Joseph Lieberman on VoteMatch

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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 right (10 points on Social scale)	Keep abortion safe, rare and legal; with 24-week viability: Strongly Favors topic 1 Supports abortion rights within his faith, not despite it: Strongly Favors topic 1 Parental consent with judicial override; Gore agrees: Opposes topic 1 Supported parental notification for minors; but pro-choice: Neutral on topic 1 Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record: Strongly Favors topic 1 Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 NO on Unknown roll call for 1999-148: Favors topic 1 NO on banning partial birth abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions: Favors topic 1 NO on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime: Favors topic 1 YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives: Favors topic 1
Favors topic 2: Require companies to hire more women & minorities (2 points on Economic scale)	Support reparation legislations: Strongly Favors topic 2 Marched with Martin Luther King in 1963; keep dream alive: Favors topic 2 Better economy helps blacks: Rising tide raises all boats: Opposes topic 2 I do support, and will support affirmative action: Favors topic 2 Supports affirmative action now; but phase it out by 2010: Favors topic 2 Affirmative action is “patently unfair”, in 1995: Strongly Opposes topic 2 Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all: Neutral on topic 2 Increase subsidies for women-owned non-profit business: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds: Strongly Favors topic 2 YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on prohibiting same-sex basic training: Favors topic 2 YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women: Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Sexual orientation protected by civil rights laws (10 points on Social scale)	Opposes laws against gay sex & sodomy; focus on real crime: Strongly Favors topic 3 For gay equal employment; against gay marriage: Favors topic 3 Expand “Hate Crimes” to include women, gays, and disabled: Strongly Favors topic 3 More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation: Strongly Favors topic 3 YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation: Favors topic 3 YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3
Opposes topic 4: Teach family values in public schools (7 points on Social scale)	Non-sectarian moment of silence OK in public schools: Favors topic 4 Express religious faith in schools, within Constitution: Opposes topic 4 Christian right leaders call Lieberman an ally: Neutral on topic 4 Voted against school prayer; for condom distribution: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer: Opposes topic 4 NO on $75M for abstinence education: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors: Favors topic 4 YES on declaring that memorial prayers and religious symbols at sch: Favors topic 4 NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Opposes topic 4
Favors topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (2 points on Economic scale)	National health insurance pool-free for poor and children: Strongly Favors topic 5 Return taxes to Clinton-era rates to improve health care: Favors topic 5 No more big-spending health plans: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Supports health insurance industry (based in Hartford CT): Strongly Favors topic 5 Limited lawsuits against HMOs and automakers: Favors topic 5 Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care: Favors topic 5 Invest funds to alleviate the nursing shortage: Favors topic 5 Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors topic 5 YES on medical savings acounts: Favors topic 5 YES on Medicare means-testing: Opposes topic 5 NO on limiting self-employment health deduction: Favors topic 5 YES on Unknown roll call for 1999-76: Favors topic 5 YES on including prescription drugs under Medicare: Favors topic 5 NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit: Favors topic 5 YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics: Favors topic 5 YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Favors topic 5 YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D: Favors topic 5 NO on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000: Opposes topic 5
Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (2 points on Economic scale)	OK to invest in private markets, a little: Favors topic 6 Lieberman commends Gore’s National Retirement Savings Plan: Neutral on topic 6 Create Retirement Savings Accounts: Favors topic 6 Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 6 NO on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes: Opposes topic 6 NO on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees: Opposes topic 6 NO on allowing personal retirement accounts: Opposes topic 6 NO on using the Social Security Surplus to fund tax reductions: Opposes topic 6
Favors topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (7 points on Social scale)	Supports vouchers that don't take money from public schools: Favors topic 7 Support public school choice; experiment with private choice: Strongly Favors topic 7 Would advocate vouchers privately, but support Gore publicly: Neutral on topic 7 Supports charter schools, private education savings accounts: Favors topic 7 Choice won’t “ruin” schools; they’re already in ruins: Strongly Favors topic 7 Voted for vouchers; against block grants: Strongly Favors topic 7 Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice: Opposes topic 7 Firmly opposed to Bush’s voucher proposal: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Rated 86% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7 YES on school vouchers in DC: Strongly Favors topic 7 YES on education savings accounts: Favors topic 7 NO on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules: Strongly Opposes topic 7 YES on Educational Savings Accounts: Favors topic 7 YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors: Opposes topic 7 YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors: Opposes topic 7 YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Opposes topic 7
Favors topic 8: Death Penalty (2 points on Social scale)	Favors death penalty, even for minors: Strongly Favors topic 8 Moratorium on death penalty; more DNA testing: Opposes topic 8 Require DNA testing for all federal executions: Strongly Opposes topic 8 YES on rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals: Favors topic 8 YES on limiting death penalty appeals: Favors topic 8
Favors topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (2 points on Social scale)	Invest in rehabilitation, not prisons: Opposes topic 9 Build more jails to keep violent offendors for full sentence: Strongly Favors topic 9 Rated 50% by CURE, indicating mixed votes on rehabilitation: Neutral on topic 9 YES on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms: Strongly Favors topic 9 NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes topic 9 YES on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program: Opposes topic 9
Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (2 points on Social scale)	Licensing & registration violate fundamental right to guns: Strongly Favors topic 10 Safe havens: Ban guns in schools and churches: Opposes topic 10 Safety locks, background checks, & bans on sale to kids: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology: Opposes topic 10 NO on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks: Strongly Opposes topic 10 NO on loosening license & background checks at gun shows: Opposes topic 10 YES on background checks at gun shows: Strongly Opposes topic 10 YES on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence: Strongly Favors topic 10 NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Decrease overall taxation of the wealthy (0 points on Economic scale)	Tax the richest 2% to pay for a tax cut to the other 98%: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Repeal Bush tax cuts on highest income Americans: Strongly Opposes topic 11 $792B tax cut is premature and unrealistic: Opposes topic 11 Rated 15% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on Internet sales tax moratorium: Favors topic 11 NO on Unknown roll call for 1998-55: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on requiring super-majority for raising taxes: Opposes topic 11 NO on Unknown roll call for 1999-230: Opposes topic 11 NO on phasing out the estate tax ("death tax"): Opposes topic 11 NO on eliminating the 'marriage penalty': Opposes topic 11 NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts: Opposes topic 11 YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates: Opposes topic 11 NO on Unknown roll call for 2001-165: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction: Opposes topic 11 NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut: Opposes topic 11 NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Opposes topic 11
Favors topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (7 points on Economic scale)	Now it's too easy to come in across our border: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Earn citizenship only after 11 years of waiting within rules: Opposes topic 12 One-time earned legalization for undocumented immigrants: Favors topic 12 Allow driver's license for immigrants: Favors topic 12 YES on limit welfare for immigrants: Strongly Opposes topic 12 YES on visas for skilled workers: Favors topic 12 NO on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work: Opposes topic 12 YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on establishing a Guest Worker program: Favors topic 12
Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (10 points on Economic scale)	Connecticut jobs rely on exports: Strongly Favors topic 13 NAFTA has caused some job loss, but net gain of 900,000 jobs: Strongly Favors topic 13 Can't build walls and still create jobs: Strongly Favors topic 13 Protect manufacturing by federal Buy-American policy: Opposes topic 13 For Fast Track & open trade, with labor safeguards: Neutral on topic 13 Build a rule-based global trading system: Favors topic 13 Free & fair trade is key to economic growth : Strongly Favors topic 13 Quick vote on PNTR; China into WTO: Neutral on topic 13 Rated 36% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues: Neutral on topic 13 YES on Unknown roll call for 1997-292: Favors topic 13 YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority: Favors topic 13 YES on expanding trade to the third world: Favors topic 13 YES on removing common goods from national security export rules: Favors topic 13 YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam: Favors topic 13 YES on extending free trade to Andean nations: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Favors topic 13
Opposes topic 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (7 points on Social scale)	Last thing we want is to release dangerous Gitmo detainees: Opposes topic 14 NO on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act: Strongly Favors topic 14 YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Favors topic 15: More spending on armed forces (2 points on Economic scale)	Right-size the military with Servicemembers Bill of Rights: Strongly Favors topic 15 $87B to never leave American troops without support: Strongly Favors topic 15 More $ for weapons; including SDI recently: Favors topic 15 More R&D & better development for future army: Favors topic 15 Rated 10% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on 1996 Defense Appropriations: Favors topic 15 NO on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty: Opposes topic 15 NO on favoring 36 vetoed military projects: Strongly Opposes topic 15 YES on allowing another round of military base closures: Opposes topic 15 NO on military pay raise of 4.8%: Strongly Opposes topic 15 YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding: Opposes topic 15
Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (2 points on Economic scale)	YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance: Favors topic 16 YES on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations: Favors topic 16 YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads: Favors topic 16 YES on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Favors topic 16 YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Opposes topic 16
Opposes topic 17: Replace US troops with UN in Iraq (7 points on Economic scale)	Adopt an international Marshall Plan for the Muslim world: Strongly Favors topic 17 Go back to the UN and negotiate about Iraq: Favors topic 17 Leadership means consistency on war views: Opposes topic 17 Prosecute War on Terror, even if unpopular: Opposes topic 17 Failure is not an option in War on Terror: Opposes topic 17 Preemptive war policy is foolish and provokes the world: Favors topic 17 Overthrowing Saddam was right, and we can't abandon Iraq now: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Getting out too soon will be a disaster for Iraq and for us: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Saddam's overthrow caused Libya & Iran to capitulate: Opposes topic 17 We made the right decision to send soldiers to Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 US and world are safer with homicidal maniac Saddam gone: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Stabilize Iraq before pulling out the troops: Strongly Opposes topic 17 $87B for Iraq was unpopular, but that's leadership: Opposes topic 17 Not an inch of difference from Bush on Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Iraq was a heroic struggle against enemies of civilization: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence: Favors topic 17 NO on limiting NATO expansion to only Poland, Hungary & Czech: Favors topic 17 YES on $17.9 billion to IMF: Favors topic 17 NO on cap foreign aid at only $12.7 billion: Favors topic 17 YES on authorizing air strikes in Kosovo: Neutral topic 17 NO on allowing all necessary force in Kosovo: Neutral topic 17 YES on enlarging NATO to include Eastern Europe: Strongly Favors topic 17 NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007: Strongly Opposes topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (0 points on Economic scale)	Accept some American responsibility for global warming: Strongly Favors topic 18 Declaration of Energy Independence: Favors topic 18 Raise mileage standard to 40 mpg: Strongly Favors topic 18 Kyoto Protocol should include China: Favors topic 18 Climate change is bilingual, for business & for enviros: Favors topic 18 Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 Keep climate change in EPA "State of the Environment" report: Favors topic 18 Rated 42% by the LCV, indicating a mixed record on environment: Neutral on topic 18 Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on do not require ethanol in gasoline: Favors topic 18 YES on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests: Favors topic 18 NO on defunding renewable and solar energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards: Opposes topic 18 NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling: Favors topic 18 NO on confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior: Favors topic 18 NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill: Favors topic 18 YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%): Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's AMWR: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Favors topic 18
Favors topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (2 points on Social scale)	Approves $6.2M more for CT crime & drug enforcement: Favors topic 19 Increased penalties for drug offenses: Strongly Favors topic 19 NO on spending international development funds on drug control: Strongly Opposes topic 19 NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes topic 19 YES on increasing penalties for drug offenses: Favors topic 19
Favors topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (2 points on Social scale)	Individual Development Accounts for low-income families: Favors topic 20 Supported 1996 welfare reform: Favors topic 20 Finish welfare reform by moving able recipients into jobs: Favors topic 20 YES on welfare overhaul: Favors topic 20 NO on allowing state welfare waivers: Opposes topic 20 YES on eliminating block grants for food stamps: Opposes topic 20 YES on welfare block grants: Favors topic 20