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)	Medicare-for-All will protect women's constitutional right: Strongly Favors topic 1 Right to abortion applies to low income women as well: Strongly Favors topic 1 No anti-choice appointments to Supreme Court: Strongly Favors topic 1 Few or no government limits on abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1 Support pro-life Dems if they replace pro-life Republicans: Favors topic 1 Lifetime pro-choice record, plus funding for family planning: Strongly Favors topic 1 Advocate for family planning and funding for contraceptives: Favors topic 1 Women have the right to choose, regardless of income: Strongly Favors topic 1 Voted for spending bills with Hyde Amendment, but pro-choice: Favors topic 1 Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record: Strongly Favors topic 1 Emergency contraception for rape victims at all hospitals: Favors topic 1 Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors topic 1 Provide emergency contraception at military facilities: 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 CC:Oppose strict Constitutionalist judges: Favors topic 1 CC:Publicly fund abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1 CC:No parental notification for abortions by minors: Favors topic 1 Protect the reproductive rights of women: Strongly Favors topic 1 Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1 Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception: Favors topic 1 NO on barring transporting minors to get an abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on banning partial-birth abortions: Favors topic 1 NO on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad: Favors topic 1 NO on Unknown roll call for 2001-89: Favors topic 1 NO on funding for health providers who don't provide abortion info: Favors topic 1 NO on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime: Favors topic 1 NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1 YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research: 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 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)	Busing an option, but integrated community schools are best: Strongly Favors topic 2 End racism in hiring, redlining, & disparate pay: Strongly Favors topic 2 Equal pay for equal work: anything else unacceptable: Strongly Favors topic 2 Sanders supports economic help for blacks, not reparations: Favors topic 2 Invest in distressed communities as "reparations": Favors topic 2 Women still earn only 80% of men; minorities earn 63%: Strongly Favors topic 2 Women's March: never again second-class citizens: Strongly Favors topic 2 Empower Native Americans to make up for abrogated treaties: Strongly Favors topic 2 We're the only major country without paid family leave: Strongly Favors topic 2 Economic issues take a larger toll on minority groups: Favors topic 2 Remove Confederate flag from State Houses: Strongly Favors topic 2 1972: wrote fictional "satire" about men oppressing women: Strongly Opposes topic 2 Equal pay for equal work by women: Strongly Favors topic 2 Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery: Favors topic 2 Supports reparations, but targeted to distressed communities: Strongly Favors topic 2 No ambiguity in condemning white supremacists: Strongly Favors topic 2 1960s U. Chicago Congress of Racial Equality member: Strongly Favors topic 2 Black Lives Matter: deal with institutional racism: Favors topic 2 1964: civil rights activist in Congress on Racial Equality: Strongly Favors topic 2 Accompany minimum wage increase with pay equity for women: Strongly Favors topic 2 Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender: Strongly Favors topic 2 Rated 97% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2 Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2 Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy: Favors topic 2 Endorsed as "preferred" by The Feminist Majority indicating pro-women's rights: 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 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 NO on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions: Favors topic 2 YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges: Strongly 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)	DOMA was homophobic even in 1996: Strongly Favors topic 3 Vermont implemented ENDA 22 years ago; so should feds: Strongly Favors topic 3 LGBTQ values are family values: Strongly Favors topic 3 Right to love each other, regardless of sexual orientation: Strongly Favors topic 3 Never accept racism, sexism, nor homophobia: Strongly Favors topic 3 1983: Approved "Gay Rights Day" in Burlington Vermont: Strongly Favors topic 3 More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 Rated 100% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3 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 NO on banning gay adoptions in DC: Favors topic 3 NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3 NO on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman: Strongly Favors topic 3
Strongly Opposes topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (+5 points on Social scale)	Rated 7% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Religious freedom means no religious registry: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on responsible fatherhood via faith-based organizations: Opposes topic 4 NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration: Opposes topic 4 NO on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance: Opposes topic 4 YES on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance: Opposes topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	Job-based insurance forces people to change providers: Strongly Favors topic 5 Medicare for All: higher taxes but lower healthcare costs: Strongly Favors topic 5 1970s: For socialized medicine, public drug companies owned: Strongly Favors topic 5 Elective procedures can be covered by private insurance: Strongly Favors topic 5 Don't let Republicans do away with preexisting protection: Strongly Favors topic 5 Employer-based insurance burdens employers & stifles workers: Strongly Favors topic 5 Mental illness system is in tatters; treat like any illness: Favors topic 5 Lack of affordable dental care is part of healthcare crisis: Favors topic 5 Mental Health: people need more affordable treatments: Favors topic 5 Move toward a single-payer system: Strongly Favors topic 5 ObamaCare alternatives need patient protections: Strongly Favors topic 5 Deal with racial issues as part of health care reform: Strongly Favors topic 5 Don't privatize the Veterans Administration: Strongly Favors topic 5 Stand up against healthcare companies' billions in profits: Favors topic 5 Cap annual costs for prescription drugs at $200: Strongly Favors topic 5 Pharma companies should justify high drug prices: Favors topic 5 Negotiate Medicare prices stop outrageous pharma ripoffs: Strongly Favors topic 5 Medicare should negotiate prices with pharma industry: Favors topic 5 1999: Took Vermonters to Canada for low-cost Rx drugs: Favors topic 5 Don't ignore prescription drug affordability: Favors topic 5 Combat Big Pharma's greed on drug prices: Strongly Favors topic 5 We need a simple system, which exists in Canada: Strongly Favors topic 5 People will spend less money on Medicare for All: Strongly Favors topic 5 Canada has figured out single-payer, at half the cost of US: Favors topic 5 Medicare-for-All will lead to stability, not disruption: Strongly Favors topic 5 Single payer will transform health care for the better: Strongly Favors topic 5 Medicare-for-all: no more private insurance plans: Strongly Favors topic 5 ObamaCare requires insurers to cover you, even at a loss: Strongly Favors topic 5 Real issue is healthcare at all, for rural poor: Strongly Favors topic 5 Federally-run single-payer program with mental/dental: Strongly Favors topic 5 For $500 more taxes, everyone gets $5,000 more healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5 Medicare for All: insure 29M people beyond ObamaCare: Strongly Favors topic 5 Single payer: Increased taxes offset by insurance cuts: Favors topic 5 I helped write ObamaCare; extend it to 29M more uninsured: Strongly Favors topic 5 We spend more on care than countries with single-payer: Favors topic 5 Healthcare is a fundamental right in a civilized society: Strongly Favors topic 5 Medicare for all: healthcare is a human right: Strongly Favors topic 5 U.S. is only major country without guaranteed healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5 Civilized societies provide healthcare for the poor: Strongly Favors topic 5 Voted for ObamaCare; but prefers single-payer system: Strongly Favors topic 5 MEDS Plan: Cover senior Rx under Medicare: Favors topic 5 Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors topic 5 Keep healthcare mandate, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 5 Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn: Strongly Favors topic 5 Provide for treatment of autism under TRICARE: Favors topic 5 Sponsored bill expanding the National Health Service Corps: Strongly Favors topic 5 Make health care a right, not a privilege: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts: Favors topic 5 NO on subsidizing private insurance for Medicare Rx drug coverage: Favors topic 5 YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs: Favors topic 5 NO on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits: Favors topic 5 NO on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients: Favors topic 5 NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay: Strongly 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 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
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	Apply payroll-tax to income over $250,000: Favors topic 6 I helped create the Social Security Caucus: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Senior poverty AND childhood poverty are increasing: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Lift cap on wealthy: at $250,000 program lasts 58 years: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Defend against chained CPI, and expand Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6 No cuts; no privatization; even to deal with deficit: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Strengthen the social safety net, instead of weakening it: Strongly Opposes topic 6 We must strengthen the social safety net, not weaken it: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Chairman of the Defend Social Security Caucus: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Payroll tax holiday diverts revenue from Trust Fund: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Most successful Federal program in history of our country: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Despite GOP rhetoric, Social Security is NOT going bankrupt: Opposes topic 6 Changing Social Security disproportionately affects women: Opposes topic 6 Reject proposals for private saving accounts: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record: 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 100% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance: Strongly Opposes topic 6 YES on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox: Opposes topic 6 NO on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits: Opposes topic 6 NO on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable: Opposes topic 6 NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Opposes topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-5 points on Economic scale)	Pay for free tuition with tax on Wall Street speculation: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Save millennials by cancelling student debt: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Universal free meals in schools: Opposes topic 7 Forgive student loans for both higher ed and trade school: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Crucial to invest in pre-K education for our future: Strongly Favors topic 7 Revolution needed in child-care and preschool jobs: Opposes topic 7 No privatization; no vouchers; charters only with standards: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Replace NCLB standardized testing with holistic approach: Opposes topic 7 Vouchers redirect public education dollar to private schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Charter schools ok if held to public school standards: Favors topic 7 Do away with fill-in-the-bubble standardized tests: Opposes topic 7 Education begins before age 4 or 5: Opposes topic 7 Quality affordable education, from child care to higher ed: Opposes topic 7 Cutting education cuts off our noses to spite our face: Opposes topic 7 Reduce class size to 18 children in grades 1 to 3: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Rated 83% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7 $25B to renovate or repair elementary schools: Opposes topic 7 Sponsored extending subsidized federal student loan rates until 2015: Opposes topic 7 NO on vouchers for private & parochial schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools: Opposes topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+5 points on Social scale)	Opposes new nuclear power plant development: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Leave a planet to our kids that is healthy & habitable: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Advocate of animal welfare and humane treatment: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Protect important watersheds and wildlife areas: Strongly Opposes topic 8 GMOs are ok, but only with required labeling: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Our kids will ask why we made planet less habitable: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Very large farms raise questions about animal cruelty: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Transform our energy system away from fossil fuel: Strongly Favors topic 8 Prohibits commercial logging on Federal public lands: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Rated 90% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Promote conservation of rare felids & canids: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements: 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 Require labeling genetically engineered food: Opposes topic 8 Rated Deregulating banks encourages discriminatory practices: Opposes topic 8 Rated Keep restrictive rules for predator control in Alaska: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8 NO on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species: Strongly Opposes topic 8 YES on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems: Opposes topic 8 NO on prohibiting eminent domain for use as parks or grazing land: Opposes topic 8
Strongly Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+5 points on Social scale)	Violent white nationalists should be treated as terrorists: Favors topic 9 Eliminate private prisons: Strongly Opposes topic 9 OpEd: Ambiguous record on 1994 crime bill: Favors topic 9 Bail reform: 65% of county & city inmates are "unconvicted": Opposes topic 9 End the death penalty, like all other advanced countries: Strongly Opposes topic 9 End mass incarceration & reform criminal justice: Strongly Opposes topic 9 By 2020, I pledge to have fewer people in jail than China: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Government should not be part of the death penalty: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Jobs and education, not jails and incarceration: Strongly Opposes topic 9 America has more people in jail than any country on earth: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Reinstate voting rights to address school-to-prison pipeline: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Police forces should reflect diversity of their communities: Strongly Opposes topic 9 How justice system treats blacks is a national disgrace: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Black Lives Matter points out police brutality: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Real criminal justice/police reform also combats racism: Strongly Opposes topic 9 New model for police training de-escalating lethal force: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Involve U.S. Justice Dept. in every police killing: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Police officers should not be shooting unarmed people: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Blacks are disproportionately imprisoned & killed by police: Opposes topic 9 Crime bill had good parts (VAWA) & bad parts (death penalty): Opposes topic 9 Rated 78% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Require DNA testing for all federal executions: Opposes topic 9 Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program: Opposes topic 9 Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance: Strongly Opposes topic 9 First step: reduce recidivism & mass incarceration: Opposes topic 9 Rated 73% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues: Neutral on topic 9 YES on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment: Strongly Opposes topic 9 NO on making federal death penalty appeals harder: Strongly Opposes topic 9 YES on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals: Opposes topic 9 NO on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime: Opposes topic 9 YES on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons.: Strongly Opposes topic 9 YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9
Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-3 points on Economic scale)	2013: state decisions on guns; 2019: federal legislation: Favors topic 10 Buy back assault weapons, and ban their sale: Opposes topic 10 Applaud students taking action to prevent school shootings: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Intervene with mental illness, to prevent mass shootings: Opposes topic 10 Ok to sue gun manufacturers if they sell for misuse: Opposes topic 10 Deal federally with straw-man gun purchasers: Favors topic 10 Common sense, incremental gun control plan: Opposes topic 10 Instant background checks: no guns for criminals or unstable: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Gun legislation must work for both rural & urban Americans: Neutral on topic 10 Mixed approach to gun control vs. gun rights: Opposes topic 10 I'm pro-hunting, but no one needs an AK-47 to hunt: Favors topic 10 Ban assault weapons; automatic background checks: Strongly Favors topic 10 To pass gun controls, Congress needs guts to stand up to NRA: Strongly Opposes topic 10 We aren't divided on guns: just sick & tired of gun violence: Strongly Favors topic 10 I have shown courage against NRA on gun issues: Opposes topic 10 People have the right to buy guns, with sensible regulations: Opposes topic 10 Do more than reverse gun manufacturer immunity: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Ban semiautomatic guns & gun show loophole: Strongly Opposes topic 10 OpEd: pro-gun votes in line with VT's political norms: Favors topic 10 Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Restrict right to bear arms, according to CC survey: Opposes topic 10 NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1: Strongly Opposes topic 10 YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets: Strongly Opposes 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
Strongly Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Medicare-for-All raises taxes on middle class, but net gain: Strongly Favors topic 11 Democratic socialism means working for everyone, not just 1%: Strongly Favors topic 11 Government should address income inequality, not support it: Strongly Favors topic 11 People are sick and tired of growth of wealth inequality: Strongly Favors topic 11 Middle class needs tax breaks; top 1% does not: Strongly Favors topic 11 45% estate tax only for estates over $3.5 million: Strongly Favors topic 11 Replace carried-interest loophole with progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11 Only the top 2/10 of 1% pay the estate tax: Strongly Favors topic 11 Raise funds in a progressive way, for ObamaCare & everything: Strongly Favors topic 11 1980s: progressive property tax, plus Meals & Rooms tax: Strongly Favors topic 11 Tax code is rigged to favor top 2% of billionaires: Strongly Favors topic 11 Income inequality is not moral and is not acceptable: Strongly Favors topic 11 Disallow stashing corporate profits overseas to avoid taxes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Fix estate tax so mega-rich pay their fair share: Strongly Favors topic 11 We need a progressive tax system based on ability to pay: Strongly Favors topic 11 Tax increases may affect more than top 1%: Strongly Favors topic 11 Tax CEOs making more than 50 times median worker pay: Strongly Favors topic 11 Wealth tax of 8% on fortunes over $10 billion: Strongly Favors topic 11 Top rate of 77% for estates over $1 billion: Strongly Favors topic 11 1974: 100% tax over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 11 Close loopholes that let wealthy avoid taxes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Raise income tax & fix estate tax: hardly Marxist ideas: Strongly Favors topic 11 0.1% tax on Wall Street speculation: Strongly Favors topic 11 End loophole that allows zero taxes via Cayman Islands: Strongly Favors topic 11 Wealthiest will pay more but not as much as under Eisenhower: Strongly Favors topic 11 Increase tax on wealthy; close loopholes for corporations: Strongly Favors topic 11 Raise top marginal income tax rate from 39% to over 50%: Strongly Favors topic 11 Increase estate tax rates on inheritances over $3.5M: Strongly Favors topic 11 Double the capital gains tax for the wealthiest 2%: Strongly Favors topic 11 Real tax reform based on ability to pay: Strongly Favors topic 11 Lower cutoff for estate tax from $5.4M to $3.5M: Strongly Favors topic 11 American People's Dividend: Give $300 to every person: Favors topic 11 Rated 28% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11 Minimum tax rate of 30% for those earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated Reducing tax rates balloons federal deficit & cuts programs: Favors topic 11 CC:Reverse federal income tax cuts: Favors topic 11 CC:Keep the inhertiance tax: Strongly Favors topic 11 Make employee educational assistance tax-deductible: Favors topic 11 Reduce the concentration of wealth & wage inequality: Favors topic 11 NO on eliminating the "marriage penalty": Favors topic 11 NO on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business: Favors topic 11 NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years: Favors topic 11 NO on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years: Favors topic 11 NO on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax"): Favors topic 11 NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on providing tax relief and simplification: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset: Favors 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)	Comprehensive immigration reform; stop attacking allies: Strongly Favors topic 12 We need humane immigration policy, not demonization: Strongly Favors topic 12 Real national emergency is creating path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12 Restructure ICE; don't necessarily abolish it: Strongly Favors topic 12 Undocumented immigrants commit fewer crimes than citizens: Favors topic 12 Comprehensive reform instead of an emergency wall: Strongly Favors topic 12 The Great Wall was ok in 1600s; not so smart today: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Give undocumented workers legal protections: Favors topic 12 Base policy on uniting families, not dividing families: Favors topic 12 2007 immigration bill was a bad bill, opposed by many: Strongly Opposes topic 12 I support children entering for asylum from war-torn areas: Strongly Favors topic 12 2007: No comprehensive reform: guest workers are semi-slaves: Opposes topic 12 Comprehensive reform with no border fence & no guest workers: Strongly Favors topic 12 Secure borders without building a fence: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Open borders for guest workers pushes down U.S. worker wages: Neutral on topic 12 Disgraceful to shunt our workers into the shadows: Strongly Favors topic 12 Immigrant labor should be treated as valuable, but are not: Favors topic 12 Include dairy in H2A visas (temporary agricultural workers): Favors topic 12 English-Only, based in xenophobia, hurts legal immigrants: Favors topic 12 Provide legal status to the 1.8 million DREAMers: Strongly Favors topic 12 Wall is stupid, but ok as part of deal on DACA: Strongly Favors topic 12 Support Obama's reforms on DAPA and DACA: Favors topic 12 Offer path to citizenship; waive deportation for DREAMers: Strongly Favors topic 12 Healthcare as a human right includes immigrants: Favors topic 12 Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration: Strongly Favors topic 12 Rated 8% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12 Provide lawyers and evidence for children being deported: Favors topic 12 Opposes more border security, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 12 Terminate national emergency at the Southern border: Favors topic 12 NO on more immigrant visas for skilled workers: Opposes topic 12 NO on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on preventing tipping off Mexicans about Minuteman Project: Strongly Opposes topic 12 NO on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program: Neutral topic 12 NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government: Strongly Favors topic 12 NO on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Strongly Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-5 points on Economic scale)	Trade policies should focus on U.S. jobs & lifting the poor: Opposes topic 13 Real problem with trade is jobs shipped overseas: Opposes topic 13 Expand "Buy American" and "Buy Local" as government policy: Strongly Opposes topic 13 American jobs must no longer be our number one export: Opposes topic 13 Don't believe that unfettered trade creates U.S. jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 13 I will take on corporations that take their jobs to China: Opposes topic 13 I strongly opposed NAFTA and DOMA from their inception: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Promote democracy in China, but not at expense of US workers: Opposes topic 13 Priority of trade deals should be helping American workers: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Since NAFTA, Mexican undocumented immigration up 185%: Opposes topic 13 Wrong, wrong, wrong that trade deals create jobs here: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Best dairy policy is USDA board's supply management: Opposes topic 13 48,000 US factories shut down under Bush due to trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NAFTA was a sellout to corporate America: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Americans have to compete with people making pennies an hour: Opposes topic 13 Trump's actions on trade destabilizing world economy: Favors topic 13 China trade has led to loss of 3M American jobs so far: Strongly Opposes topic 13 End disastrous NAFTA, CAFTA, and PNTR with China: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Stop TPP, the Trans-Pacific Partnership: Strongly Opposes topic 13 How can we compete against people who make 23 cents an hour?: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NAFTA, GATT, and MFN for China must be repealed: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Does not support ANY free trade agreements: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Rated 33% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues: Neutral on topic 13 Review free trade agreements biennially for rights violation: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Impose tariffs against countries which manipulate currency: 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 Oppose USMCA until more environmental & job protections: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Rated 13% by the USAE, indicating support for trade sanctions: Opposes topic 13 No MFN for China; condition trade on human rights: Neutral on topic 13 NO on 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China: Strongly Opposes topic 13 YES on withdrawing from the WTO: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on implementing US-Singapore free trade agreement: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on implementing free trade agreement with Chile: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on implementing US-Australia Free Trade Agreement: Opposes topic 13 NO on end offshore tax havens and promote small business: Favors topic 13 NO on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on promoting free trade with Peru: Opposes topic 13
Strongly Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-5 points on Economic scale)	China is authoritarian but eliminated extreme poverty: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Cuba: Teaching people to read and write is a good thing: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Must support human rights, even with trading partners: Favors topic 14 Gaza is humanitarian disaster; Israelis shouldn't over-react: Strongly Opposes topic 14 UN is bureaucratic, but does enormously important work: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Development aid isn't charity; it avoids military later: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Global War on Terror has undermined our moral standards: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Iraq War discredited vision of benevolent global hegemony: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Refugee vetting mechanisms we have now are very, very strong: Opposes topic 14 Greatness about how we treat most vulnerable, not wealth: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Our revolution will transform America: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Ending embargo with Cuba is right step: Strongly Opposes topic 14 America stands for hope; we should take Syrian refugees: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Beef up NATO against Russian aggression: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Key doctrine: We can't do it alone; must work in coalition: Strongly Opposes topic 14 It does us no good to NOT talk to adversaries: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Diplomacy and coalition-building before unilateral action: Strongly Opposes topic 14 US should be more selective about using drone strikes: Strongly Opposes topic 14 War is a local issue because local youngsters fight and die: Opposes topic 14 Democratic socialism opposes concentration of wealth & power: Strongly Opposes topic 14 1991: We give $7B to feudalistic dictatorships in Mideast: Opposes topic 14 Need to look at consequences of removing dictators: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Not policeman of the world; focus on ISIS first: Strongly Opposes topic 14 I do not believe in unilateral action against terrorism: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Require Code of Conduct for US corporations abroad: Opposes topic 14 Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror: Opposes topic 14 Allow travel between the United States and Cuba: Opposes topic 14 NO on withholding $244M in UN Back Payments until US seat restored: Strongly Opposes topic 14 NO on reforming the UN by restricting US funding: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight: Favors topic 14 YES on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls: Opposes topic 14 NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Strongly Opposes topic 15: Expand the military (+5 points on Social scale)	Iran not an emergency; no military action without Congress: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Cut military spending, except F-35 at Vermont air base: Strongly Opposes topic 15 F-35 fighter planes OK at Burlington Airport: Favors topic 15 Too much spent on Cold War; and too little spent on ISIS: Neutral on topic 15 War in Iraq will cost us $3 trillion including veteran care: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Cut military spending to pay for fixing climate change: Opposes topic 15 Undertake comprehensive audit of Department of Defense: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Spending on military means fewer resources for people: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Care for our veterans, even if we disagree about wars: Favors topic 15 We spend billions on nuclear weapons & only 10% on terrorism: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Reduce nuclear budget by $100B; end proliferation worldwide: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Costs of endless war detract from citizens' well-being: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Cut defense by $18B to pay for 55% of all college tuition: Strongly Opposes topic 15 We need a strong military, but stop wasting tens of billions: Opposes topic 15 1991: Billions should improve human life, not destroy it: Strongly Opposes topic 15 More terrorists after spending trillions on War on Terror: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Stop $31M Pentagon payments for corporate mergers: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Oppose outrageous boost in military expenditures: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11: Favors topic 15 Non-proliferation includes disposing of nuclear materials: Opposes topic 15 Rated Funding wars separately is gimmick against sequestration: Opposes topic 15 Exempt Veterans Affairs from federal hiring freeze: Favors topic 15 NO on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill: Opposes topic 15 NO on deploying SDI: Opposes topic 15 NO on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan: Strongly Opposes topic 15 NO on continuing military recruitment on college campuses: Opposes topic 15 YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Opposes topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Independent of Our Revolution, group Sanders launched: Favors topic 16 Felons should be allowed to vote while incarcerated: Strongly Favors topic 16 Hard to defend the Electoral College: Favors topic 16 Even prisoners should still have right to vote: Strongly Favors topic 16 Congressional representation for D.C. residents: Strongly Favors topic 16 Mainstream media focuses on gossip, lies, & personality: Favors topic 16 Binding referendum on Guam's political status: Strongly Favors topic 16 Binding referendum on Puerto Rico statehood vs. independence: Strongly Favors topic 16 I do not have a Super PAC nor raise money from billionaires: Favors topic 16 Voter ID laws marginalize communities of color: Strongly Favors topic 16 SuperPACs: manifestation of everything wrong with politics: Strongly Favors topic 16 Campaign financing is corrupt; no Super PAC for me: Favors topic 16 Establishment candidates are beholden to big money: Strongly Favors topic 16 Citizens United means billionaires donate for THEIR interest: Strongly Favors topic 16 Super-PACs pervert the democratic process: Strongly Favors topic 16 Public funding of elections to promote even playing field: Strongly Favors topic 16 We now have government of, by, and for the billionaires: Favors topic 16 Constitutional amendment to reverse Citizen United ruling: Strongly Favors topic 16 Citizens United opens up the road to oligarchy: Strongly Favors topic 16 America struggles between organized people & organized money: Favors topic 16 Publicly fund elections, or small individual contributions: Strongly Favors topic 16 Enforce simple rule: every over 18 has the right to vote: Strongly Favors topic 16 Mandate paper ballots: Favors topic 16 End voter suppression; make it easier to vote: Strongly Favors topic 16 Sovereign rights & voting rights for Native Americans: Strongly Favors topic 16 Unity Reform Commission: reduce power of superdelegates: Favors topic 16 Russian cyber-attacks threaten integrity of US elections: Strongly Favors topic 16 Ruling class wants a lack of political consciousness: Strongly Favors topic 16 Participation in politics as easy and convenient as possible: Strongly Favors topic 16 Automatic voter registration at age 18: Strongly Favors topic 16 Automatic voter registration; holiday for Election Day: Strongly Favors topic 16 GOP loves voter suppression because it lets them win: Strongly Favors topic 16 Reinforce voting rights to end voter suppression: Strongly Favors topic 16 Underclass see the political deck stacked; and don't vote: Strongly Favors topic 16 Low-income workers don't vote because it's irrelevant: Strongly Favors topic 16 Same-day automatic voter registration & 3-day voting: Strongly 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 Corporate political spending is not free speech: Strongly 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 YES on banning soft money and issue ads: Favors topic 16 NO on banning soft money donations to national political parties: Opposes topic 16 YES on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions: Favors topic 16 NO on restricting independent grassroots political committees: Favors topic 16
Favors topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (+2 points on Social scale)	Support for Israel & peace doesn't include racist government: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Talk to adversaries but we need more than photo ops: Opposes topic 17 Address source of problem with Mexico & Northern Triangle: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Used War Powers Act to get US out of Saudi-Yemen war: Strongly Favors topic 17 No support of Saudis against Iran; it's a never-ending war: Favors topic 17 US shouldn't favor Saudis or Iran; broker diplomatic answer: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Even-handed Mideast policy; open to moving Jerusalem embassy: Opposes topic 17 Promote democracy, but don't use military for regime change: Strongly Favors topic 17 End Syrian conflict; pull out U.S. troops: Strongly Favors topic 17 Our Saudi allies give US-made weapons to Al Qaeda in Yemen: Favors topic 17 Withdraw US support for Saudi-led war in Yemen: Strongly Favors topic 17 1990s Iraq invasion laid groundwork for more wars in region: Strongly Favors topic 17 Protect Iranian nuke deal; without it, Iran is unlimited: Strongly Favors topic 17 Why would anyone trust US if we abrogated Iran nuke treaty?: Strongly Favors topic 17 1990: Tried to stop Bush's driving Saddam out of Kuwait: Strongly Favors topic 17 Iraq War: worst foreign policy blunder in modern history: Strongly Favors topic 17 Economic sanctions could have driven Saddam out of Kuwait: Strongly Favors topic 17 End perpetual warfare in the quagmire of the Middle East: Strongly Favors topic 17 Keep U.S. troops on the ground in Afghanistan: Opposes topic 17 Syria is a quagmire within a quagmire; don't get involved: Strongly Favors topic 17 Begrudgingly supports NATO, but no eastward expansion: Favors topic 17 Iraq war destabilized Mideast; stay out of Mideast quagmire: Strongly Favors topic 17 Iran nuke deal is victory for diplomacy over saber-rattling: Strongly Favors topic 17 1983 war against Nicaragua was illegal and immoral: Favors topic 17 1990: Opposed authorizing all-out war in Kuwait with Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17 Move forward with Iran with relations the long-term goal: Favors topic 17 Easy to overthrow a dictator but hard to control aftermath: Opposes topic 17 Rid our planet of this barbarous organization called ISIS: Opposes topic 17 Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar should take charge in Syria: Favors topic 17 We have to negotiate with others, even Iran: Favors topic 17 Iraq war led to ISIS creation, as I predicted would happen: Strongly Favors topic 17 Invasion of Iraq led to ISIS; Hillary voted to invade: Strongly Favors topic 17 Form Muslim-led coalition to defeat ISIS: Favors topic 17 Stop ISIS, but only with an international & Arab coalition: Opposes topic 17 Middle Eastern countries must contribute to fight ISIS: Favors topic 17 I voted against 1st Gulf War, which led to 2nd Gulf War: Strongly Favors topic 17 Voted for Afghan War, to capture Osama bin Laden: Opposes topic 17 Focus on domestic needs instead of international conflict: Strongly Favors topic 17 Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine: Strongly Favors topic 17 CC:Keep alliance with Israel: Opposes topic 17 No military force against Iran without Congress approval: Strongly Favors topic 17 Require Congress' approval before military action in Iran: Favors topic 17 NO on authorizing military force in Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17 NO on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date: Strongly Favors topic 17 YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008: Strongly Favors topic 17 YES on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months: Favors topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Would reinstate LED lightbulb rule, encourage use: Strongly Favors topic 18 Ain't nobody in Congress more pro-worker than I am: Strongly Favors topic 18 Keep US in Paris Climate Agreement & increase targets: Strongly Favors topic 18 No more debate on climate change; it's here & costs $100Bs: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rising oceans creating world's first "climate refugees": Strongly Favors topic 18 Pushed energy efficiency block grants: Strongly Favors topic 18 I oppose fracking; anyone who says it is safe is wrong: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Climate change will lead to international security crises: Strongly Favors topic 18 Climate change partly causes rise of terrorist groups: Favors topic 18 Climate change is a moral issue: tax on carbon: Strongly Favors topic 18 Opposed Keystone Pipeline from day one: Strongly Favors topic 18 Combat climate skeptics with overwhelming evidence: Strongly Favors topic 18 Keystone pipeline transports the dirtiest fossil fuel: Favors topic 18 Charge companies for carbon emissions; then fund renewables: Strongly Favors topic 18 Transform to sustainable system & away from fossil fuels: Strongly Favors topic 18 Weatherize millions of homes and buildings: Strongly Favors topic 18 Climate change lays groundwork for mass migration: Favors topic 18 Gas tax increases are regressive: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Need to be fervent if we care about our children: Strongly Favors topic 18 Not enough to beat Trump; must beat fossil fuel industry: Strongly Favors topic 18 End fossil fuel; move toward wind and solar: Strongly Favors topic 18 Co-sponsor of Green New Deal: Strongly Favors topic 18 We have 12 years to transform to sustainable energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Climate change is issue for entire international community: Strongly Favors topic 18 Cut carbon 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050: Strongly Favors topic 18 Job training for transition to green energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Massive and sustained investment in sustainable energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Tax carbon, methane, and other greenhouse gases: Strongly Favors topic 18 Perfect score on "350 Action's 2020 Climate Test": Strongly Favors topic 18 End fracking in the US: Strongly Favors topic 18 Preserve Alaska's ANWR instead of drilling it: Favors topic 18 Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence: Favors topic 18 Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: Strongly Favors topic 18 Green New Deal: 10-year national mobilization: Favors topic 18 Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness: Favors topic 18 Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18 Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on authorizing construction of new oil refineries: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: 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 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
Strongly Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+5 points on Social scale)	Opioid manufacturers profited & knew their products killed: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Remove cocaine sentencing disparities: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Marijuana Justice Act: decriminalize pot & expunge records: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Co-sponsored federal legalization of marijuana: Strongly Favors topic 19 Why is marijuana treated legally equal to heroin?: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Racist & failed war on drugs targets people of color: Strongly Opposes topic 19 We must end the "War on drugs": Opposes topic 19 Opioid treatment instead of locking them up: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Pharmaceutical companies are responsible for opioid epidemic: Opposes topic 19 Take marijuana out of the controlled substances list: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Treat addiction as a disease, not a crime: Strongly Opposes topic 19 War on drugs is a failed policy; treatment over punishment: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Decriminalize marijuana and study recreational legalization: Opposes topic 19 Whites & blacks smoke pot equally, but blacks go to jail: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Legalize medical marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Exclude industrial hemp from definition of marijuana: Opposes topic 19 Exempt industrial hemp from marijuana laws: Opposes topic 19 Rated A+ by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Immunity for banks offering services to marijuana businesses: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Criminalize imports of opioid precursors: Favors topic 19 NO on subjecting federal employees to random drug tests: Strongly Opposes topic 19 NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-5 points on Economic scale)	Defend farmers & consumers from corporate middlemen: Strongly Favors topic 20 1976: Relocating businesses must pay; for public ownership: Strongly Favors topic 20 Restructure debt so Puerto Rico can rebuild: Strongly Favors topic 20 Puerto Rico nearly bankrupt after Great Recession: Strongly Favors topic 20 Obama rebuilt jobs; but middle class is disappearing: Strongly Favors topic 20 Economic justice: Address root causes of economic inequality: Strongly Favors topic 20 Break up the Wall Street giants; they can't be reformed: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Break up big agriculture corporations: Strongly Favors topic 20 If a bank is too big to fail, it is too big to exist: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Wrong to give company exclusive rights to drug treatment: Strongly Favors topic 20 Capital gains & dividend tax cuts are giveaways to the rich: Favors topic 20 Raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour: Strongly Favors topic 20 Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business: Favors topic 20 Rated 86% by UFCW, indicating an anti-management/pro-labor record: Favors topic 20 Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2016: Favors topic 20 CC:No Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment: Favors topic 20 YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: 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

Bernie Sanders is a Hard-Core Liberal
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