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 right (+5 points on Social scale)	Supported 35-foot buffer zone at abortion clinics: Favors topic 1 Decisions on abortion should be made by women: Strongly Favors topic 1 Support for stem cell research: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Former civil rights prosecutor under President Clinton: Favors topic 2 Crafted “mend it, don’t end it” for affirmative action: Strongly Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (+5 points on Social scale)	Supports equal marriage rights for gays: Strongly Favors topic 3
Neutral on topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Death Penalty (+5 points on Social scale)	Opposes death penalty: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (+2 points on Social scale)	Reform mandatory sentencing law: longer time for 3rd felony: Favors topic 9 Comprehensive reentry program with job training & education: Opposes topic 9 Supports criminal rehabilitation and alternative sentencing: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	Strengthen existing gun laws; require background checks: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Focus on guns & gang violence, not immigration status: Opposes topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (-5 points on Economic scale)	Supports employer uninsured healthcare assessment, plus more: Strongly Favors topic 5 Supports Health Access and Affordability Act: Strongly Favors topic 5 Finance catastrophic health coverage: Favors topic 5 Negotiate bulk drug purchases under governor’s authority: Favors topic 5 Focus on prevention and wellness programs: Favors topic 5 Adopt national health reform legislation before the end of the year: Strongly Favors topic 5 3.2% funding increase for National Institutes of Health: Strongly Favors topic 5
Neutral on topic 6: Privatize Social Security (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Opposes topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (-3 points on Economic scale)	Veto moratorium, but cap charters until funding is reformed: Opposes topic 7 Supports unionized Horace Mann charter over regular charters: Opposes topic 7 Cap charter schools until funding formulas improved: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Supports charter schools: Favors topic 7
Strongly Favors topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (-5 points on Economic scale)	Develop solar power projects to generate 250 MW by 2017: Strongly Favors topic 18 Make Massachusetts a global center for alternative energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Cut Energy costs and develop renewable energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Support renewable energy like Cape Wind: Strongly Favors topic 18 Tax credits for energy efficient cars: Favors topic 18 Convert state fleet to hybrids and fuel-efficient cars: Favors topic 18 Invest in public transportation & smart growth: Strongly Favors topic 18
Strongly Opposes topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (+5 points on Social scale)	Warehousing non-violent offenders is a costly policy failure: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Opposes topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (-3 points on Economic scale)	Increase funding for employment and job training programs: Opposes topic 20
Favors topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (-3 points on Economic scale)	Tax rollback is shell game, shifting burden to property tax: Strongly Favors topic 11 Cut the property tax, not the income tax: Strongly Favors topic 11 Allow cities to raise local meals tax-trust local officials: Opposes topic 11 $12B in federal economic stimulus as state block grants: Favors topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (+5 points on Social scale)	In-state tuition ok for illegals; focus on employers: Strongly Favors topic 12 Drivers licenses for illegals, for security and safety: Favors topic 12 Supports in-state tuition rates for illegal immigrants: Strongly Favors topic 12
Neutral on topic 13: Support & expand free trade (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Neutral on topic 15: Expand the armed forces (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (-5 points on Economic scale)	Limit campaign donations: Strongly Favors topic 16
Neutral on topic 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Neutral on topic 17: US out of Iraq & Afghanistan (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)