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)
Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's right (+2 points on Social scale)	Personally opposes abortion, but keep Roe v. Wade: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Fight discrimination in the workplace: Strongly Favors topic 2
No opinion on topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 8: Death Penalty (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Second Amendment is part of our rural way of life: Strongly Favors topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (-5 points on Economic scale)	Give all taxpayers access to federal coverage like Congress: Strongly Favors topic 5 Support healthy childbearing & treat post-partum depression: Favors topic 5 Parity for mental health; coverage for dental health: Favors topic 5 High-quality and affordable coverage for all Americans: Strongly Favors topic 5 Healthcare plan similar to what all Members of Congress have: Favors topic 5 Supports universal health-care system: Strongly Favors topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	Privatization only serves Wall Street, not Main Street: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Strengthen, not privatize, Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Don't divert payroll taxes to private accounts: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (-5 points on Economic scale)	Accountability should enhance and support, not to punish: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Recruit high quality math and science teachers: Opposes topic 7 Reform No Child Left Behind: Opposes topic 7 Don't punish struggling schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Strongly Favors topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (-5 points on Economic scale)	Time to stop questioning sound science on climate change: Strongly Favors topic 18 Always a supporter of ethanol; along with solar & wind: Strongly Favors topic 18 Supports Warner-Lieberman Climate Security Act: Favors topic 18 Release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve: Opposes topic 18 Renewables ok, but oil exploration must continue: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Nebraska farmers should grow crops for cellulosic ethanol: Favors topic 18 Develop a new energy economy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Renewable energy create new industries and jobs: Favors topic 18 Grant program for early adopters of energy efficiency codes: Favors topic 18 Implement a market-based cap-and-trade system: Strongly Favors topic 18 Develop alternative fuels and green-collar industries: Strongly Favors topic 18 Moral test of our lifetime is combating climate change: Strongly Favors topic 18
Opposes topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (+2 points on Social scale)	Treat kids' substance abuse as a mental health issue: Opposes topic 19 Focus attention on the growing meth problem: Favors topic 19 Adequate treatment options first, to deal with meth: Opposes topic 19
No opinion on topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (-3 points on Economic scale)	Close corporate tax loopholes; keep R&D tax credits: Favors topic 11 Keep middle-class out of AMT, estate tax, and capital gains: Opposes topic 11 Tax relief for middle class families: Strongly Favors topic 11 Simplify the tax code: Opposes topic 11 Balance tax cuts with need to bring deficit under control: Favors topic 11
Strongly Opposes topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (-5 points on Social scale)	Build border fence; increase border patrol: Strongly Opposes topic 12 No amnesty for lawbreakers: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Both employers and illegal immigrants should be punished: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Not feasible to deport 12 million illegal immigrants: Favors topic 12
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	Promote fair trade, not free trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Make free trade agreements part of U.S. diplomacy: Strongly Favors topic 13 Trade should spread standards, not just enrich us: Opposes topic 13 Expand markets abroad for specialty agricultural products: Strongly Favors topic 13
Favors topic 15: Expand the armed forces (-3 points on Social scale)	We have forgotten how to use diplomacy: Opposes topic 15 Refocus war on terror on Afghan-Pakistan border: Favors topic 15 Strength comes not just from military; build partnerships: Opposes topic 15 Give our troops needed armor, equipment, and health care: Favors topic 15 Strengthen diplomatic corps, but also add 92,000 soldiers: Strongly Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (-5 points on Economic scale)	Earmarks have been abused: Favors topic 16 Shine light on lobbyists' ties to candidates via Internet: Strongly Favors topic 16
No opinion on topic 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 17: US out of Iraq (+2 points on Social scale)	Draw down US troops, but no timetables: Opposes topic 17 Make it clear there will be no US permanent bases in Iraq: Favors topic 17 Pursue a new accord on Iraq's Constitution and governance: Favors topic 17 Address the humanitarian crisis of 2,000,000 Iraqi refugees: Favors topic 17 Deal strongly and effectively with Iran: Strongly Opposes topic 17 More diplomacy; start drawdown of troops now: Strongly Favors topic 17 Iraq was a mistake, but don't destabilize further by leaving: Opposes topic 17