providers who don't provide abortion info: Favors topic 1 NO on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime: Favors topic 1 NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1 YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research: Favors 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 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)	We're the only major country without paid family leave: Strongly Favors topic 2 Black Lives Matter: deal with institutional racism: Favors topic 2 Economic issues take a larger toll on minority groups: Favors topic 2 1972: wrote fictional "satire" about men oppressing women: Strongly Opposes topic 2 Equal pay for equal work by women: Strongly Favors topic 2 1964: civil rights activist in Congress on Racial Equality: Strongly Favors topic 2 Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender: Strongly Favors topic 2 Rated 97% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2 Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2 Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy: Favors topic 2 Endorsed as "preferred" by The Feminist Majority indicating pro-women's rights: 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 Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2 Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2 Stronger enforcement against gender-based pay discrimination: Favors topic 2 NO on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions: Favors topic 2 YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges: Strongly 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)	Vermont implemented ENDA 22 years ago; so should feds: Strongly Favors topic 3 LGBTQ values are family values: Strongly Favors topic 3 Right to love each other, regardless of sexual orientation: Strongly Favors topic 3 Never accept racism, sexism, nor homophobia: Strongly Favors topic 3 More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 Rated 100% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3 ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays: Favors topic 3 Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays: Favors topic 3 Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools: Strongly Favors topic 3 Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools: Strongly Favors topic 3 NO on banning gay adoptions in DC: Favors topic 3 NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3 NO on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman: Strongly Favors topic 3
Strongly Opposes topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (+5 points on Social scale)	Rated 7% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Rated 83% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Rated 0% by the AU, indicating support of separation of church & state: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on responsible fatherhood via faith-based organizations: Opposes topic 4 NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration: Opposes topic 4 NO on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance: Opposes topic 4 YES on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance: Opposes topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	We spend more on care than countries with single-payer: Favors topic 5 Healthcare is a fundamental right in a civilized society: Strongly Favors topic 5 Medicare for all: healthcare is a human right: Strongly Favors topic 5 Voted for ObamaCare; but prefers single-payer system: Strongly Favors topic 5 U.S. is only major country without guaranteed healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5 Move toward a single-payer system: Strongly Favors topic 5 Civilized societies provide healthcare for the poor: Strongly Favors topic 5 MEDS Plan: Cover senior Rx under Medicare: Favors topic 5 Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors topic 5 Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn: Strongly Favors topic 5 Provide for treatment of autism under TRICARE: Favors topic 5 Sponsored bill expanding the National Health Service Corps: Strongly Favors topic 5 Make health care a right, not a privilege: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts: Favors topic 5 NO on subsidizing private insurance for Medicare Rx drug coverage: Favors topic 5 YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs: Favors topic 5 NO on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits: Favors topic 5 NO on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients: Favors topic 5 NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay: 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 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)	Defend against chained CPI, and expand Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6 No cuts; no privatization; even to deal with deficit: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Strengthen the social safety net, instead of weakening it: Strongly Opposes topic 6 We must strengthen the social safety net, not weaken it: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Despite GOP rhetoric, Social Security is NOT going bankrupt: Opposes topic 6 Changing Social Security disproportionately affects women: Opposes topic 6 Reject proposals for private saving accounts: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Reject privatization; don't raise the retirement age: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Sponsored keeping CPI for benefits instead of lower "Chained CPI": Strongly Opposes topic 6 Rated 100% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance: Strongly Opposes topic 6 YES on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox: Opposes topic 6 NO on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits: Opposes topic 6 NO on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable: 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)	Replace NCLB standardized testing with holistic approach: Opposes topic 7 Vouchers redirect public education dollar to private schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Charter schools ok if held to public school standards: Favors topic 7 Quality affordable education, from child care to higher ed: Opposes topic 7 Reduce class size to 18 children in grades 1 to 3: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Rated 83% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7 $25B to renovate or repair elementary schools: Opposes topic 7 Sponsored extending subsidized federal student loan rates until 2015: Opposes topic 7 NO on vouchers for private & parochial schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools: Opposes topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: EPA regulations are too restrictive (+5 points on Social scale)	Advocate of animal welfare and humane treatment: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Protect important watersheds and wildlife areas: Strongly Opposes topic 8 GMOs are ok, but only with required labeling: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Very large farms raise questions about animal cruelty: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Prohibits commercial logging on Federal public lands: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Rated 90% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Promote conservation of rare felids & canids: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements: Opposes topic 8 Regulate all dog breeders down to kennels of 50 dogs: Opposes topic 8 Prohibit invasive research on great apes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Prohibits breeding or possessing Big Cat species: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Require labeling genetically engineered food: Opposes topic 8 Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8 NO on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species: Strongly Opposes 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
Strongly Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+5 points on Social scale)	Police officers should not be shooting unarmed people: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Jobs and education, not jails and incarceration: Strongly Opposes topic 9 America has more people in jail than any country on earth: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Blacks are disproportionately imprisoned & killed by police: Opposes topic 9 Reinstate voting rights to address school-to-prison pipeline: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Rated 78% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Require DNA testing for all federal executions: Opposes topic 9 Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program: Opposes topic 9 Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Rated 73% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues: Neutral on topic 9 YES on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment: Strongly Opposes topic 9 NO on making federal death penalty appeals harder: Strongly Opposes topic 9 YES on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals: Opposes topic 9 NO on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime: Opposes topic 9 YES on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons.: Strongly Opposes topic 9 YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9
Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-3 points on Economic scale)	I have shown courage against NRA on gun issues: Opposes topic 10 People have the right to buy guns, with sensible regulations: Opposes topic 10 Do more than reverse gun manufacturer immunity: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Deal federally with straw-man gun purchasers: Favors topic 10 Common sense, incremental gun control plan: Opposes topic 10 Ban semiautomatic guns & gun show loophole: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Instant background checks: no guns for criminals or unstable: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Gun legislation must work for both rural & urban Americans: Neutral on topic 10 OpEd: pro-gun votes in line with VT's political norms: Favors topic 10 Mixed approach to gun control vs. gun rights: Opposes topic 10 I'm pro-hunting, but no one needs an AK-47 to hunt: Favors topic 10 Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 10 NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1: Strongly Opposes topic 10 YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets: Strongly Opposes topic 10 YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership: Favors topic 10 YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains: Favors topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Wealthiest will pay more but not as much as under Eisenhower: Strongly Favors topic 11 Tax increases may affect more than top 1%: Strongly Favors topic 11 Increase tax on wealthy; close loopholes for corporations: Strongly Favors topic 11 Fix estate tax so mega-rich pay their fair share: Strongly Favors topic 11 Raise top marginal income tax rate from 39% to over 50%: Strongly Favors topic 11 Lower cutoff for estate tax from $5.4M to $3.5M: Strongly Favors topic 11 Double the capital gains tax for the wealthiest 2%: Strongly Favors topic 11 We need a progressive tax system based on ability to pay: Strongly Favors topic 11 Real tax reform based on ability to pay: Strongly Favors topic 11 American People's Dividend: Give $300 to every person: Favors topic 11 Rated 28% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11 Minimum tax rate of 30% for those earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 11 Make employee educational assistance tax-deductible: Favors topic 11 Reduce the concentration of wealth & wage inequality: Favors topic 11 NO on eliminating the "marriage penalty": Favors topic 11 NO on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business: Favors topic 11 NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years: Favors topic 11 NO on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years: Favors topic 11 NO on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax"): Favors topic 11 NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on providing tax relief and simplification: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Favors 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 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)	2007: No comprehensive reform: guest workers are semi-slaves: Opposes topic 12 Comprehensive reform with no border fence & no guest workers: Strongly Favors topic 12 Secure borders without building a fence: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Open borders for guest workers pushes down U.S. worker wages: Neutral on topic 12 Offer path to citizenship; waive deportation for DREAMers: Strongly Favors topic 12 Immigrant labor should be treated as valuable, but are not: Favors topic 12 English-Only, based in xenophobia, hurts legal immigrants: Favors topic 12 Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration: Strongly Favors topic 12 Rated 8% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12 NO on more immigrant visas for skilled workers: Opposes topic 12 NO on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on preventing tipping off Mexicans about Minuteman Project: Strongly Opposes topic 12 NO on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program: Neutral topic 12 NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government: Strongly Favors topic 12 NO on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Strongly Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-5 points on Economic scale)	Does not support ANY free trade agreements: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Promote democracy in China, but not at expense of US workers: Opposes topic 13 China trade has led to loss of 3M American jobs so far: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Priority of trade deals should be helping American workers: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Wrong, wrong, wrong that trade deals create jobs here: Strongly Opposes topic 13 End disastrous NAFTA, CAFTA, and PNTR with China: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Stop TPP, the Trans-Pacific Partnership: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Best dairy policy is USDA board's supply management: Opposes topic 13 NAFTA was a sellout to corporate America: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NAFTA, GATT, and MFN for China must be repealed: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Rated 33% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues: Neutral on topic 13 Review free trade agreements biennially for rights violation: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Impose tariffs against countries which manipulate currency: Opposes topic 13 Rated 13% by the USAE, indicating support for trade sanctions: Opposes topic 13 No MFN for China; condition trade on human rights: Neutral on topic 13 NO on 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China: Strongly Opposes topic 13 YES on withdrawing from the WTO: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on implementing US-Singapore free trade agreement: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on implementing free trade agreement with Chile: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on implementing US-Australia Free Trade Agreement: Opposes topic 13 NO on end offshore tax havens and promote small business: Favors topic 13 NO on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on promoting free trade with Peru: Opposes topic 13
Strongly Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-5 points on Economic scale)	Not policeman of the world; focus on ISIS first: Strongly Opposes topic 14 I do not believe in unilateral action against terrorism: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Diplomacy and coalition-building before unilateral action: Strongly Opposes topic 14 US should be more selective about using drone strikes: Strongly Opposes topic 14 War is a local issue because local youngsters fight and die: Opposes topic 14 Require Code of Conduct for US corporations abroad: Opposes 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 withholding $244M in UN Back Payments until US seat restored: Strongly Opposes topic 14 NO on reforming the UN by restricting US funding: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight: Favors topic 14 YES on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls: Opposes topic 14 NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Strongly Opposes topic 15: Expand the military (+5 points on Social scale)	We spend billions on nuclear weapons & only 10% on terrorism: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Reduce nuclear budget by $100B; end proliferation worldwide: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Costs of endless war detract from citizens' well-being: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Cut defense by $18B to pay for 55% of all college tuition: Strongly Opposes topic 15 We need a strong military, but stop wasting tens of billions: Opposes topic 15 F-35 fighter planes OK at Burlington Airport: Favors topic 15 Oppose outrageous boost in military expenditures: Strongly Opposes topic 15 1991: Billions should improve human life, not destroy it: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Stop $31M Pentagon payments for corporate mergers: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11: Favors topic 15 Non-proliferation includes disposing of nuclear materials: Opposes topic 15 NO on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill: Opposes topic 15 NO on deploying SDI: Opposes topic 15 NO on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan: Strongly Opposes topic 15 NO on continuing military recruitment on college campuses: Opposes topic 15 YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Opposes topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Citizens United means billionaires donate for THEIR interest: Strongly Favors topic 16 I do not have a Super PAC nor raise money from billionaires: Favors topic 16 Super-PACs pervert the democratic process: Strongly Favors topic 16 Public funding of elections to promote even playing field: Strongly Favors topic 16 We now have government of, by, and for the billionaires: Favors topic 16 Reinforce voting rights to end voter suppression: Strongly Favors topic 16 Constitutional amendment to reverse Citizen United ruling: Strongly Favors topic 16 Citizens United opens up the road to oligarchy: Strongly Favors topic 16 Underclass see the political deck stacked; and don't vote: Strongly Favors topic 16 America struggles between organized people & organized money: Favors topic 16 Low-income workers don't vote because it's irrelevant: Strongly Favors topic 16 Same-day automatic voter registration & 3-day voting: Strongly Favors topic 16 Publicly fund elections, or small individual contributions: Strongly Favors topic 16 Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures: Strongly Favors topic 16 Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements: Favors topic 16 Corporate political spending is not free speech: Strongly Favors topic 16 Public financing of federal campaigns by voter vouchers: Favors topic 16 YES on banning soft money and issue ads: Favors topic 16 NO on banning soft money donations to national political parties: Opposes topic 16 YES on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions: Favors topic 16 NO on restricting independent grassroots political committees: Favors topic 16
Strongly Favors topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (+5 points on Social scale)	Easy to overthrow a dictator but hard to control aftermath: Opposes topic 17 End perpetual warfare in the quagmire of the Middle East: Strongly Favors topic 17 Rid our planet of this barbarous organization called ISIS: Opposes topic 17 Invasion of Iraq led to ISIS; Hillary voted to invade: Strongly Favors topic 17 Form Muslim-led coalition to defeat ISIS: Favors topic 17 Keep U.S. troops on the ground in Afghanistan: Opposes topic 17 Syria is a quagmire within a quagmire; don't get involved: Strongly Favors topic 17 Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar should take charge in Syria: Favors topic 17 Begrudgingly supports NATO, but no eastward expansion: Favors topic 17 Stop ISIS, but only with an international & Arab coalition: Opposes topic 17 Iraq war destabilized Mideast; stay out of Mideast quagmire: Strongly Favors topic 17 Iran nuke deal is victory for diplomacy over saber-rattling: Strongly Favors topic 17 Middle Eastern countries must contribute to fight ISIS: Favors topic 17 We have to negotiate with others, even Iran: Favors topic 17 Focus on domestic needs instead of international conflict: Strongly Favors topic 17 1983 war against Nicaragua was illegal and immoral: Favors topic 17 1990: Opposed authorizing all-out war in Kuwait with Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17 I voted against 1st Gulf War, which led to 2nd Gulf War: Strongly Favors topic 17 Voted for Afghan War, to capture Osama bin Laden: Opposes topic 17 Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine: Strongly Favors topic 17 Require Congress' approval before military action in Iran: Favors topic 17 NO on authorizing military force in Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17 NO on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date: Strongly Favors topic 17 YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008: Strongly Favors topic 17 YES on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months: Favors topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Climate change will lead to international security crises: Strongly Favors topic 18 Climate change partly causes rise of terrorist groups: Favors topic 18 Climate change is a moral issue: tax on carbon: Strongly Favors topic 18 Opposed Keystone Pipeline from day one: Strongly Favors topic 18 Combat climate skeptics with overwhelming evidence: Strongly Favors topic 18 Keystone pipeline transports the dirtiest fossil fuel: Favors topic 18 Charge companies for carbon emissions; then fund renewables: Strongly Favors topic 18 Transform to sustainable system & away from fossil fuels: Strongly Favors topic 18 Weatherize millions of homes and buildings: Strongly Favors topic 18 Gas tax increases are regressive: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Preserve Alaska's ANWR instead of drilling it: Favors topic 18 Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence: Favors topic 18 Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: Strongly Favors topic 18 Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness: Favors topic 18 Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18 Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on authorizing construction of new oil refineries: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning: Favors topic 18 YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China: Favors topic 18 YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade: Favors topic 18 NO on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax: Favors topic 18 YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Favors topic 18
Strongly Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+5 points on Social scale)	Take marijuana out of the controlled substances list: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Treat addiction as a disease, not a crime: Strongly Opposes topic 19 War on drugs is a failed policy; treatment over punishment: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Decriminalize marijuana and study recreational legalization: Opposes topic 19 Legalize medical marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Exclude industrial hemp from definition of marijuana: Opposes topic 19 Exempt industrial hemp from marijuana laws: Opposes topic 19 NO on subjecting federal employees to random drug tests: Strongly Opposes topic 19 NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-5 points on Economic scale)	Obama rebuilt jobs; but middle class is disappearing: Strongly Favors topic 20 Economic justice: Address root causes of economic inequality: Strongly Favors topic 20 Raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour: Strongly Favors topic 20 Break up the Wall Street giants; they can't be reformed: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Capital gains & dividend tax cuts are giveaways to the rich: Favors topic 20 Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business: Favors topic 20 Rated 86% by UFCW, indicating an anti-management/pro-labor record: Favors topic 20 Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2016: 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