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 Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (+5 points on Social scale)	Women's reproductive rights are under assault: Strongly Favors topic 1 Debate is about women's rights, not infanticide: Strongly Favors topic 1 Abortion is the human right to bodily autonomy: Strongly Favors topic 1 Codify Roe v. Wade; repeal Hyde Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 1 Would look to remove the Hyde Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 1 Democratic candidates must support reproductive freedom: Strongly Favors topic 1 Her judicial appointments must uphold Roe v. Wade: Strongly Favors topic 1 Fewer limits on abortion; no 20-week ban: Strongly Favors topic 1 Let women make life-and-death decision about own body: Strongly Favors topic 1 Require coverage of contraception, even church employees: Strongly Favors topic 1 Financially supported by Emily's List: Strongly Favors topic 1 Supports both federal abortion funding & judicial activism: Strongly Favors topic 1 Sponsored bill allowing military abortions in cases of rape: Favors topic 1 Require pharmacies to fulfill contraceptive prescriptions: Favors topic 1 Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1 Access safe, legal abortion without restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 1 Keep federal funding for family planning clinics: Strongly Favors topic 1 Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1 Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception: Favors topic 1 Emergency contraception at all military health facilities: Strongly Favors topic 1 Teach teens about both abstinence & contraception: Favors topic 1 Endorsed Endorsed by EMILY's list for pro-choice Democratic women: Strongly Favors topic 1 YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Favors topic 1 NO on restricting UN funding for population control policies: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2 Women run for office because Trump demeans & devalues women: Strongly Favors topic 2 We need a Rosie the Riveter for our generation: Strongly Favors topic 2 1995: Inspired by women's rights as human rights: Favors topic 2 Endorsed by The Feminist Majority indicating a pro-women's rights stance: 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 Recruit women & minorities for STEM teaching: Strongly Favors topic 2 Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2 Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2 Stronger enforcement against gender-based pay discrimination: Favors topic 2 Afghan laws violate women's human rights on sex & divorce: Favors topic 2 Honor the 100th anniversary of the NAACP: 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)	They said repealing DADT was impossible, so I did it: Strongly Favors topic 3 End the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy: Strongly Favors topic 3 Dont-Ask-Dont-Tell caused 13,000 qualified soldiers to leave: Strongly Favors topic 3 Supports gay marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3 ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays: Favors topic 3 Opposes Amendment to prevent same sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3 Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays: Favors topic 3 Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools: 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 Maintain LGBT health info on federal websites: Strongly Favors topic 3 YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation: Strongly Favors topic 3
Neutral on topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (0 points on Social scale)	Attends weekly women's Bible study class: Favors topic 4 Sex Ed including both abstinence and contraception: Opposes topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	Money going to corporate profits, not health care: Strongly Favors topic 5 Keep private insurance in transition; goal is single payer: Strongly Favors topic 5 Pro-vaccines, not sure if they should be Federally mandated: Opposes topic 5 Transition to Medicare for all through public option: Strongly Favors topic 5 Provide a public option to get to universal coverage: Strongly Favors topic 5 Basic Health Program: offer lower-priced health insurance: Strongly Favors topic 5 Expand Medicare and add not-for-profit public option: Strongly Favors topic 5 Modernize obstetrics to cut increases in childbirth deaths: Favors topic 5 Medicare for all; allow drug reimportation: Strongly Favors topic 5 Better and immediate funding for Medicare & Medicaid: Favors topic 5 Merge Alzheimers diagnosis and care benefit: Favors topic 5 Sponsored bill providing for autism treatment under TRICARE: Favors topic 5 YES on giving mental health full equity with physical health: Favors topic 5 YES on Veto override: Extend SCHIP to cover 6M more kids: Strongly Favors topic 5 YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D: Favors topic 5 YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility: Favors topic 5 YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare: Favors topic 5 YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program: Favors topic 5 NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: Favors topic 5 YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program: Favors topic 5 YES on regulating tobacco as a drug: Favors topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	Against privatization: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Opposes private retirement accounts: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Reject privatization; don't raise the retirement age: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Sponsored keeping CPI for benefits instead of lower "Chained CPI": Strongly Opposes topic 6 Rated 92% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-3 points on Economic scale)	Strongly support education, but one size doesn't fit all: Opposes topic 7 More funds for NCLB and early education: Opposes topic 7 $25B to renovate or repair elementary schools: Opposes topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+5 points on Social scale)	Why not have clean air and clean water for all Americans?: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Clean air is a right: Opposes topic 8 Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements: Opposes topic 8 Allow longer than 10 years to rebuild depleted fisheries: Favors topic 8 Regulate all dog breeders down to kennels of 50 dogs: Opposes topic 8 Prohibit invasive research on great apes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Require labeling genetically engineered food: Opposes topic 8 Fund projects for international conservation of cranes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 YES on environmental education grants for outdoor experiences: Opposes topic 8 YES on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems: Opposes topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+2 points on Social scale)	I understand that whiteness protects white kids: Opposes topic 9 End cash bail; it hits low-income Americans: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Abolish capital punishment: Strongly Opposes topic 9 First to call for Sen. Al Franken to resign: Favors topic 9 Sexual assault and harassment must be treated seriously: Favors topic 9 Advocate for victims of sexual assault: Favors topic 9 Military sex abuse victims can't trust commander as arbiter: Favors topic 9 Military sexual assault victims need champion with megaphone: Favors topic 9 Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program: Opposes topic 9 Rated 64% 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
Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-3 points on Economic scale)	Ban bump stocks; reduce lobbying power of NRA: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Supports stricter laws now; didn't when in the House: Strongly Opposes topic 10 2008: signed amicus brief to overturn DC handgun ban: Strongly Favors topic 10 2009: Fight gun violence; 2010: "F" rating from NRA: Strongly Opposes topic 10 2006: "A" rating from NRA; 2019: apologizes: Favors topic 10 Ban high-capacity magazines; close gun-show loophole: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Embarrassed at previous NRA "A" rating; now rated "F": Strongly Favors topic 10 Inaction on mass shootings due to greed of NRA & gunmakers: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Owns guns, which she keeps unloaded under the bed: Favors topic 10 Shifted to left because "I fight for my constituents": Opposes topic 10 Earned high rating from the National Rifle Association: Favors topic 10 Close the Gun Show Loophole; restrict show sales: Opposes topic 10 Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Ban large-capacity ammunition: Opposes topic 10 Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets: Strongly Opposes topic 10 NO on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains: Opposes topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Reverse the 2017 corporate income tax cut: Strongly Favors topic 11 Pathway to citizenship for DREAMers: Strongly Favors topic 11 Supports more federal taxes & keeping marriage penalty: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on extending AMT exemptions to avoid hitting middle-income: Opposes topic 11
Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+2 points on Social scale)	Treat people humanely at border; decriminalize to do so: Strongly Favors topic 12 Give asylum-seekers lawyers and community support: Strongly Favors topic 12 We need a humane asylum application process: Strongly Favors topic 12 For border security, but don't harm asylum seekers: Favors topic 12 Split up functions of ICE: Favors topic 12 2000s: opposed amnesty for undocumented immigrants: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Treat asylum seekers humanely; reform process: Strongly Favors topic 12 Reunite families ripped apart at the border: Strongly Favors topic 12 In House, took hardline for border security, ICE funding: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Hadn't understood issues, changed views in Senate: Favors topic 12 Pathway to citizenship gets immigrants connected: Favors topic 12 2006: anti-illegal alien; 2019: diversity is our strength: Opposes topic 12 Reimagine ICE; support DREAMers: Favors topic 12 Blue Dog: opposed sanctuary cities & opposed amnesty: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Central American migrant caravan is seeking asylum: Strongly Favors topic 12 Get rid of ICE; separate anti-terrorism from border control: Favors topic 12 2007 SAVE Act: beef up border; oppose sanctuary cities: Strongly Opposes topic 12 2010: moratorium on government immigration raids: Favors topic 12 Create a real path to earned citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12 Opposed amnesty; opposed driver licenses; required English: Strongly Favors topic 12 Provide lawyers and evidence for children being deported: Favors topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-3 points on Economic scale)	Don't use tariffs to pressure countries: Favors topic 13 Renegotiate NAFTA; add environmental protections: Opposes topic 13 End outsourcing of jobs and see "Made in America" again: Strongly Favors topic 13 Protect American jobs from going overseas: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Declare Turkish rebar subject to anti-dumping duties: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Fight Chinese predatory trade practices on car tires: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Rated Voted FOR reauthorizing Ex-Im Bank: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 38% by the USAE, indicating support for trade sanctions: Opposes topic 13 YES on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalization: Opposes topic 13 YES on promoting free trade with Peru: Favors topic 13
Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-3 points on Economic scale)	Integrate gender into diplomatic and foreign aid processes: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Disallow Palestine from joining ICC to threaten Israel: Favors topic 14 Two-state solution despite Israeli settlements on West Bank: Favors topic 14 Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror: Opposes topic 14 YES on Veto override: Congressional oversight of CIA interrogations: Opposes topic 14 YES on requiring FISA warrants for wiretaps in US, but not abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 14 NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	Slash the defense budget: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Form National Guard Cyber Protection Team: Favors topic 15 Address backlog of veterans' claims & chronic underfunding: Favors topic 15 No across-the-board budget cuts to anti-terrorism: Favors topic 15 Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11: Favors topic 15 Exempt Veterans Affairs from federal hiring freeze: Favors topic 15 YES on restricting no-bid defense contracts: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Eliminate the Electoral College: Favors topic 16 Mandate paper ballots: Favors topic 16 Publicly funded elections returns power to the people: Strongly Favors topic 16 Publicly-funded elections address many other social issues: Strongly Favors topic 16 Let ex-cons vote; address racism in criminal justice: Strongly Favors topic 16 Abolish the Electoral College: Strongly Favors topic 16 Sunlight Report: lobbyist meetings & earmarks on website: Strongly Favors topic 16 No lobbyist gifts: Favors topic 16 Supports Shays-Meehan Campaign Finance Reform: Favors topic 16 Require Internet disclosure of all earmarks: Favors topic 16 Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures: Strongly Favors topic 16 Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements: Favors topic 16 Statehood for the District of Columbia: Favors topic 16 Public financing of federal campaigns by voter vouchers: Favors topic 16 Automatic voter registration for all citizens: Strongly Favors topic 16 Repeal automatic Congressional pay raises: Favors topic 16 YES on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations: Strongly Favors topic 16
Favors topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (+2 points on Social scale)	First call to Iran, to avoid an unnecessary war: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Withdraw from Yemen; Withdraw from Afghanistan: Strongly Favors topic 17 Withdraw from Afghanistan & Syria: Strongly Favors topic 17 End military aid to Saudi Arabia to attack Yemen: Strongly Favors topic 17 Opposes boycotts of businesses in Israel: Opposes topic 17 Al Qaeda has metastasized; get troops out of Afghanistan: Strongly Favors topic 17 Timetable for drawing down troops from Afghanistan: Favors topic 17 Iraq: exit strategy & redeploy troops: Strongly Favors topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Sponsored funding and supplying the Syrian rebels: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Sponsored shutting down Iranian foreign reserves: Opposes topic 17 Iran must accept long-term intrusive nuke inspection: Opposes topic 17 Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program: Opposes topic 17 YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days: Strongly Favors topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Rejoin Paris Climate Agreement, plus price on carbon: Strongly Favors topic 18 Develop renewable energy tech; cut transportation emissions: Favors topic 18 Put a price on carbon: supports Green New Deal: Strongly Favors topic 18 Perfect score on "350 Action's 2020 Climate Test": Strongly Favors topic 18 Limit then cap-and-trade carbon emissions: Favors topic 18 Fracking must avoid chemicals that harm drinking water: Favors topic 18 Raise CAFE; plus alternative energy R&D: Strongly Favors topic 18 Balance fossil fuels and viable renewable energy: Favors topic 18 $5 billion in tax credits for alternative energy projects: Favors topic 18 50% clean and carbon free electricity by 2030: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on tax incentives for renewable energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on investing in homegrown biofuel: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on criminalizing oil cartels like OPEC: Favors topic 18 YES on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets: Favors topic 18 NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 NO on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade: Favors topic 18 NO on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax: Favors topic 18 YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Favors topic 18
Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+2 points on Social scale)	Supports medical and recreational marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Marijuana Justice Act: decriminalize pot & expunge records: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Rated 50% by NORML, indicating a mixed record on drug reform: Neutral on topic 19 Rated B+ by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Keep ObamaCare's prevention, treatment, & recovery services: Opposes topic 19 Criminalize imports of opioid precursors: Favors topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-5 points on Economic scale)	Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business: Favors topic 20 Rated 83% by UFCW, indicating an anti-management/pro-labor record: Favors topic 20 Strengthen infrastructure, including rail, dams, & Internet: Strongly Favors topic 20 Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2016: Favors topic 20 YES on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy: Strongly Favors topic 20 YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package: Strongly Favors topic 20 YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending: Strongly Favors topic 20