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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)	VA must cover full spectrum of women's reproductive care: Strongly Favors topic 1 Repeal Hyde Amendment; work to secure women's rights: Strongly Favors topic 1 Repeal Hyde Amendment; will lead pro-choice administration: Strongly Favors topic 1 Abortions up until third trimester are woman's choice: Strongly Favors topic 1 Oppose limiting abortions to under 20 weeks of pregnancy: Strongly Favors topic 1 Trust women to make their own decisions: Strongly Favors topic 1 I consider myself pro-choice: Strongly Favors topic 1 Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1 Access safe, legal abortion without restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated Funding abortion avoids discrimination against poor women: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated Constitutional right to terminate pregnancy for health: Strongly Favors topic 1 CC:Oppose strict Constitutionalist judges: Favors topic 1 CC:Publicly fund abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Legacy of slavery is alive and well: we need reparations: Strongly Favors topic 2 We don't just tolerate our differences, we embrace them: Favors topic 2 Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2 Supports NFL players taking a knee during national anthem: Strongly Favors topic 2 Endorsed as "preferred" by The Feminist Majority indicating pro-women's rights: 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 YES on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act: Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Conversion therapy for gay children is tantamount to torture: Strongly Favors topic 3 More resources to fight hate crime against black trans women: Strongly Favors topic 3 Distribute PrEP to everyone, at reduced cost: Strongly Favors topic 3 Why do we check for HIV at the border and no other diseases?: Strongly Favors topic 3 Upgrade records of LGBTQ vets who were discharged: Strongly Favors topic 3 Military should welcome transgender recruits: 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
Strongly Opposes topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (+5 points on Social scale)	Comprehensive sex ed for sexually-active adolescents: Opposes topic 4 Religious freedom means no religious registry: Strongly Opposes topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	Public option vs. Medicare for all a false choice: Strongly Favors topic 5 Biggest provider of mental healthcare in Texas are the jails: Favors topic 5 Universal coverage, not Medicare-for-All: Favors topic 5 Supports Medicare for America as public option: Favors topic 5 Protect existing priorities, then expand Medicare & Medicaid: Favors topic 5 Medicare-X: government-run public option: Strongly Favors topic 5 Eventually make "health care for all" a reality: Favors topic 5 Open to different ways to get to universal health care: Strongly Favors topic 5 Improve ObamaCare, including public option: Strongly Favors topic 5 ObamaCare addresses some problems, but needs El Paso focus: Strongly Favors topic 5 Opposes repealing ObamaCare: Favors topic 5 Rated GOP can't beat ObamaCare, so they pretend it's a "disaster": Strongly Favors topic 5 Keep healthcare mandate, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 5
Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-3 points on Economic scale)	2012: Protect retirees, but make changes for the future: Favors topic 6 2012: Maybe raise age; 2019: Against raising age: Opposes topic 6 2012: raise retirement age; apply means-testing: Favors topic 6 Opposes personal retirement accounts: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Rated 100% 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)	Investment in public education pays off: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Vouchers funnel public school $ into private schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7 More pre-school; more science teachers: Opposes topic 7 Sponsored extending subsidized federal student loan rates until 2015: Opposes topic 7 Rated No-strings-attached block grant will kill transparency: Opposes topic 7 Rated Oppose private and religious school voucher programs: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+5 points on Social scale)	Even conservatives want to protect public lands: Strongly Opposes topic 8 U.S. investment in Brazil incentivizes burning the Amazon: Opposes topic 8 We left Puerto Rico unprotected & under-funded for disasters: Opposes topic 8 Bring everyone into process with conservation easements: Opposes topic 8 Ensure EPA's funding & independence: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Tackle climate change: reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Require labeling genetically engineered food: Opposes topic 8 Voted YES to require GMO labeling: Opposes topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+2 points on Social scale)	Eliminate mandatory minimum sentences: Opposes topic 9 2.3M Americans behind bars is most in the world: Opposes topic 9 Expand death penalty if police officers are attacked: Favors topic 9 Capital punishment is an inequitable, unfair, unjust system: Strongly Opposes topic 9 We must cut down on recidivism for non-violent offenders: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Rated 92% by the NAPO, indicating a tough-on-crime stance: Favors topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	No door-to-door enforcement, but reduce weapons of war: Opposes topic 10 We should have a national gun licensing program: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Voluntary buyback for assault weapons, plus a ban: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Weapons of war belong on battlefield, not in our communities: Opposes topic 10 We need to stop listening to NRA and gun lobby: Opposes topic 10 Background checks; limit assault rifles: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Supports Second Amendment with sensible gun laws: Opposes topic 10 Universal background checks; ban assault weapons: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Supports common sense gun laws: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Restrict right to bear arms, according to CC survey: Opposes topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Tax capital at same rate as regular income: Strongly Favors topic 11 War tax on non-military households to support vet healthcare: Favors topic 11 Voted for oil tax; opposed 2017 tax legislation: Favors topic 11 Wealth tax would generate revenue for 'common benefit': Strongly Favors topic 11 Everyone should sacrifice, with higher top marginal tax rate: Strongly Favors topic 11 Raise corporate rates to fund higher education: Strongly Favors topic 11 GOP tax plan helps rich & hurts middle class: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated Raising estate tax to 1990s level means $448B in new revenue: Strongly Opposes 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)	Don't turn away asylum seekers who return home to face death: Strongly Favors topic 12 Grant refuge to those severely impacted by climate change: Favors topic 12 Keep asylum laws; let refugees apply from home countries: Strongly Favors topic 12 End family separation; rewrite law from ground up: Strongly Favors topic 12 Asylum seekers should be able to apply from home countries: Strongly Favors topic 12 Asylum-seekers are fleeing deadliest countries in the world: Favors topic 12 Military service as pathway to citizenship for immigrants: Strongly Favors topic 12 Most immigrants pose no danger, but keep illegal entry law: Favors topic 12 Do not repeal law: keep illegal border crossings a crime: Favors topic 12 Treat asylum seekers with respect; repair home countries: Strongly Favors topic 12 Immediately undo Trump actions; work with Congress: Strongly Favors topic 12 Expedite citizenship process for legal residents & DREAMers: Strongly Favors topic 12 Those seeking asylum pose no threat: Favors topic 12 Against border wall; against criminalizing asylum seekers: Opposes topic 12 Help refugee asylum seekers at home in Northern Triangle: Strongly Favors topic 12 Stop refugee issue by dealing with what's driving them here: Favors topic 12 Condemns President Trump's wall; "Walls end lives": Strongly Favors topic 12 Path to citizenship for all DREAMers: Strongly Favors topic 12 Raise cap on work visas; find pathway to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12 End separating kids; make DREAMers citizens: Strongly Favors topic 12 Opposes "open borders," but new wall unnecessary: Favors topic 12 DREAMers are as American as my kids: Strongly Favors topic 12 End the inhumane & un-American practice of family separation: Strongly Favors topic 12 No 2,000-mile, 30-foot-high, $30 billion wall: Strongly Favors topic 12 Support the DREAM Act and comprehensive reform: Favors topic 12 Opposes exiting US to apply for citizenship: Favors topic 12 Rated Voted to legalize DREAMer immigrants via military service: Strongly Favors topic 12 Opposes more border security, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 12
Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale)	Enforce high standards for labor, environment, human rights: Strongly Favors topic 13 Demand changes to post-NAFTA agreement USMCA: Opposes topic 13 Don't use tariffs to pressure countries: Favors topic 13 Support NAFTA and TPP: Strongly Favors topic 13 Traveled to Asia with Obama to push TPP: Strongly Favors topic 13 Tariffs on China will devastate our economy: Strongly Favors topic 13 Make our international ports modern, efficient and safe: Favors topic 13 $70B in legal trade passes through El Paso to Mexico: Favors topic 13 $25B more loans from Export-Import Bank: Strongly Favors topic 13
Strongly Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-5 points on Economic scale)	Renew alliances like Kurds; they make America stronger: Opposes topic 14 Trump embraces dictators at expense of great democracies: Opposes topic 14 Invest in improving Northern Triangle of Central America: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	We addressed suicide epidemic in El Paso VA & nationally: Favors topic 15 Boost the defense budget: Strongly Favors topic 15 Expand health care benefits and support for veterans: Strongly Favors topic 15 Deal with conflicts diplomatically or fight wars for years: Opposes topic 15 Supported 11th aircraft carrier; opposed 1% military cut: Favors topic 15 Supports reducing defense spending: Strongly Opposes 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)	Felons should be allowed to vote while incarcerated: Strongly Favors topic 16 Eliminate the Electoral College: Favors topic 16 Mandate paper ballots: Favors topic 16 New voting rights: automatic & same-day voter registration: Strongly Favors topic 16 Impeachment necessary to signal this can't happen again: Strongly Favors topic 16 New Voting Rights Act: eliminate gerrymandering & PACs: Strongly Favors topic 16 Same-day voter registration; make election day a holiday: Strongly Favors topic 16 Term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court: Strongly Favors topic 16 Supports term limits for Congress: Strongly Favors topic 16 Empower communities by ending gerrymandering: Strongly Opposes topic 16 Committed to personal term limit for serving in Congress: Favors topic 16 Supports Congress term limits; leaving House after 6 years: Favors topic 16 Members of Congress use our tax dollars to get re-elected: Favors topic 16 Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements: Favors topic 16 No photo IDs to vote; they suppress the vote: Favors topic 16 Corporate political spending is not free speech: Favors topic 16 Establish "My Voice Voucher" small campaign contributions: Strongly Favors topic 16 Public financing of federal campaigns by voter vouchers: Favors topic 16 No separate contribution limits for party activities: Favors topic 16 Statehood for the District of Columbia: Favors topic 16 Automatic voter registration for all citizens: Strongly Favors topic 16 Constitutional amendment for Congressional term limits: Favors topic 16
Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-3 points on Social scale)	Withdraw from Afghanistan within four years: Opposes topic 17 End U.S. wars in Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, and Syria: Strongly Favors topic 17 Bring the troops home from post-9-11 wars: Strongly Favors topic 17 Would talk to North Korea, but only if it gets results: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Diplomacy should yield results: none yet with North Korea!: Opposes topic 17 End war in Afghanistan; even work with Taliban: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Default should be to pursue peace, not war: Opposes topic 17 Discuss U.S. policy in Syria in a more meaningful way: Neutral on topic 17 Nuclear treaty was best path to prevent Iranian nukes: Favors topic 17 We need to think before acting in Mideast: Favors topic 17 CC:Keep alliance with Israel: Opposes topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Use cap and trade revenue to underwrite transition economy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Unite to keep planet from warming another two degrees: Strongly Favors topic 18 Invest in fighting climate change as JFK did with "moonshot": Strongly Favors topic 18 Climate change a true existential threat: Strongly Favors topic 18 Net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, but allow drilling: Favors topic 18 Leverage carbon pricing; use market against climate change: Favors topic 18 Invest in green research via national labs & universities: Favors topic 18 Return to Paris climate agreement: Favors topic 18 Keep planet from warming one-half degree Celsius: Strongly Favors topic 18 Unprecedented action to build clean energy economy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Incentivize renewable energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated Drill for oil & gas in offshore OCS & Eastern Gulf of Mexico: Strongly Opposes topic 18
Strongly Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+5 points on Social scale)	Decriminalize opioids; legalize marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Opioid manufacturers should be held to account: Favors topic 19 Decriminalize marijuana; expunge criminal records: Opposes topic 19 Dealing Drugs and Death: 2011 call for legalization: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Treat drug abuse as public health issue, not criminal: Opposes topic 19 Long-time advocate for marijuana legalization: Strongly Opposes topic 19 End prohibition on marijuana, expunge records of possessors: Strongly Opposes topic 19 2008 crackdown cost 1,623 lives in Juarez: Opposes topic 19 2008: National debate on ending the prohibition of narcotics: Opposes topic 19 Regulating drug market would bring in billions of revenue: Strongly Favors topic 19 Legalization closes "gateway" effect of marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Exclude industrial hemp from definition of marijuana: Opposes topic 19 Exempt industrial hemp from marijuana laws: Opposes topic 19 Immunity for banks offering services to marijuana businesses: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-3 points on Economic scale)	Farmers want markets, not subsidies: Opposes topic 20 Invest in training for evolving economy: Strongly Favors topic 20 Stimulus spending invests in areas like infrastructure: Strongly Favors topic 20 Promote antitrust & regulations that promote competition: Favors topic 20 Supports federal stimulus spending: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2016: Favors topic 20 NO on prioritizing spending in case debt limit is reached: Favors topic 20

Beto O`Rourke is a Hard-Core Liberal
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