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)	Science, technology removes exceptions for abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 1996: pro-choice; 2010: pro-life without exception: Opposes topic 1 1996: favored abortion rights; 2012: no abortion exceptions: Favors topic 1 No medical need any more for exceptions for maternal health: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Pro-life without exception: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Opposes human cloning & embryonic stem cell research: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Rated 100% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-life stance: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Prohibit federal funding for abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Prohibiting forced abortions by UN Population Fund: Opposes topic 1 Prohibit federal funding to groups like Planned Parenthood: Strongly Opposes topic 1 YES on banning federal health coverage that includes abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1
Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-3 points on Economic scale)	The "Age of Trump" woke him up to racism of past comments: Favors topic 2 It's racist to say "go back to where you came from": Favors topic 2
Opposes topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (-3 points on Social scale)	LGBTQ activists are "constitutional terrorists": Strongly Opposes topic 3 Same-sex marriage is law of the land, but give it time: Favors topic 3 Supports military service for gays and transgendered: Strongly Favors topic 3 Marriage can only exist between one man and one woman: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Foster and protect integrity of the traditional family: Opposes topic 3 Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance: Strongly Opposes topic 3
Neutral on topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Opposes topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (+5 points on Economic scale)	2013: engage in civil disobedience to defy ObamaCare: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Look at things like universal catastrophic care coverage: Favors topic 5 Opted out of Congress' health insurance plan: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Opposed to government sponsored health care system: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Defund, repeal, & replace federal care with free market: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Repeal any federal health care takeover: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Repeal the Job-Killing Health Care Law: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Repeal ObamaCare reporting requirements for small business: Opposes topic 5 Remove all funding from the 2010 national healthcare law: 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
Strongly Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+5 points on Economic scale)	Gradually raising the retirement age beyond 67: Favors topic 6 Individuals set aside portion of own income for retirement: Strongly Favors topic 6
Strongly Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+5 points on Economic scale)	Market-based solutions to education reform and urban poverty: Strongly Favors topic 7 Vouchers force competition & provide better education: Strongly Favors topic 7 Eliminate teacher tenure & favor teacher accountability: Favors topic 7 YES on reauthorizing the DC opportunity scholarship program: Strongly Favors topic 7
Favors topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (-3 points on Social scale)	Balance environmental regulation with small business needs: Opposes topic 8 Rated 6% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes: Strongly Favors topic 8 Stop considering manure as pollutant or hazardous: Favors topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+2 points on Social scale)	Reform the criminal justice system: Opposes topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Kinderguardian satire: "Happy shooting, kids": Favors topic 10 Arm school employees to prevent school shootings: Strongly Favors topic 10 Federal background check at gun shows and online: Opposes topic 10 Purpose of Second Amendment is protection against tyranny: Strongly Favors topic 10 Fast and Furious: an attack on gun owners & gun dealers: Strongly Favors topic 10 Supports right to own hand guns & to carry concealed weapons: Strongly Favors topic 10 Rated 93% by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record: Strongly Favors topic 10 Loosen restrictions on interstate gun purchases: Strongly Favors topic 10
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+5 points on Economic scale)	Cut the capital gains tax and the corporate tax rate: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Focus tax cuts on middle class and payroll tax: Favors topic 11 Index capital gains tax to inflation: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Reduced tax rates will increase economic activity: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Taxpayer Protection Pledge: no new taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Adopt a single-rate tax system: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Repeal tax hikes in capital gains and death tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Supports the Taxpayer Protection Pledge: Strongly Opposes topic 11
Opposes topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (-3 points on Social scale)	End policy of family separation at the southern border: Favors topic 12 Securing borders isn't just a scare tactic if you live there: Opposes topic 12 Secure our borders using the National Guard: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Secure our borders with latest technology and National Guard: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale)	Everybody loses in a trade war with China: Strongly Favors topic 13 Supports a free trade system; opposes tariffs on China: Strongly Favors topic 13 China cheats world, so deal with them with world coalition: Strongly Favors topic 13 Tariffs are a tax increase on middle-class Americans: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 63% by the USAE, indicating a mixed record on trade: Neutral on topic 13
Favors topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (+2 points on Economic scale)	Steadfastly support NATO: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Put America's interests first: no photo ops with Putin: Favors topic 14 Two-state solution for Israel-Palestine failed for 64 years: Strongly Favors topic 14 Withhold UN funding until voluntary and program-specific: Strongly Favors topic 14
Strongly Opposes topic 15: Expand the military (+5 points on Social scale)	Cut $8.9B from defense bill, and supported 3% more: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Ban stock trading based on Congressional insider knowledge: Strongly Favors topic 16
Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-3 points on Social scale)	Take seriously the dangers of Islamic terrorism: Opposes topic 17 Withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Congress must have a say in military force overseas: Favors topic 17 Israel should annex Palestinian territory: Opposes topic 17 Support Israel & Saudis, but no US troops in Mideast: Favors topic 17 Provide the troops needed in Afghanistan, like Iraqi surge: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Boycott & sanctions against Iran for terrorism & nukes: Opposes topic 17 Counter Iran's growing presence in Latin America: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly 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
Opposes topic 18: Prioritize green energy (+2 points on Economic scale)	Past: climate science not definitive; now: it's a problem: Favors topic 18 Acknowledge the real problem of climate change: Favors topic 18 All-of-the-above, while shifting from coal to renewables: Favors topic 18 No more partisanship on climate change, it's real: Favors topic 18 Low-cost energy sources is vital to our economy: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Signed the No Climate Tax Pledge by AFP: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Cap-and-trade has no impact on global temperatures: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Explore proven energy reserves & keep energy prices low: 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
Neutral on topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Opposes topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+5 points on Economic scale)	Budget deficit is bankrupting future generations: Opposes topic 20 Those who attacked Obama's spending should attack Trump's: Strongly Opposes topic 20 TARP program and wasteful stimulus were spending spree: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Abolish Fannie Mae; too much focus on home ownership: Opposes topic 20 Limit federal spending growth to per-capita inflation rate: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Ban roadway signs indicating Recovery Act funding: Opposes topic 20 Apply all remaining stimulus funds to budget deficit: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Supports the Cut-Cap-and-Balance Pledge: Opposes topic 20