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)	Supports federal abortion funding: Favors topic 1
No opinion on topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (0 points on Economic scale)	Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all: Neutral on topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (+5 points on Social scale)	Opposes Amendment to prevent same sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3
No opinion on topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 8: Death Penalty (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (-3 points on Social scale)	Additional funding to hire correctional and police officers: Favors topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	Further toughen the enforcement of our gun laws: Opposes topic 10 Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology: Opposes topic 10 Supports restrictions on the right to bear arms: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (-5 points on Economic scale)	Pass the Maryland healthcare act to expand health coverage: Favors topic 5 Health care should be a right--not a privilege: Strongly Favors topic 5 Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care: Favors topic 5 Supports government-run healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5 Adopt national health reform legislation before the end of the year: Strongly Favors topic 5 3.2% funding increase for National Institutes of Health: Strongly Favors topic 5
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+2 points on Economic scale)	Create Retirement Savings Accounts: Favors topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (-5 points on Economic scale)	Give students, teachers & parents resources they need: Opposes topic 7 Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice: Opposes topic 7 Opposes education vouchers for public or private school: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Favors topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (-3 points on Economic scale)	Adopt the Clean Cars Act to fight global warming: Strongly Favors topic 18 Maryland needs a long-term vision to make energy affordable: Opposes topic 18 Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18
No opinion on topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (+2 points on Economic scale)	Finish welfare reform by moving able recipients into jobs: Favors topic 20
Favors topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (-3 points on Economic scale)	$12B in federal economic stimulus as state block grants: Favors topic 11
No opinion on topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	Build a rule-based global trading system: Favors topic 13
Favors topic 15: Expand the armed forces (-3 points on Social scale)	More equipment and training for first responders: 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 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 17: US out of Iraq & Afghanistan (+2 points on Social scale)	Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence: Favors topic 17