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)	Criminal sanctions against abortion doctors, not women: Opposes topic 1 Based on results, I'm the most pro-life candidate: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Stem-cell research ok on previous embryos, but not new ones: Favors topic 1 1991: favored parental notification & informed consent: Opposes topic 1 Prohibit partial-birth abortion; require 24-hour wait: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Appointed pro-life Chief Justice of MN Supreme Court: Opposes topic 1 No liberty greater than the right to life: Strongly Opposes topic 1
No opinion on topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Opposes topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (-5 points on Social scale)	Voted for GLBT protection; later favored repealing the law: Opposes topic 3 Opposite-sex marriage is cornerstone of society: Strongly Opposes topic 3
Strongly Favors topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (-5 points on Social scale)	Protect faith from government, not vice-versa: Strongly Favors topic 4 Let school districts decide on teaching intelligent design: Favors topic 4 Separation of church doesn't mean strike God from America: Strongly Favors topic 4 My faith is part of how I think, including in public life: Favors topic 4 1999: Supported denomination-specific prayers in MN House: Favors topic 4 Require Pledge of Allegiance in public schools: Strongly Favors topic 4 Student standards & teacher standards: Favors topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 8: Death Penalty (-5 points on Social scale)	Reinstate death penalty for the most heinous crimes: Strongly Favors topic 8
Strongly Favors topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (-5 points on Social scale)	Minimum mandatory sentences & sex offender notification: Strongly Favors topic 9 More prisons; tougher penalties for sex offenders: Strongly Favors topic 9
Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+2 points on Economic scale)	Pro-gun, but barred machine guns from security detail: Favors topic 10 Guarantee the right to concealed carry: Strongly Favors topic 10 Statewide background checks to carry firearms: Opposes topic 10
Opposes topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (+2 points on Economic scale)	We did healthcare the right way in Minnesota: Opposes topic 5 No top-down, government-run, limited-choice system: Strongly Opposes topic 5 ObamaCare's individual mandate encroaches our freedom: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Shop around for best price & quality, like we do for TVs: Strongly Opposes topic 5 2009 bill will break the bank, but not cut costs: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Start toward universal coverage by covering all kids: Favors topic 5 Supports market-driven healthcare reform: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Expand coverage: purchasing pools &Medical Savings Accounts: Opposes topic 5 Extend SCHIP with full funding, plus $12B for Medicaid: Strongly Favors topic 5 Delay Medicaid changes that shift costs from feds to states: Opposes topic 5
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+2 points on Economic scale)	No increase in the Social Security tax cap: Favors topic 6
No opinion on topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (-3 points on Economic scale)	2005: Vetoed $250K for climate change research: Opposes topic 18 Building, Benchmarks, & Beyond: reduce 200,000 tons of CO2: Strongly Favors topic 18 25% renewable by 2025: Requirement, not a goal: Strongly Favors topic 18 Increase supply; diversify sources; drill ANWR: Strongly Opposes topic 18 The more oil supply, the better: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Extend tax incentives for energy efficiency and energy R&D: Strongly Favors topic 18 Encourage development of locally owned wind energy sources: Strongly Favors topic 18 Stop harmful EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18
Strongly Favors topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (-5 points on Social scale)	Legalizing marijuana is unneeded & unwise: Strongly Favors topic 19 Tougher penalties for meth offenders: Strongly Favors topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (+5 points on Economic scale)	Government growth displaces faith community & charities: Favors topic 20 2005: Established state council on faith-based initiatives: Strongly Favors topic 20
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (+5 points on Economic scale)	Just two tax brackets: 10% below $100K; then 25% above that: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Set a record for vetoes in Minnesota's history: Opposes topic 11 Refused to raise taxes to force fiscal responsibility: Strongly Opposes topic 11 20% corporate tax cut; 20% business exclusion: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Reduce business tax from 3rd highest corporate tax rate: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Jobs Creation Bill: R&D tax credit; 20% corporate tax cut: Opposes topic 11 Get Minnesota out of the top ten states in taxes: Opposes topic 11 $97,000 of income is middle class; don’t raise withholding: Opposes topic 11 Bush tax cuts should have been permanent in the first place: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Bush tax cuts should have permanent in the first place: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Supports Single Sales Tax Reform: Strongly Opposes topic 11 $12B in federal economic stimulus as state block grants: Favors topic 11
No opinion on topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (0 points on Social scale)	If feds won't protect border, then let the states do it: Opposes topic 12 No pathway to citizenship except military service: Strongly Favors topic 12 Require federal electronic verification for state employment: Opposes topic 12
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	China-Minnesota partnership: grow jobs by growing exports: Favors topic 13 Fair trade, to deal with world's rampant trade manipulation: Opposes topic 13 Fair trade, to deal with world's rampant trade manipulation: Opposes topic 13 2005 trade mission led to Minnesota-China Partnership: Strongly Favors topic 13
Strongly Favors topic 15: Expand the armed forces (-5 points on Social scale)	Military & veterans' issues top legislative priority: Favors topic 15 Over $2M for National Guard and numerous military programs: Strongly Favors topic 15
No opinion on topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Opposes topic 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (-5 points on Social scale)	Enhanced interrogation techniques counter radical jihadists: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Torture of terrorists might be ok to obtain info: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Feds should fund REAL ID driver licenses, not states: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Require federal electronic verification for state employment: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Strongly Opposes topic 17: US out of Iraq & Afghanistan (-5 points on Social scale)	We should withdraw from Afghanistan more slowly: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Arbitrary deadline in Iraq shouldn't supersede common sense: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Decide Afghan withdrawal by strategy, not arbitrary deadline: Strongly Opposes topic 17 2006: Growing problems in Iraq, but withdrawal disastrous: Strongly Opposes topic 17 2007: Supported the surge; we're going all in: Strongly Opposes topic 17