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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 unrestricted right (+5 points on Social scale)	100% pro choice: Strongly Favors topic 1 Votes against Ashcroft, citing reproductive rights: Favors topic 1 Strongly supports "Abortion is a woman's right": Strongly Favors topic 1 Roe v. Wade is US law and WA law, so uphold it: Strongly Favors topic 1 Endorsed Recommended by EMILY's List of pro-choice women: Favors topic 1 Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record: Strongly Favors topic 1 Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors topic 1 Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women: Favors topic 1 Sponsored bill for emergency contraception for rape victims: Favors topic 1 Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1 Access safe, legal abortion without restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 1 Keep federal funding for family planning clinics: Strongly Favors topic 1 CC:Oppose strict Constitutionalist judges: Favors topic 1 CC:Publicly fund abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1 CC:No parental notification for abortions by minors: Favors topic 1 Protect the reproductive rights of women: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated Born-Alive Survivors bill tries to illegalize abortion: Favors topic 1 Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1 Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception: Favors topic 1 Teach teens about both abstinence & contraception: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Diversity is a priority: Strongly Favors topic 2 Votes against Ashcroft, citing desegregation: Favors 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 Maintain role of women in armed forces in Iraq: Favors topic 2 Rated 93% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2 Constitutional Amendment for women's equal rights: Strongly Favors topic 2 Endorsed by The Feminist Majority indicating a pro-women's rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 2 More funding & services for victims of domestic violence: Strongly Favors topic 2 Enforce against wage discrimination based on gender: Strongly Favors topic 2 Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2 Reinforce anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements: Favors topic 2 Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2 Stronger enforcement against gender-based pay discrimination: Favors topic 2 Afghan laws violate women's human rights on sex & divorce: Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Support transgender and LGBTQ+ rights (+5 points on Social scale)	More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 Rated 89% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3 ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays: Favors topic 3 Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays: Favors topic 3 Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools: Strongly Favors topic 3 Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools: Strongly Favors topic 3 Let states recognize same sex marriage: Favors topic 3 Maintain LGBT health info on federal websites: Strongly Favors topic 3 Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees: Strongly Favors topic 3
Strongly Opposes topic 4: America was founded on Christian values (+5 points on Social scale)	Opposes Organized Prayer In Public Schools: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Sex Ed including both abstinence and contraception: Opposes topic 4 Religious freedom means no religious registry: Strongly Opposes topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	Supports More Federal Funding for Health Coverage: 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 Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations: Favors topic 5 Keep healthcare mandate, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 5 Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn: Strongly Favors topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	Don't privatize; stock market is too risky: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Opposes privatizing Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Absolutely oppose payroll taxes to create private accounts: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Create Retirement Savings Accounts: Favors topic 6 Rated 90% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Sponsored keeping CPI for benefits instead of lower "Chained CPI": Strongly Opposes topic 6 Rated 95% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-5 points on Economic scale)	Opposes parents choosing schools via vouchers: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice: Opposes topic 7 Rated 100% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Businesses have a right to pollute (+5 points on Social scale)	$16M for Fisheries Science Center's salmon life-cycle models: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Support UNCED Rio Declaration at 2002 conference: Opposes topic 8 Rated 100% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 EPA must do better on mercury clean-up: Opposes topic 8 Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements: Opposes topic 8 Regulate all dog breeders down to kennels of 50 dogs: Opposes topic 8 Sponsored bill prohibiting invasive research on great apes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Sponsored enforcing against illegal ocean fishing: Opposes topic 8 Rated Deregulating banks encourages discriminatory practices: Opposes topic 8 Rated Keep restrictive rules for predator control in Alaska: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+2 points on Social scale)	Supports mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws: Favors topic 9 Opposes the death penalty: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Require DNA testing for all federal executions: Opposes topic 9 Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program: Opposes topic 9 Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance: Strongly Opposes topic 9 First step: reduce recidivism & mass incarceration: Opposes topic 9 Rated 73% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues: Neutral on topic 9
Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-3 points on Economic scale)	Close the gun-show loophole; favors trigger locks: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Opposes absolute right to gun ownership: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Close the background loophole and deal with mental health: Opposes topic 10 People on no-fly list shouldn't be able to own a gun: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology: Opposes topic 10 Restrict right to bear arms, according to CC survey: Opposes topic 10 Co-sponsored background check for every firearm sale: Strongly Favors topic 10 Sponsored bill for background checks for private transfers: Strongly Favors topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Opposes making income tax flatter & lower: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated 15% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated 80% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated Reducing tax rates balloons federal deficit & cuts programs: Favors topic 11 CC:Reverse federal income tax cuts: Favors topic 11 CC:Keep the inhertiance tax: Strongly Favors topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+5 points on Social scale)	Cover child resident aliens under Medicaid and SCHIP: Favors topic 12 Rated 0% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12 Provide lawyers and evidence for children being deported: Favors topic 12 Opposes more border security, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 12 Terminate national emergency at the Southern border: Favors topic 12 Increase both high-skill and family-based visa caps: Favors topic 12 Sponsored bill to disallow religion-based immigration ban: Strongly Favors topic 12
Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale)	Voted for NAFTA; favors China PNTR: Strongly Favors topic 13 Supports expanding Free Trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 Build a rule-based global trading system: Favors topic 13 Rated 42% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues: Neutral on topic 13 Rated Voted FOR reauthorizing Ex-Im Bank: Strongly Favors topic 13 Implement USMCA for improved North American trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 75% by the USAE, indicating support for trade engagement: Strongly Favors topic 13
Opposes topic 14: Stay away from the UN & Globalism (-3 points on Economic scale)	Two-state solution despite Israeli settlements on West Bank: Favors topic 14 Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror: Opposes topic 14 Allow travel between the United States and Cuba: Opposes topic 14
Favors topic 15: Peace through Strength (-3 points on Social scale)	Supported veteran benefits in Congress: Favors topic 15 Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 15 $515B for military plus $89B off sequester for wars: Favors topic 15 Exempt Veterans Affairs from federal hiring freeze: Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements: Favors topic 16 Sponsored bill for election holiday & easier voting access: Strongly Favors topic 16 Military spouses don't lose voting residency while abroad: Favors topic 16 Sponsored bill to expand voter registration and voter access: Strongly Favors topic 16
Favors topic 17: Stay out of foreign wars (+2 points on Social scale)	Supports continuing Foreign Aid to Russia, Israel, & others: Strongly Favors topic 17 Limited but effective role for US in Mideast: Favors topic 17 Stopping Balkan genocide is within US national interests: Favors topic 17 Leave Afghanistan in 2014 as planned: Favors topic 17 Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence: Favors topic 17 No troop surge: no military escalation in Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Sponsored shutting down Iranian foreign reserves: Opposes topic 17 Iran must accept long-term intrusive nuke inspection: Opposes topic 17 CC:Keep alliance with Israel: Opposes topic 17 Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program: Opposes topic 17 No military force against Iran without Congress approval: Strongly Favors topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Supports spending resources to stop Global Warming: Strongly Favors topic 18 Climate change is happening but unclear if manmade: Opposes topic 18 Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 67% by CAF, indicating a mixed record on energy independence: Neutral on topic 18 Raise CAFE by a 4% per year until 2018: Strongly Favors topic 18 Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: Strongly Favors topic 18 Sponsored requiring 80% fuel-choice vehicles by 2018: Favors topic 18 $5 billion in tax credits for alternative energy projects: Favors topic 18 Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness: Favors topic 18 Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18 Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards: Strongly Favors topic 18
Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-3 points on Social scale)	Rated C by NORML, indicating a mixed record on drug reform: Neutral on topic 19 Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use: Favors topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-5 points on Economic scale)	Rated 86% by UFCW, indicating an anti-management/pro-labor record: Favors topic 20 Strengthen infrastructure, including rail, dams, & Internet: Strongly Favors topic 20 CC:No Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment: Favors topic 20 Voted YES on $900 billion COVID relief package: Favors topic 20 $1.9 trillion ARPA bill for COVID relief: Favors topic 20

Maria Cantwell is a Hard-Core Liberal
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