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)	Voted for Alito to avoid primary challenge on abortion: Favors topic 1 Rated 83% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record: Strongly Favors topic 1 Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors topic 1 Protect the reproductive rights of women: Strongly Favors topic 1 Emergency contraception at all military health facilities: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP: Favors topic 1 NO on Unknown roll call for 1999-340: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions: Favors topic 1 NO on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime: Favors topic 1 YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives: Favors topic 1 NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions: Favors topic 1 YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Favors topic 1 NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions: 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)	Women still don't earn what men earn: Strongly Favors topic 2 Barred husbands from canceling wives' pensions: Strongly Favors topic 2 Rated 57% by NAACP, indicating a mixed record on affirmative-action: Neutral on topic 2 Establish a Women's Bureau in Dept. of Veterans Affairs: Favors topic 2 Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2 Afghan laws violate women's human rights on sex & divorce: Favors topic 2 NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on prohibiting same-sex basic training: Favors topic 2 YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women: Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 Rated 78% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3 ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays: Favors topic 3 YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation: Strongly Favors topic 3 YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation: Favors topic 3 YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3
Favors topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (-3 points on Social scale)	Supports anti-flag desecration amendment: Favors topic 4 Rated 50% by the Christian Coalition: mixed voting record on Family Values: Neutral on topic 4 Rated 33% by the AU, a mixed record on church-state separation: Neutral on topic 4 Constitutionally prohibit flag desecration: Favors topic 4 YES on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer: Strongly Favors topic 4 NO on $75M for abstinence education: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors: Favors topic 4 YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Favors topic 4
Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-3 points on Economic scale)	Invest funds to alleviate the nursing shortage: Favors topic 5 Tax credits for those without employee health insurance: Strongly Favors topic 5 $350 billion for prescriptions for poor seniors: Favors topic 5 Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations: Opposes topic 5 Rated 38% by APHA, indicating a mixed record on public health issues: Neutral on topic 5 Include mental health services under Medicare: Favors topic 5 Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn: Strongly Favors topic 5 Expand health services for women veterans: Favors topic 5 NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Favors topic 5 NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: Favors topic 5 NO on blocking medical savings acounts: Opposes topic 5 NO on Medicare means-testing: Favors topic 5 YES on limiting self-employment health deduction: Opposes topic 5 NO on including prescription drugs under Medicare: Opposes topic 5 YES on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit: Opposes topic 5 YES on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit: Favors topic 5 YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics: Favors topic 5 YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Favors topic 5 YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D: Favors topic 5 YES on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000: 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 YES on regulating tobacco as a drug: Favors topic 5
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+2 points on Economic scale)	Rated 10% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record: Strongly Favors topic 6 Supports individual savings accounts and work incentives: Favors topic 6 NO on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes: Opposes topic 6 YES on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees: Favors topic 6 NO on allowing personal retirement accounts: Opposes topic 6 NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Opposes topic 6
Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+2 points on Economic scale)	Support Ed-Flex: more flexibility if more accountable: Favors topic 7 Rated 55% by the NEA, indicating a mixed record on public education: Neutral on topic 7 YES on school vouchers in DC: Strongly Favors topic 7 YES on education savings accounts: Favors topic 7 YES on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules: Strongly Favors topic 7 YES on Educational Savings Accounts: Favors topic 7 NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors: Favors topic 7 NO on funding student testing instead of private tutors: Favors topic 7 YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Opposes topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Clean air and water are property rights (-5 points on Social scale)	End commercial whaling and illegal trade in whale meat: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Supports grants for brownfields remediation: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Rated 74% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 EPA must do better on mercury clean-up: Opposes topic 8 Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements: Opposes topic 8 Establish an International Conservation Strategy: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Regulating 15 more contaminants under Clean Water Act: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Fund studies of invasive species and algal blooms: Opposes topic 8 NO on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests: Opposes topic 8 YES on prohibiting eminent domain for use as parks or grazing land: Favors topic 8
Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-3 points on Social scale)	Rated 38% by CURE, indicating mixed votes on rehabilitation: Neutral on topic 9 NO on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment: Strongly Favors topic 9 YES on limiting death penalty appeals: Favors topic 9 YES on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Favors topic 9 NO on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program: Favors topic 9 YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9
Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+2 points on Economic scale)	YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows: Favors topic 10 NO on background checks at gun shows: Strongly Favors topic 10 NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence: Strongly Opposes topic 10 YES on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership: Favors topic 10 YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains: Favors topic 10
Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+2 points on Economic scale)	Rated 52% by NTU, indicating "Satisfactory" on tax votes: Neutral on topic 11 Rated 40% by CTJ, indicating a mixed record on progressive taxation: Neutral on topic 11 Implement socially fair, broad-based tax cuts: Favors topic 11 YES on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset: Favors topic 11 YES on Internet sales tax moratorium: Opposes topic 11 YES on requiring super-majority for raising taxes: Opposes topic 11 YES on eliminating the 'marriage penalty': Opposes topic 11 YES on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts: Opposes topic 11 NO on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates: Opposes topic 11 NO on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction: Opposes topic 11 NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut: Opposes topic 11 YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax: Strongly Favors topic 11
Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+2 points on Social scale)	English immersion over bilingual education: Opposes topic 12 Rated 25% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Favors topic 12 NO on limit welfare for immigrants: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on visas for skilled workers: Favors topic 12 YES on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work: Favors topic 12 NO on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 12 YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on establishing a Guest Worker program: Favors topic 12 YES on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Opposes topic 12 NO on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program: Neutral topic 12 YES on declaring English as the official language of the US government: Strongly Opposes topic 12 YES on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Favors topic 12
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	Promote the Andean Free Trade Agreement: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 58% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues: Neutral on topic 13 Tariffs against countries undervaluing their currency: Opposes topic 13 Impose tariffs against countries which manipulate currency: Opposes topic 13 NO on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority: Opposes topic 13 YES on permanent normal trade relations with China: Strongly Favors topic 13 NO on expanding trade to the third world: Opposes topic 13 YES on removing common goods from national security export rules: Favors topic 13 YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam: Favors topic 13 YES on extending free trade to Andean nations: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on establishing free trade between US & Singapore: Favors topic 13 YES on establishing free trade between the US and Chile: Favors topic 13 NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Opposes topic 13 YES on promoting free trade with Peru: Favors topic 13
Favors topic 14: Maintain US sovereignty from UN (+2 points on Economic scale)	Prohibit torture of terrorists in US custody: Opposes topic 14 Integrate gender into diplomatic and foreign aid processes: Strongly Opposes topic 14 NO on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls: Favors topic 14 YES on $17.9 billion to IMF: Opposes topic 14 YES on capping foreign aid at only $12.7 billion: Strongly Favors topic 14 YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Favors topic 14
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	Supports $48 billion in new spending for anti-terrorism: Favors topic 15 Rated 0% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record: Strongly Favors topic 15 Sponsored bill for Iraq budget to be part of defense budget: Opposes topic 15 Reduce federal government size & scope, including military: Opposes topic 15 YES on 1996 Defense Appropriations: Favors topic 15 YES on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty: Favors topic 15 YES on favoring 36 vetoed military projects: Strongly Favors topic 15 NO on allowing another round of military base closures: Favors topic 15 YES on military pay raise of 4.8%: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding: Opposes topic 15 YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Opposes topic 15
Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on voting rights (-3 points on Social scale)	Subject independent 527s to rules for political committees: Strongly Favors topic 16 Require Internet disclosure of all earmarks: Favors topic 16 Ban stock trading based on Congressional insider knowledge: Strongly Favors topic 16 Military spouses don't lose voting residency while abroad: Favors topic 16 YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance: Favors topic 16 YES on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations: Favors topic 16 YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads: Favors topic 16 YES on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Favors topic 16 YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Opposes topic 16
Strongly Opposes topic 17: Stay out of Iran (-5 points on Social scale)	No troop surge: no military escalation in Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program: Opposes topic 17 YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months: Opposes topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Legislation to reduce CO2 emissions by 2050: Strongly Favors topic 18 Make EPA into a Cabinet department: Strongly Favors topic 18 Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 67% by CAF, indicating a mixed record on energy independence: Neutral on topic 18 Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: Strongly Favors topic 18 Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards: Strongly Favors topic 18 Supports immediate reductions in greenhouse gases: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Opposes topic 18 NO on defunding renewable and solar energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards: Opposes topic 18 NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling: Favors topic 18 NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill: Favors topic 18 YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%): Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Favors topic 18 YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning: Favors topic 18 YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China: Favors topic 18 YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade: Opposes topic 18 YES on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax: Opposes topic 18 YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Favors topic 18
Strongly Favors topic 19: Never legalize marijuana (-5 points on Social scale)	YES on spending international development funds on drug control: Strongly Favors topic 19 YES on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Favors topic 19 YES on increasing penalties for drug offenses: Favors topic 19
Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-3 points on Economic scale)	Expand microloans to small businesses: Favors topic 20 Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business: Favors topic 20 Rated 14% by UFCW, indicating a pro-management voting record: Opposes topic 20 NO on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: Strongly Opposes 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