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)
Opposes topic 1: Abortion is a woman's right (-3 points on Social scale)	A reliable advocate of right to life: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Declare truce on abortion Issue: Favors topic 1 No stem-cell research; private funds ok for adult stem cells: Opposes topic 1 Legal abortion for rape, incest, or medical danger: Opposes topic 1
No opinion on topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (0 points on Economic scale)	Raised women and minority contracting in public positions: Favors topic 2 No affirmative action in public college admissions: Opposes topic 2
Strongly Opposes topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (-5 points on Social scale)	Traditional definition of marriage AND non-discrimination: Opposes topic 3 No same-sex marriage nor civil unions: Strongly Opposes topic 3
Strongly Favors topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (-5 points on Social scale)	Voluntary prayer in public schools: Strongly Favors topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 8: Death Penalty (-5 points on Social scale)	Support the death penalty: Strongly Favors topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (+2 points on Social scale)	Incarcerate in a smarter way, based on danger to society: Opposes topic 9 Nothing more contemptible than failing to pay child support: Favors topic 9 Prevent recidivism with vocational training & alternatives: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	No background checks; no licenses; yes concealed carry: Strongly Favors topic 10
Opposes topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (+2 points on Economic scale)	Medicare 2.0 for the sickest, and for middle and low income: Favors topic 5 Obamacare is an existential fiscal crisis; it must be undone: Strongly Opposes topic 5 HSAs work better than old-fashioned insurance plans: Opposes topic 5 Healthy Indiana: POWER = personal wellness & responsibility: Favors topic 5 Tort reform; sue HMOs; no guarantees: Strongly Opposes topic 5 INShape plan: insure 130,000 uninsured Hoosiers: Favors topic 5 Increase cigarette tax; insurance discounts to non-smokers: Favors topic 5 Loosen "one-size-fits-all" approach to Medicaid: Opposes topic 5
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+2 points on Economic scale)	Means testing for Social Security: Favors topic 6 Raise the retirement age; replace COLA: Favors topic 6
Favors topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (+2 points on Economic scale)	Pro school choice; pro charter schools; pro voucher: Strongly Favors topic 7 Pay teachers, and award tenure, based on effectiveness: Favors topic 7 Lift backward-looking limits on charter schools: Favors topic 7 Support vouchers for public schools: Strongly Favors topic 7 Proud of long-standing commitment to our public schools: Opposes topic 7
Favors topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (-3 points on Economic scale)	Look to US sources of energy; we shoot ourselves in the foot: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Some subsidies ok for renewable energy: Favors topic 18 Biofuels oversubsidized but should still be encouraged: Favors topic 18 Make IN a leader in electric vehicles & solar power industry: Favors topic 18 Support clean coal as well as alternative energy: Opposes topic 18 Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18
Strongly Opposes topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (+5 points on Social scale)	Alternative sentencing for marijuana possession: Strongly Opposes topic 19 1971: Arrested and convicted of drug use in college: Opposes topic 19
Favors topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (+2 points on Economic scale)	Reform the Safety Net; we're not "entitled" to anything: Favors topic 20
Opposes topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (+2 points on Economic scale)	Solemn duty to spend wisely when taking from free citizens: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Automatic taxpayer refund when reserves exceed 10%: Opposes topic 11 Raising taxes is the worst thing possible in a recession: Opposes topic 11 Reduce corporate income tax; cut and cap property tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Supports internet sales tax: Favors topic 11 Growth-friendly tax cuts reverse Indiana’s economic decline: Opposes topic 11
Favors topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (+2 points on Social scale)	Need more immigrants with brains or money to invest: Favors topic 12
No opinion on topic 13: Support & expand free trade (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Opposes topic 15: Expand the armed forces (+5 points on Social scale)	Defense spending must be reviewed for budget cuts: Opposes topic 15 Rampant waste in defense spending: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Strongly Opposes topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (+5 points on Economic scale)	No limits on individual nor PAC campaign contributions: Strongly Opposes topic 16
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)	Limit defense missions to the vital interests of our country: Favors topic 17