Al Lawson on VoteMatch

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)	Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1 Access safe, legal abortion without restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Voted YES on private lawsuits for school race discrimination: Favors topic 2 Sponsored bill for ratifying Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2 Combat international and domestic Islamophobia: Favors topic 2
No opinion on topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	Strengthen & secure Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Opposes diverting some FICA into personal accounts: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+2 points on Economic scale)	I believe in all options available in public education: Favors topic 7
Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+2 points on Social scale)	Regulatory relief for smaller banks stimulates growth: Favors topic 8 Rated Keep restrictive rules for predator control in Alaska: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Strongly Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+5 points on Social scale)	Smart justice for non-violent offenses: system isn't working: Strongly Opposes topic 9 First step: reduce recidivism & mass incarceration: Opposes topic 9 Sponsored stricter rules for police accountability: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-3 points on Economic scale)	Require background check for every firearm sale and transfer: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Background checks even for private firearm transfers: Favors topic 10
Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-3 points on Economic scale)	Rated Reducing tax rates balloons federal deficit & cuts programs: Favors topic 11
Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+2 points on Social scale)	Increase both high-skill and family-based visa caps: Favors topic 12 Disallow immigration bans based on religion: Favors topic 12
Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale)	Implement USMCA for improved North American trade: Strongly Favors topic 13
Favors topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (+2 points on Economic scale)	Cut World Bank funding to enforce against terrorism: Favors topic 14 Voted YES to monitor forced Uyghur labor in Xinjiang: Favors topic 14
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	Ensure that veteran benefits are protected: Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Statehood for the District of Columbia: Favors topic 16 Automatic voter registration for all citizens: Strongly Favors topic 16 Holiday on election day; revamp for easier voting access: Favors topic 16 Sponsored bill to expand voter registration and voter access: Strongly Favors topic 16
Strongly Favors topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (+5 points on Social scale)	Remove US Forces from Hostilities Against Yemen: Favors topic 17 No military force against Iran without Congress approval: Strongly Favors topic 17 Repeal 2002 Military Force Authorization against Iraq: Favors topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Supports regulation of greenhouse gas emission: Strongly Favors topic 18 Voted YES to assist rural electric renewable energy: Favors topic 18
Strongly Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+5 points on Social scale)	Opposes jail sentences for non-violent drug offenders: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Rated Voted NO on additional Drug War funding for synthetic drugs: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-5 points on Economic scale)	We are still rebuilding from the Recession; focus on jobs: Strongly Favors topic 20 Supports federal spending to promote economic growth: Strongly Favors topic 20 Voted YES on $900 billion COVID relief package: Favors topic 20 $1.9 trillion ARPA bill for COVID relief: Favors topic 20

Al Lawson is a Libertarian-Leaning Progressive
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