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)	Lift ban on stem cell research to cure devastating diseases: Favors topic 1 Respect Roe v. Wade, but make adoptions easier too: Favors topic 1 Alternatives to pro-choice like forced pregnancy in Romania: Strongly Favors topic 1 Must safeguard constitutional rights, including choice: Favors topic 1 Remain vigilant on a woman’s right to chose: Favors topic 1 Keep abortion safe, legal and rare: Favors topic 1 Being pro-choice is not being pro-abortion: Favors topic 1 Supports parental notice & family planning: Opposes topic 1 No abortion for sex selection in China: Opposes topic 1 Voted liberal line on partial birth & harm to fetus: Favors topic 1 Endorsed Recommended by EMILY's List of pro-choice women: Favors topic 1 Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record: Strongly Favors topic 1 Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women: Favors topic 1 Sponsored bill for emergency contraception for rape victims: 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 Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1 Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception: 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 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
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	We’ve come a long way on race, but we have a long way to go: Strongly Favors topic 2 Apologize for slavery, but concentrate on civil rights now: Favors topic 2 Human rights are women’s rights: Neutral on topic 2 Women’s rights are human rights: Favors topic 2 OpEd: "18 million cracks" meant "lingering sexism": Strongly Favors topic 2 Equal pay is not yet equal: Strongly Favors topic 2 1988: Instituted gender diversity Report Card within ABA: Strongly Opposes topic 2 Argued with Bill Clinton about diluting affirmative action: Strongly Favors topic 2 Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all: Neutral on topic 2 Sponsored bill maintaining role of women in armed forces: Favors topic 2 Rated 96% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2 Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2 Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2 Reinforce anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements: Favors topic 2 Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2 Sponsored bill enforcing against gender pay discrimination: Strongly Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Increase America’s commitment against Global AIDS: Favors topic 3 I support gay marriage personally and as law: Strongly Favors topic 3 Let states decide gay marriage; they’re ahead of feds: Favors topic 3 2004:defended traditional marriage; 2006:voted for same-sex: Strongly Favors topic 3 Federal Marriage Amendment would be terrible step backwards: Favors topic 3 Gays deserve domestic partnership benefits: Strongly Favors topic 3 Military service based on conduct, not sexual orientation: Favors topic 3 More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 Rated 89% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3 Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees: Strongly 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
No opinion on topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (0 points on Social scale)	Partner with faith based community in empowerment zones: Strongly Favors topic 4 Tap into churches to avoid more Louima & Diallo cases: Favors topic 4 Community involvement helps, but only in short term: Favors topic 4 Link payments to good parenting behavior: Opposes topic 4 Allow student prayer, but no religious instruction: Opposes topic 4 Character education: teach empathy & self-discipline: Favors topic 4 Change what kids see in the media: Favors topic 4 Co-sponsored bill to criminalize flag-burning: Favors topic 4 Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Rated 100% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Opposes topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	Outcry if AIDS were leading disease of young whites: Favors topic 5 Lower costs and improve quality and cover everybody: Strongly Favors topic 5 Supply more medical needs of families, & insure all children: Strongly Favors topic 5 Medicare should be strengthened today: Favors topic 5 Smaller steps to progress on health care: Favors topic 5 Guaranteed benefits & focus on prevention: Neutral on topic 5 2006: If I can't do universal coverage, why run?: Strongly Favors topic 5 Universal health care will not work if it is voluntary: Strongly Favors topic 5 Universal health care coverage by the end of my second term: Strongly Favors topic 5 We need a uniquely American solution to health care: Favors topic 5 Health care initiatives are her first priority in Senate: Strongly Favors topic 5 Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care: Favors topic 5 Invest funds to alleviate the nursing shortage: Favors topic 5 Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations: Opposes topic 5 Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors topic 5 Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Favors topic 5 NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit: Favors topic 5 NO on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit: Opposes 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 NO on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000: Opposes topic 5 YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D: Favors topic 5 YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare: Favors topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	1997: Hillary warned against privatizing Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Soc.Sec. one of greatest inventions in American democracy: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Social Security protects families, not just retirees: Strongly Opposes topic 6 All should join the debate now to preserve future solvency: Opposes topic 6 Create Retirement Savings Accounts: Favors topic 6 Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record: Strongly 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)	Fully fund special education & 21st century classrooms: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Supports public school choice; but not private nor parochial: Opposes topic 7 Vouchers drain money from public schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Fight with Gore for public schools; no voucher “gimmicks”: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Charter schools provide choice within public system: Opposes topic 7 Vouchers siphon off much-needed resources: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Parents can choose, but support public schools: Opposes topic 7 Supports public school choice and charter schools: Favors topic 7 Solemn vow never to abandon our public schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice: Opposes topic 7 Rated 82% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7 YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors: Opposes topic 7 YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors: Opposes topic 7 YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Opposes topic 7
No opinion on topic 8: Human needs over animal rights (0 points on Social scale)	$5B for green-collar jobs in economic stimulus package: Favors topic 8 Voted against and consistently opposed to Yucca Mountain: Strongly Favors topic 8 Better track kids’ products for exposures to toxic materials: Strongly Favors topic 8 Scored 100% on Humane Society Scorecard on animal protection: Strongly Favors topic 8 Remove PCBs from Hudson River by dredging 200 miles: Opposes topic 8 Rated 89% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 EPA must do better on mercury clean-up: Opposes topic 8 Grants for beach water pollution under Clean Water Act: Opposes topic 8 Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+2 points on Social scale)	Longtime advocate of death penalty, with restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 9 Address the unacceptable increase in incarceration: Opposes topic 9 Mandatory sentences have been too widely used: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Give kids after-school activities to prevent gangs: Opposes topic 9 Spend more time with kids to prevent violence: Opposes topic 9 Supports citizen patrols & 3-Strikes-You’re-Out: Favors topic 9 Supports “Three Strikes” and more prison: Strongly Favors topic 9 End hate crimes and other intolerance: Favors 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 YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	Against illegal guns, crack down on illegal gun dealers: Opposes topic 10 Get assault weapons & guns off the street: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Background check system could prevent Virginia Tech massacre: Opposes topic 10 Congress’ failure at Littleton response inspired Senate run: Opposes topic 10 Limit access to weapons; look for early warning signs: Opposes topic 10 License and register all handgun sales: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Gun control protects our children: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Don’t water down sensible gun control legislation: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Lock up guns; store ammo separately: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Get weapons off the streets; zero tolerance for weapons: Opposes topic 10 Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology: Opposes topic 10 NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence: Strongly Opposes topic 10 NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Rescind tax cuts for those making more than $250,000 a year: Strongly Favors topic 11 End Bush tax cuts;take things away from rich for common good: Strongly Favors topic 11 Pay down debt & cut taxes within balanced budget: Favors topic 11 GOP tax plan would hurt New York’s students: Favors topic 11 Rated 21% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated 80% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation: 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 YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates: Favors topic 11 YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction: Favors 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 YES on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut: Favors topic 11 YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts: Strongly 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)	Introduce a path to earn citizenship in the first 100 days: Strongly Favors topic 12 Consider halting certain raids on illegal immigrant families: Favors topic 12 Deporting all illegal immigrants is unrealistic: Strongly Favors topic 12 Illegal immigrants with driver’s licenses puts them at risk: Opposes topic 12 Oppose granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants: Opposes topic 12 More border patrolling on both Mexican AND Canadian borders: Opposes topic 12 Anti-immigrant bill would have criminalized Jesus Christ: Strongly Favors topic 12 Sanctuary cities ok; local police can’t enforce immigration: Favors topic 12 Comprehensive reform to get 12 million out of shadows: Strongly Favors topic 12 Sponsored bill covering child resident aliens under Medicaid: Favors topic 12 Sponsored bill funding social services for noncitizens: Favors topic 12 Rated 8% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Favors 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 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 YES on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Favors topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-3 points on Economic scale)	Smart, pro-American trade: NAFTA has hurt workers: Strongly Opposes topic 13 No fast-track authority for this president: Opposes topic 13 Defended outsourcing of US jobs to India: Favors topic 13 1980s: Loved Wal-Mart's "Buy America" program: Opposes topic 13 Globalization should not substitute for humanization: Opposes topic 13 Supports MFN for China, despite concerns over human rights: Strongly Favors topic 13 Build a rule-based global trading system: Favors topic 13 Rated 17% by CATO, indicating a pro-fair trade voting record: Strongly 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 NO on extending free trade to Andean nations: Strongly Opposes 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 YES on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Favors topic 13
Opposes topic 14: Maintain US sovereignty from UN (-3 points on Social scale)	US support & no-fly zone, but UN troops on ground in Darfur: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Support UN reform because US benefits: Opposes topic 14 2002 Iraq speech criticized both Saddam and U.N.: Opposes topic 14 Urged President to veto UN condemnation of Israel: Favors topic 14 Engage in world affairs, including human rights: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Keep Cuban embargo; pay UN bills: Opposes topic 14 2002: Attacking Iraq "not a good option" but authorized it: Favors topic 14 Voted against Levin Amendment: it gave UN veto over US: Favors topic 14 Dems believe in fighting terror with cooperation: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror: Opposes topic 14 YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods: Strongly Opposes topic 14 NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 14
No opinion on topic 15: Expand the military (0 points on Social scale)	There is no safe haven for the terrorists: Favors topic 15 Our troops are stretched; so increase size of military: Favors 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 Improve mental health care benefits for returning veterans: 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
Strongly Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (-5 points on Economic scale)	Stand for public financing and getting money out of politics: Strongly Favors topic 16 Presidents should reveal donations to their foundations: Strongly Favors topic 16 Move to public election financing, not banning lobbyists: Strongly Favors topic 16 Verified paper ballot for every electronic voting machines: Favors topic 16 Called for ban on all soft money in 2000 campaign: Favors topic 16 Prohibit 'voter caging' which intimidates minority voting: 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 NO on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Opposes topic 16 NO on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Favors topic 16
Favors topic 17: Stay out of Iran (+2 points on Social scale)	Smartest strategic choice is peace: Favors topic 17 Extend peace treaties to Palestinians, Syrians & Lebanese: Favors topic 17 Foreign aid spending is only 1%; lead by remaining engaged: Strongly Favors topic 17 Up to the Iraqis to decide the future they will have: Favors topic 17 Demand Bush to explain to Congress on his plan on Iraq: Favors topic 17 Deauthorize Iraq war, and don’t grant new war authority: Strongly Favors topic 17 Phased redeployment out of Iraq, beginning immediately: Strongly Favors topic 17 Withdraw troops within 60 days after taking office: Strongly Favors topic 17 Voted for Iraq war based on available info; now would not: Favors topic 17 Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence: Favors topic 17 No troop surge: no military escalation in Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17 Require Congress' approval before military action in Iran: Favors 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 YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008: Strongly Favors topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Remove energy dependence on countries who would harm us: Strongly Favors topic 18 Stands for clean air and funding the EPA: Favors topic 18 Reduce air pollution to improve children’s health: Favors topic 18 Ratify Kyoto; more mass transit: Strongly Favors topic 18 Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases: 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 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence: 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 Gas tax holiday for the summer: Opposes 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
Opposes topic 19: Never legalize marijuana (+2 points on Social scale)	Divert non-violent drug offenders away from prison: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Address drug problem with treatment and special drug courts: Strongly Opposes topic 19 End harsher sentencing for crack vs. powder cocaine: Opposes topic 19 Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use: Favors topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+5 points on Economic scale)	Rescind tax cuts for those making more than $250,000 a year: Favors topic 20 Wealthy should go back to paying pre-Bush tax rates: Favors topic 20 Want to restore the tax rates we had in the ‘90s: Favors topic 20 Help people facing foreclosure; don’t just bail-out banks: Strongly Favors topic 20 Minimum wage increases haven’t kept up with Congress’ wages: Strongly Favors topic 20 Co-sponsored bills totaling $502B in spending thru 2005: Strongly Favors topic 20 End Bush tax cuts;take things away from rich for common good: Favors topic 20 Social issues matter; wrong time for tax cuts: Strongly Favors topic 20 Use tax dollars to upgrade infrastructure, not for stadium: Strongly Favors topic 20 America can afford to raise the minimum wage: Strongly Favors topic 20 Just Say No to GOP tax plan: Strongly Favors topic 20 YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 20