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 unrestricted right (+2 points on Social scale)	Supports federal abortion funding: Favors topic 1
No opinion on topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (0 points on Economic scale)	Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all: Neutral on topic 2
Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+2 points on Social scale)	Civil marriage rights for all Marylanders: Strongly Favors topic 3 Civil marriage rights for all Marylanders: Opposes topic 3 Opposes Amendment to prevent same sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3
No opinion on topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-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: Vouchers for school choice (-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
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Human needs over animal rights (+5 points on Social scale)	Flush Tax: fund green upgrade to wastewater treatment plants: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-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
Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-3 points on Economic scale)	$12B in federal economic stimulus as state block grants: Favors topic 11
No opinion on topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (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
No opinion on topic 14: Maintain US sovereignty from UN (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-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)
Favors topic 17: Stay out of Iran (+2 points on Social scale)	Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence: Favors topic 17
Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-3 points on Economic scale)	Raise gas tax by 2% per year, to rebuild infrastructure: Strongly Favors topic 18 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: Never legalize marijuana (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+2 points on Economic scale)	Recovery & Reinvestment Act creates jobs; spend more locally: Strongly Favors topic 20 Limit budget growth to below inflation: Opposes topic 20