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)	Vetoed bill requiring ultrasound exams before abortions: Favors topic 1 Tea Party is too extreme on outlawing abortion: Opposes topic 1 Defend parental notification rights: Opposes topic 1 Prohibit partial-birth abortion: Opposes topic 1 Abortion is a personal decision; but ban partial-birth: Favors topic 1 Supports both federal abortion funding & judicial activism: Strongly Favors topic 1 Opposes prohibiting human embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1
Favors topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (-3 points on Economic scale)	Lifetime member of NAACP: Favors topic 2 Provide compensation to victims of racial discrimination: Strongly Favors topic 2 Discontinue affirmative action programs: Strongly Opposes topic 2
Opposes topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (-3 points on Social scale)	Military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy has worked: Opposes topic 3 Uphold Florida’s Defense of Marriage Act: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Opposes banning homosexuals in the military: Strongly Favors topic 3
Strongly Favors topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (-5 points on Social scale)	Constitutional amendment for school prayer: Strongly Favors topic 4
Favors topic 8: Death Penalty (-3 points on Social scale)	Broaden use of federal death penalty: Favors topic 8
Strongly Favors topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (-5 points on Social scale)	Chain-Gang Charlie: reinstitute prison chain gangs: Strongly Favors topic 9 Stop Turning Out Prisoners: serve at least 85% of sentence: Strongly Favors topic 9 Toughened penalties for identity theft and Internet spam: Favors topic 9 Supports 10-20-Life and Stop Turning Out Prisoners program: Strongly Favors topic 9 Require that prisoners serve at least 85% of their sentences: Strongly Favors topic 9 More federal prisons; more “truth in sentencing”: Strongly Favors topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Strongly supports Second Amendment rights: Strongly Favors topic 10 Repeal gun restrictions; allow concealed carry: Strongly Favors topic 10 Opposes restrictions on the right to bear arms: Strongly Favors topic 10 Rated A- by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record: Strongly Favors topic 10
Favors topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (-3 points on Economic scale)	Cover Florida: $150 a month plan for 3.8 million uninsured: Strongly Favors topic 5 Expand tax-free medical savings accounts: Opposes topic 5
Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-3 points on Economic scale)	Reducing COLA is unfair to seniors living on fixed income: Opposes topic 6 Focus on waste & fraud, not retirement age & COLA: Favors topic 6 Invest budget surplus into Trust Fund: Opposes topic 6 Don't raise eligibility age; don't tax benefits: Opposes topic 6
Strongly Favors topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (+5 points on Economic scale)	As Commissioner of Educ., implemented school accountability: Favors topic 7 Early advocate for parental choice in education: Strongly Favors topic 7 Allow vouchers for any public, private or religious school: Strongly Favors topic 7
Strongly Favors topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (-5 points on Economic scale)	Open to cap-and-trade plan for carbon emissions: Favors topic 18 $200M package for solar, wind, & biofuel from citrus: Favors topic 18 Propose almost $70 million on alternative energy development: Favors topic 18 Supports renewable energy tax credits: Strongly Favors topic 18
Strongly Favors topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (-5 points on Social scale)	More penalties against drugs; more funds for enforcement: Strongly Favors topic 19
No opinion on topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Opposes topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (+2 points on Economic scale)	Humble roots led to values of lower taxes & less government: Opposes topic 11 Replace income tax with a flat tax or national sales tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 $12B in federal economic stimulus as state block grants: Favors topic 11
Opposes topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (-3 points on Social scale)	No amnesty, but an earned path to citizenship: Favors topic 12 Seal borders; enforce laws; send illegals to back of line: Opposes topic 12 Close the door of illegal immigration; protect our borders: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Strongly Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-5 points on Economic scale)	Opposes NAFTA; supports tariffs; opposes Fast Track: Strongly Opposes topic 13
No opinion on topic 15: Expand the armed forces (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (-3 points on Economic scale)	Supports term limits & instant contribution reporting: Favors 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)
No opinion on topic 17: US out of Iraq (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)