Gary Peters on VoteMatch

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)	Let military perform abortions in cases of rape or incest: Favors topic 1 Endorsed by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors topic 1 Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services: 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 Keep federal funding for family planning clinics: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated Born-Alive Survivors bill tries to illegalize abortion: Favors topic 1 Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception: Favors topic 1 NO on banning federal health coverage that includes abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Constitutional Amendment for women's equal rights: Strongly Favors topic 2 Sponsored removing deadline for ratification of the ERA: 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 Recognize 1961 Freedom Riders against segregated buses: 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 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)	ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays: 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 YES on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes: Favors topic 3
Favors topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (-3 points on Social scale)	Protect religious non-profits against terrorism: Favors topic 4
Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-3 points on Economic scale)	Sponsored merging Alzheimers diagnosis and care benefit: Favors topic 5 Religious exemption from ObamaCare individual mandate: Opposes topic 5 NO on repealing the "Prevention and Public Health" slush fund: Strongly 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)	One of the most successful programs in our history: Opposes topic 6 Sponsored keeping CPI for benefits instead of lower "Chained CPI": Strongly Opposes topic 6 Rated 98% 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)	Sponsored extending subsidized federal student loan rates until 2015: Opposes topic 7 NO on reauthorizing the DC opportunity scholarship program: Strongly Opposes topic 7 YES on $40B for green public schools: Opposes topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+5 points on Social scale)	Push for Great Lakes restoration efforts & oil cleanups: Opposes topic 8 Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements: Opposes topic 8 Endorsed Endorsed by LCV; supports conservation efforts: Strongly Opposes 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 Prohibits breeding or possessing Big Cat species: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Sponsored tightening restrictions on hydrogen sulfide emissions: Favors topic 8 Endorsed Endorsed by LCV; supports conservation efforts: Strongly Opposes topic 8 YES on protecting free-roaming horses and burros: Opposes topic 8
Neutral on topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (0 points on Social scale)	Co-wrote bill for data-driven cooperation to fight crime: Favors topic 9 Leads fight for commission on criminal justice system: Opposes topic 9 Sponsored evidence-based & proven prevention for street gangs: Opposes topic 9 Rated 100% by the NAPO, indicating a tough-on-crime stance: Favors topic 9
Neutral on topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (0 points on Economic scale)	Common sense safety measures, including background checks: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Co-sponsored background check for every firearm sale: Strongly Favors topic 10
Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-3 points on Economic scale)	Middle class bears burden of unfair tax code: Opposes topic 11 Minimum tax rate of 30% for those earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 11 Sponsored enforcing against corporate offshore tax haven banking: Favors topic 11
Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+2 points on Social scale)	Protect LGBT families from illegal immigrant deportation: Favors topic 12 Terminate national emergency at the Southern border: Favors topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-3 points on Economic scale)	Opposes free trade deals as hindering Michigan's economy: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Tariffs against countries undervaluing their currency: Opposes topic 13 Review free trade agreements biennially for rights violation: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Impose tariffs against countries which manipulate currency: Opposes topic 13 Sponsored imposing import fee on countries with undervalued currency: 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
Neutral on topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (0 points on Economic scale)	Be actively engaged in the Middle East: Opposes topic 14 Condemn China's organ harvesting from Falun Gong prisoners: 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
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	Less-than-honorable discharged veterans can regain benefits: Favors topic 15 Served in US Navy Reserves; signed back up after 9/11: Favors topic 15 Endorsed by VoteVets.org; against wasteful defense spending: 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)	In Michigan Senate, returned operating budget to state: Favors topic 16 Ban stock trading based on Congressional insider knowledge: Strongly Favors topic 16 Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures: Strongly Favors topic 16 Establish 15 days of early voting in all states: Favors topic 16 Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements: 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 Automatic voter registration for all citizens: Strongly Favors topic 16 Sponsored bill for election holiday & easier voting access: Strongly Favors topic 16 Repeal automatic Congressional pay raises: Favors topic 16
Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-3 points on Social scale)	Undecided on military intervention in Syria: Neutral on topic 17 Bring all combat troops home within the year: Strongly Favors topic 17 Boycott & sanctions against Iran for terrorism & nukes: Opposes topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Intervene in Iraq to protect persecuted Christians: Opposes topic 17 Work with Iraqi government to fight ISIL: Opposes topic 17 No military force against Iran without Congress approval: Strongly Favors topic 17 Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program: Opposes topic 17 NO on removing US armed forces from Afghanistan: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on banning armed forces in Libya without Congressional approval: Opposes topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Proudly voted to invest in renewable energy sources: Strongly Favors topic 18 Cap and trade is an option we need to look at: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 NO on opening Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution: 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)	Implement voter legalization of medical marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Rated D by NORML, indicating a "hard-on-drugs" stance: Strongly Favors topic 19 Keep ObamaCare's prevention, treatment, & recovery services: Opposes topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-5 points on Economic scale)	Extend jobless benefit for long-term unemployed: Favors topic 20 Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business: Favors topic 20 Sponsored funding re-development of abandoned & foreclosed properties: Favors 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 YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending: Strongly Favors topic 20

Gary Peters is a Populist-Leaning Liberal
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