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 right (-5 points on Social scale)	No new embryonic stem cell lines, but existing research ok: Opposes topic 1 Don’t let judges decide on partial birth abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Partial-birth abortion is a barbaric practice: Opposes topic 1
Opposes topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (+2 points on Economic scale)	No affirmative action: Strongly Opposes topic 2 Support principles embodied in the Equal Rights Amendment: Favors topic 2
Strongly Opposes topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (-5 points on Social scale)	Define marriage as between a man and a woman: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Nebraska values include traditional marriage: Opposes topic 3
Favors topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (-3 points on Social scale)	Constitutionally prohibit flag desecration: Favors topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 8: Death Penalty (-5 points on Social scale)	Supports death penalty for federal crimes: Strongly Favors topic 8
Favors topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (-3 points on Social scale)	Juvenile justice package: more funding; more coordination: Favors topic 9 Supports flexible federal block grants for crime programs: Neutral on topic 9 Zero tolerance for violence against government employees: Neutral on topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	I support the Second Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains: Favors topic 10
Opposes topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (+2 points on Economic scale)	Giving all taxpayers federal coverage would cost $480B: Opposes topic 5 Opposes a single-payer government run program: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Use tobacco settlement for biomedical research: Favors topic 5 $6M increase in funding for mental health: Favors topic 5 More federal funding for rural health services: Favors topic 5 Reforms should slow the long-term growth of health costs: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Protect state tobacco settlement funds from federal seizure: Neutral on topic 5 NO on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program: Opposes topic 5 YES on regulating tobacco as a drug: Favors topic 5
Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-3 points on Economic scale)	Honor our commitment on Social Security: Opposes topic 6 Maintain federal Social Services Block Grant funding: Favors topic 6 Maintain long-term solvency of Social Security and Medicare: Opposes topic 6
Opposes topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (-3 points on Economic scale)	Opposes “No Child Left Behind”--leave it to states: Opposes topic 7
Opposes topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (+2 points on Economic scale)	Opposes Warner-Lieberman Climate Security Act: Opposes topic 18 Expand domestic oil production; reduce refinery regulations: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Replace MTBE in gasoline with cleaner ethanol: Neutral on topic 18 Voluntary partnerships reduce greenhouse gases economically: Neutral on topic 18 Kyoto Treaty must include reductions by all countries: Opposes topic 18 Create block grants for Agricultural Stewardship: Neutral on topic 18 Collaborative, incentive driven, locally-based solutions: Neutral on topic 18 YES on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade: Opposes topic 18 YES on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax: Opposes topic 18 NO on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Opposes topic 18
Favors topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (-3 points on Social scale)	More federal funding for all aspects of Drug War: Favors topic 19 States should make drug policy, not feds: Neutral on topic 19
Favors topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (+2 points on Economic scale)	Support LIHEAP, low-income heating assistance: Favors topic 20 Maintain flexibility & funding levels for TANF block grants: Favors topic 20
Opposes topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (+2 points on Economic scale)	As governor I opposed higher taxes; will do same in Senate: Strongly Opposes topic 11 $60M in property tax relief over next two years: Opposes topic 11 No national sales tax or VAT: Neutral on topic 11 Federal tax incentives for energy, with state decisions: Neutral on topic 11 Keep reduction of capital gains tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11
Opposes topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (-3 points on Social scale)	Secure the border, provide no amnesty: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Secure our borders; no amnesty; verifiable job enforcement: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Share costs of legal immigration between states & federal: Neutral on topic 12 Federal government should deal with criminal repatriation: Neutral on topic 12
Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale)	Open up new markets for agricultural & beef exports: Strongly Favors topic 13
Strongly Favors topic 15: Expand the armed forces (-5 points on Social scale)	Negotiating with rogue nations squanders American prestige: Favors topic 15 Expand missile defense; & pre-emptive military strike policy: Strongly Favors topic 15
Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (-3 points on Economic scale)	Military spouses don't lose voting residency while abroad: Favors topic 16
Strongly Opposes topic 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (-5 points on Social scale)	Military tribunals for terrorists; domestic spying ok: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Islamic terrorists hate America; we must stand strong: Opposes topic 14
Opposes topic 17: US out of Iraq (-3 points on Social scale)	No surrender and retreat in Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Include states in anti-terrorism planning: Neutral on topic 17 Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program: Opposes topic 17