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)	Rated 50% by NARAL, indicating a mixed voting record on abortion: Neutral on topic 1 Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Expand contraceptive services for low-income women: Favors topic 1 Rated 50% by the NRLC, indicating a mixed record on abortion: Neutral on topic 1 Provide emergency contraception at military facilities: Favors topic 1 YES on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP: Favors topic 1 YES on Unknown roll call for 1999-340: Strongly Opposes topic 1 NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions: Favors topic 1 YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life: Strongly Opposes 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 YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions: Opposes topic 1 NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions: Favors topic 1 NO on restricting UN funding for population control policies: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Base affirmative action on income, not race: Favors topic 2 Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all: Neutral on topic 2 Rated 86% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2 Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy: Favors topic 2 More funding & services for victims of domestic violence: Strongly Favors topic 2 Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2 YES on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act: 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: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 Rated 78% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly 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 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
Favors topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (-3 points on Social scale)	No school prayer amendment: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Supports V-Chip & Internet porn & gambling bans: Favors topic 4 Put all welfare recipients to work: Favors topic 4 Supports anti-flag desecration amendment: Favors topic 4 Rated 16% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Rated 33% by the AU, a mixed record on church-state separation: Neutral on topic 4 TV shows should have explicit viewer advisories: Strongly Favors topic 4 NO on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer: Opposes topic 4 NO on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors: Favors topic 4 YES on declaring memorial prayers and religious symbols OK at schools: Favors topic 4 YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Favors topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care: Favors topic 5 Invest funds to alleviate the nursing shortage: Favors topic 5 Tax credits for those without employee health insurance: Strongly Favors topic 5 $350 billion for prescriptions for poor seniors: Favors topic 5 Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations: Opposes topic 5 Rated 88% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors topic 5 Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn: Strongly Favors topic 5 Expand the National Health Service Corps: Strongly Favors topic 5 Expand health services for women veterans: Favors topic 5 NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Favors topic 5 NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: Favors topic 5 NO on Medicare means-testing: Favors topic 5 NO on limiting self-employment health deduction: 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 $40 billion per year for limited 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 YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility: Favors topic 5 YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare: Favors topic 5 YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program: Favors topic 5 YES on regulating tobacco as a drug: Favors topic 5
Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-3 points on Economic scale)	Create Retirement Savings Accounts: Favors topic 6 Rated 90% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Supports individual savings accounts and work incentives: Favors 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
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-5 points on Economic scale)	Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice: Opposes topic 7 Firmly opposed to Bush’s voucher proposal: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Rated 100% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on school vouchers in DC: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on education savings accounts: Opposes topic 7 NO on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on Educational Savings Accounts: Opposes 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
Strongly Opposes topic 8: EPA regulations are too restrictive (+5 points on Social scale)	Supports grants for brownfields remediation: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Rated 58% by the LCV, indicating a mixed record on environment: Neutral on topic 8 Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements: Opposes topic 8 Sponsored matching grants for wetlands conservation projects: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Regulating 15 more contaminants under Clean Water Act: Strongly Opposes topic 8 YES on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems: Opposes topic 8 YES on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests: Favors topic 8 NO on prohibiting eminent domain for use as parks or grazing land: Opposes topic 8
Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-3 points on Social scale)	Broaden use of death penalty: Strongly Favors topic 9 Truth in sentencing for violent criminals: Strongly Favors topic 9 Rated 38% by CURE, indicating mixed votes on rehabilitation: Neutral on topic 9 Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program: Opposes topic 9 Permanent crime database for volunteers with kids: Favors topic 9 More prison cells; more truth in sentencing: Strongly Favors topic 9 Life imprisonment for repeat sexual predators: Strongly Favors topic 9 NO on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment: Strongly Favors topic 9 YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder: Strongly Favors topic 9 NO on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals: 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 (-3 points on Economic scale)	Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology: Opposes topic 10 Rated C+ by the NRA, indicating a mixed voting record on gun rights: Neutral on topic 10 YES on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets: Strongly 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 prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership: Favors topic 10 YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains: Favors topic 10
Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-3 points on Economic scale)	Rated 16% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated 60% by CTJ, indicating a mixed record on progressive taxation: Neutral on topic 11 Taxpayer Protection Pledge: no new taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Supports the Taxpayer Protection Pledge: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Make employee educational assistance tax-deductible: Favors topic 11 Implement socially fair, broad-based tax cuts: Favors topic 11 NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset: Favors topic 11 NO on Internet sales tax moratorium: Favors topic 11 NO on requiring super-majority for raising taxes: Favors topic 11 NO on phasing out the estate tax ("death tax"): Favors topic 11 NO on eliminating the 'marriage penalty': Favors topic 11 NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts: Favors topic 11 YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates: Favors topic 11 YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction: Favors topic 11 NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES 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: Favors topic 11 YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts: Strongly Favors topic 11
Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+2 points on Social scale)	For official English; against illegal immigrant citizenship: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Rated 25% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12 Rated B+ by the ALI, indicating an acceptably anti-amnesty stance: Opposes topic 12 YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on prohibiting illegal immigrants from receiving FEMA benefits: Opposes topic 12 YES on limiting immigrant benefits & controlling borders more tightly: Opposes topic 12 NO on limit welfare for immigrants: Strongly Favors 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 YES on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	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 Promote the Andean Free Trade Agreement: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 17% by CATO, indicating a pro-fair trade voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Insist on access to post-mad-cow Japanese beef markets: Favors topic 13 Promote fair trade restricting Canadian wheat: Opposes topic 13 YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority: Favors topic 13 YES on permanent normal trade relations with China: Strongly 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 NO on extending free trade to Andean nations: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on establishing free trade between US & Singapore: Opposes topic 13 NO on establishing free trade between the US and Chile: Opposes topic 13 NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Opposes topic 13 YES on promoting free trade with Peru: Favors topic 13
Strongly Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-5 points on Economic scale)	Allow travel between the United States and Cuba: Opposes topic 14 NO on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls: Favors topic 14 YES on $17.9 billion to IMF: Opposes topic 14 NO on capping foreign aid at only $12.7 billion: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Opposes topic 15: Expand the military (+2 points on Social scale)	Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11: Favors topic 15 Non-proliferation includes disposing of nuclear materials: Opposes topic 15 Reduce federal government size & scope, including military: Opposes topic 15 NO on favoring 36 vetoed military projects: Strongly Opposes topic 15 NO on allowing another round of military base closures: Favors topic 15 YES on military pay raise of 4.8%: Strongly Favors 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: Make voter registration easier (+2 points on Social scale)	Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures: Strongly Favors topic 16 Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements: Favors topic 16 Military spouses don't lose voting residency while abroad: Favors topic 16 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 NO on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Opposes topic 16 YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Opposes topic 16
Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-3 points on Social scale)	Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence: Favors topic 17 Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine: Strongly Favors topic 17 Require Congress' approval before military action in Iran: Favors topic 17 Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program: Opposes topic 17 YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months: Opposes topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Doubled the Renewable Fuel Standard: Strongly Favors topic 18 Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 Make EPA into a Cabinet department: Strongly Favors topic 18 Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence: Favors topic 18 Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18 Supports immediate reductions in greenhouse gases: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: 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 YES on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months: Strongly Opposes 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 ANWR: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Favors topic 18 NO on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China: Opposes topic 18 YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade: Favors topic 18 YES on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax: Opposes topic 18 YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Favors topic 18
Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-3 points on Social scale)	Rated D by VOTE-HEMP, indicating an anti-hemp voting record: Strongly Favors topic 19 Federal grants to Indian tribes to fight methamphetamine: Strongly Favors topic 19 Rated 50% by NORML, indicating a mixed record on drug reform: Neutral on topic 19 Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use: Favors topic 19 NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes topic 19 NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses: Opposes topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-5 points on Economic scale)	Expand microloans to small businesses: Favors topic 20 Rated 86% by UFCW, indicating an anti-management/pro-labor record: Favors topic 20 Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2016: Favors topic 20 YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 20 YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package: Strongly Favors topic 20 YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending: Strongly Favors topic 20