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)
Strongly Opposes topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (-5 points on Social scale)	Supports abstinence education: Opposes topic 1 Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Rated 100% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-life stance: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Prohibit transporting minors across state lines for abortion: Opposes topic 1 Bar funding for abortion under federal Obamacare plans: Opposes topic 1 Ban abortions for sex selection or race selection: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Prohibit federal funding for abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Prohibiting forced abortions by UN Population Fund: Opposes topic 1 Congress shall protect life beginning with fertilization: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Prohibit federal funding to groups like Planned Parenthood: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Encourage adoption of children in foster care: Opposes topic 1 Sponsored prohibiting abortion information at school health centers: Opposes topic 1 No family planning assistance that includes abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Include pre-born human beings in 14th Amendment protection: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Grant the pre-born equal protection under 14th Amendment: Opposes topic 1 Declare preborn as persons under 14th amendment: Strongly Opposes topic 1 YES on banning federal health coverage that includes abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 YES on funding for health providers who don't provide abortion info: Opposes topic 1 YES on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life: Strongly Opposes topic 1 YES on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions: Strongly Opposes topic 1 NO on allowing human embryonic stem cell research: Opposes topic 1 NO on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Opposes topic 1
Strongly Opposes topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (+5 points on Economic scale)	Rated 31% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Opposes topic 2 NO on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act: Opposes topic 2 NO on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges: Strongly Opposes topic 2
Strongly Opposes topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (-5 points on Social scale)	Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Amend Constitution to define traditional marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Protect anti-same-sex marriage opinions as free speech: Strongly Opposes topic 3 State definition of marriage supersedes federal gay marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 YES on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman: Strongly Opposes topic 3 NO on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation: Strongly Opposes topic 3 NO on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes: Opposes topic 3
Strongly Favors topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (-5 points on Social scale)	End the marriage penalty; encourage commitment to marriage: Favors topic 4 Supports anti-flag desecration amendment: Favors topic 4 Rated 100% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Favors topic 4 Recognize Christianity's importance to western civilization: Favors topic 4 Designate first weekend in May as Ten Commandments Weekend: Strongly Favors topic 4 $110M per year to teach abstinence in public schools: Favors topic 4 Sponsored supporting the contributions of Catholic schools: Favors topic 4 Constitutionally prohibit flag desecration: Favors topic 4 YES on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror: Strongly Favors topic 4 YES on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration: Favors topic 4 YES on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance: Favors topic 4 NO on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance: Favors topic 4
Opposes topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (+2 points on Economic scale)	Supports terminal patient rights & senior rights: Favors topic 5 Rated 11% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Repeal ObamaCare reporting requirements for small business: Opposes topic 5 NO on giving mental health full equity with physical health: Opposes topic 5 NO on Veto override: Extend SCHIP to cover 6M more kids: Strongly Opposes topic 5 YES on repealing the "Prevention and Public Health" slush fund: Strongly Opposes topic 5 YES on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: Opposes topic 5 YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs: Favors topic 5 YES on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits: Opposes topic 5 YES on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients: Opposes topic 5 YES on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay: Strongly Opposes topic 5 NO on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D: Opposes topic 5 NO on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility: Opposes topic 5 YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare: Favors topic 5 NO on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program: Opposes topic 5 NO on regulating tobacco as a drug: Opposes topic 5
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+2 points on Economic scale)	Rated 10% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record: Strongly Favors topic 6 Rated 11% by ARA, indicating a mixed record on senior issues: Neutral on topic 6
Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+2 points on Economic scale)	Supports school construction & stricter school discipline: Opposes topic 7 Rated 17% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes: Strongly Favors topic 7 Denounce the Common Core State Standards: Favors topic 7 YES on reauthorizing the DC opportunity scholarship program: Strongly Favors topic 7 NO on $40B for green public schools: Favors topic 7
Favors topic 8: EPA regulations are too restrictive (-3 points on Social scale)	Rated 10% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes: Strongly Favors topic 8 Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements: Opposes topic 8 Sponsored no permits for legal pesticide runoff into lakes & streams: Strongly Favors topic 8 No EPA permits required for forest road runoff: Strongly Favors topic 8 No EPA expansion of regulated waters: Favors topic 8 Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8 YES on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species: Strongly Favors topic 8 NO on environmental education grants for outdoor experiences: Favors topic 8 NO on protecting free-roaming horses and burros: Favors topic 8
Neutral on topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (0 points on Social scale)	Supports Truth-in-Sentencing & anti-gang legislation: Favors topic 9 Increase penalties for child sexual slavery: Strongly Favors topic 9 Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Rated 62% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues: Neutral on topic 9 YES on expanding services for offenders' re-entry into society: Opposes topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Rated A by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record: Strongly Favors topic 10 National cross-state standard for concealed carry: Strongly Favors topic 10 Teach kids Eddie Eagle GunSafe's lifesaving message: Favors topic 10 Loosen restrictions on interstate gun purchases: Strongly Favors topic 10 Allow veterans to register unlicensed guns acquired abroad: Favors topic 10 Require video recording of every firearm test by ATF: Favors topic 10 Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC: Strongly Favors topic 10 Allow reloading spent military small arms ammunition: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers: Strongly Favors topic 10
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+5 points on Economic scale)	End the marriage penalty; return $1,400 to couples: Opposes topic 11 Rated 61% by NTU, indicating "Satisfactory" on tax votes: Neutral on topic 11 Rated 0% by the CTJ, indicating opposition to progressive taxation: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Taxpayer Protection Pledge: no new taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 No European-style VAT (value-added tax): Opposes topic 11 Supports the Taxpayer Protection Pledge: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on making the Bush tax cuts permanent: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on providing tax relief and simplification: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on extending AMT exemptions to avoid hitting middle-income: Favors topic 11
Strongly Opposes topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (-5 points on Social scale)	Rated 100% by FAIR, indicating a voting record restricting immigration: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Rated 92% by USBC, indicating a sealed-border stance: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Government services in English only: Strongly Opposes topic 12 End Birthright Citizenship; no more anchor babies: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Rated A by the ALI, indicating a strongly anti-amnesty stance: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Stop releasing low-risk illegal immigrants: Opposes topic 12 Declare English as the official language of the US: Opposes topic 12 YES on preventing tipping off Mexicans about Minuteman Project: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	Rated 56% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues: Neutral on topic 13 Impose tariffs against countries which manipulate currency: Opposes topic 13 Sponsored sugar quotas & import tariffs to stabilize prices: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Sponsored imposing import fee on countries with undervalued currency: Opposes topic 13 Rated 63% by the USAE, indicating a mixed record on trade: Neutral on topic 13 YES on implementing US-Singapore free trade agreement: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on implementing free trade agreement with Chile: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on implementing US-Australia Free Trade Agreement: Favors topic 13 YES on end offshore tax havens and promote small business: Opposes topic 13 YES on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 NO on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalization: Favors topic 13 YES on promoting free trade with Peru: Favors topic 13
Strongly Favors topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (+5 points on Economic scale)	Withhold UN funding until voluntary and program-specific: Strongly Favors topic 14 Sponsored opposing the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty: Strongly Favors topic 14 Condemn China's organ harvesting from Falun Gong prisoners: Opposes topic 14 No transfers of Gitmo prisoners to US or abroad: Strongly Favors topic 14 NO on Veto override: Congressional oversight of CIA interrogations: Favors topic 14 NO on requiring FISA warrants for wiretaps in US, but not abroad: Strongly Favors topic 14 YES on reforming the UN by restricting US funding: Strongly Favors topic 14 YES on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight: Favors topic 14 YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Favors topic 14
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	Rated 11% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record: Strongly Favors topic 15 Oppose Arms Treaty that limits gun trade to Israel & Taiwan: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on continuing military recruitment on college campuses: Favors topic 15 YES on restricting no-bid defense contracts: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+2 points on Social scale)	Ban stock trading based on Congressional insider knowledge: Strongly Favors topic 16 Repeal automatic Congressional pay raises: Favors topic 16 NO on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions: Opposes topic 16 YES on restricting independent grassroots political committees: Opposes topic 16 YES on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations: Strongly Favors topic 16
Strongly Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-5 points on Social scale)	Strengthen sanctions on Syria & assist democratic transition: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Boycott & sanctions against Iran for terrorism & nukes: Opposes topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program: Opposes topic 17 NO on removing US armed forces from Afghanistan: Strongly Opposes topic 17 YES on banning armed forces in Libya without Congressional approval: Favors topic 17 YES on authorizing military force in Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 YES on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq: Opposes topic 17
Strongly Opposes topic 18: Prioritize green energy (+5 points on Economic scale)	Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence: Opposes topic 18 Bar greenhouse gases from Clean Air Act rules: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on tax incentives for renewable energy: Strongly Opposes topic 18 YES on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Opposes topic 18 YES on opening Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling: Strongly Opposes topic 18 YES on authorizing construction of new oil refineries: Strongly Opposes topic 18 YES on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on investing in homegrown biofuel: Strongly Opposes topic 18 YES on criminalizing oil cartels like OPEC: Favors topic 18 NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation: Strongly Opposes topic 18 NO on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets: Opposes topic 18 NO on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution: Opposes topic 18 NO on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Opposes topic 18
Strongly Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-5 points on Social scale)	Rated -30 by NORML, indicating a "hard-on-drugs" stance: Strongly Favors topic 19 Harsher sentencing for "pill mill" operators: Strongly Favors topic 19 Rated 25% by NORML, indicating an anti-legalization stance: Strongly Favors topic 19 NO on more funding for Mexico to fight drugs: Opposes topic 19
Opposes topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+2 points on Economic scale)	Ban roadway signs indicating Recovery Act funding: Opposes topic 20 Disapprove of increasing the debt limit: Opposes topic 20 Audit the Federal Reserve & its actions on mortgage loans: Opposes topic 20 YES on prioritizing spending in case debt limit is reached: Opposes topic 20 NO on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy: Strongly Opposes topic 20 YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending: Strongly Favors topic 20