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 Opposes topic 1: Abortion is a woman's right (-5 points on Social scale)	I'm pro-life with exceptions; take it or leave it: Opposes topic 1 Life is precious and should be protected: Strongly Opposes topic 1 "Default pro-choice" until hearing 13-week fetal heartbeat: Opposes topic 1 Pro-life; the life of every human being is precious: Strongly Opposes topic 1
Favors topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (-3 points on Economic scale)	Vetoed closure of Developmental Disabilities Centers: Favors topic 2
Favors topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (+2 points on Social scale)	Pursue civil unions in NJ, but not same-sex marriage: Favors topic 3 Homosexuals are born that way; they're not sinners: Strongly Favors topic 3 Marriage exclusively between one man and one woman: Strongly Opposes topic 3
Opposes topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (+2 points on Social scale)	Catholicism informs who I am; but not my political decisions: Opposes topic 4
No opinion on topic 8: Death Penalty (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (-5 points on Social scale)	Bail reform package: jail violent offenders before trial: Strongly Favors topic 9 Disallow charging sexual assault victims for forensic exams: Favors topic 9 Stand against child pornography and human trafficking: Favors topic 9
No opinion on topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (-3 points on Economic scale)	$159M for community health centers for the most vulnerable: Favors topic 5 3.2% funding increase for National Institutes of Health: Strongly Favors topic 5 Loosen "one-size-fits-all" approach to Medicaid: Opposes topic 5
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+2 points on Economic scale)	Raise the retirement age, and limit COLA, for state workers: Favors topic 6
Favors topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (+2 points on Economic scale)	Expand 73 charter schools to replace 200 failing schools: Favors topic 7 Public education system is failing; increase accountability: Favors topic 7 Children attend parochial school: Favors topic 7
Strongly Favors topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (-5 points on Economic scale)	Jersey shore for tourism instead of offshore drilling: Favors topic 18 $100 supplement for seniors' home cooling assistance: Favors topic 18 The future for New Jersey is in green energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Incentivize energy manufacturing & wind turbines: Strongly Favors topic 18 Make NJ a magnet for renewable energy manufacturer: Strongly Favors topic 18
Favors topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (-3 points on Social scale)	Drug treatment rather than non-violent offenders in prison: Opposes topic 19 Outlaw designer drugs labeled as "bath salts": Strongly Favors 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)
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (+5 points on Economic scale)	We can and we must lower taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NJ has highest state tax burden & it's getting worse: Strongly Opposes topic 11
No opinion on topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 13: Support & expand free trade (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 15: Expand the armed forces (-5 points on Social scale)	Strengthen support network for military families: Favors topic 15 Fund Veteran to Veteran Peer Support Program: Strongly Favors topic 15 We ARE the leader in Libya; we MUST be the world's police: Favors topic 15
Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (-3 points on Economic scale)	Allow just one public salary for state legislators: Favors topic 16 More control over state commissions: 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)
Opposes topic 17: US out of Iraq & Afghanistan (-3 points on Social scale)	I'm not a nation-building guy; we've achieved Afghan goals: Favors topic 17 Don't pull troops out of Afghanistan until military says so: Strongly Opposes topic 17