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)	Rejected sympathy for Down's Syndrome son, as gift from God: Opposes topic 1 Opposes stem cell research: Opposes topic 1 Every baby is created with a future and potential: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Praised by pro-life groups for keeping Down syndrome baby: Opposes topic 1 Safe Haven bill: allow surrendering newborns without penalty: Favors topic 1 Adoption is best plan for permanency for foster care kids: Opposes topic 1 Pro-life: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Choose life, even if her own daughter were raped: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Opposes use of public funds for abortions: Opposes topic 1 Pro-contraception, pro-woman, pro-life: Opposes topic 1 Only exception for abortion is if mother's life would end: Opposes topic 1
Favors topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (-3 points on Economic scale)	Recognize Juneteenth to celebrate the end of slavery: Favors topic 2 Recognize Martin Luther King holiday: Favors topic 2 Value our cultural diversity: Favors topic 2 No special hate-crime laws; all heinous crime is hate-based: Opposes topic 2
Opposes topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (-3 points on Social scale)	Vetoed bill denying benefits to gays, as unconstitutional: Favors topic 3 HIV/AIDS among Alaska Natives is public health crisis: Favors topic 3 Comply with same-sex partner benefits despite disagreement: Opposes topic 3 Marriage only be between and man and a woman: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Special legislative session on same-sex health benefits: Opposes topic 3 Ok to deny benefits to homosexual couples: Strongly Opposes topic 3 No spousal benefits for same-sex couples: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Top priorities include preserving definition of "marriage": Strongly Opposes topic 3
Strongly Favors topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (-5 points on Social scale)	Teach creationism alongside evolution in schools: Strongly Favors topic 4 Supports teaching intelligent design in public schools: Strongly Favors topic 4 Declare a National Day of Prayer in Alaska: Strongly Favors topic 4 Committed to providing strong education, including morals: Strongly Favors topic 4 The Bible has profoundly influenced America: Favors topic 4 Recognize America's historic and founding Christian heritage: Favors topic 4 ABC method: back to basics, plus patriotism & ethics: Favors topic 4 Let parents opt out of schoolbooks they find offensive: Favors topic 4 Pledge of Allegiance with 'Under God' is good enough: Favors topic 4 Opposes explicit sex-education programs: Favors topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 8: Death Penalty (-5 points on Social scale)	If legislature passed death penalty law, I would sign it: Strongly Favors topic 8 Death penalty for adults who murder children: Strongly Favors topic 8
Strongly Favors topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (-5 points on Social scale)	Establish "FBI Day" to support fighting global crime: Favors topic 9 Register sex offenders; & investigate internet sex crimes: Favors topic 9 Victims' rights are critical to "justice for all": Favors topic 9 We are tough on crime and beefing up law enforcement: Favors topic 9 Collect DNA samples from felons: Strongly Favors topic 9 Maximum sentence for first-degree murder by police: Favors topic 9 Strong public safety presence, via police, courts & prisons: Strongly Favors topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Hunts as much as she can; freezer-full of wild game: Strongly Favors topic 10 Supports ending D.C.'s 32-year-old ban on handguns: Strongly Favors topic 10 Lifelong NRA member & champion of right to bear arms: Strongly Favors topic 10 Supports Constitutional right to bear arms: Strongly Favors topic 10
Opposes topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (+2 points on Economic scale)	Health care must be market-and business-driven: Strongly Favors topic 5 Take personal responsibility for personal health & all areas: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Doctors should manage health care, not bureaucracies: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Personal responsibility & choices key to good health: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Flexibility in government regulations to allow competition: Opposes topic 5 More affordable health care via competition: Strongly Favors topic 5
Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-3 points on Economic scale)	Fund the Seniors Longevity Bonus Program: Opposes topic 6
Strongly Favors topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (+5 points on Economic scale)	294 Alaska public schools progressed under NCLB: Favors topic 7 Supports charter schools, home schools, & other alternatives: Strongly Favors topic 7 Supports parental choice for what is best for their children: Favors topic 7 Support charters & home schools; not private school vouchers: Favors topic 7 Parents know best, about school spending & school age: Favors topic 7
Opposes topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (+2 points on Economic scale)	Produce more of our own oil & gas, for national security: Opposes topic 18 Global warming affects Alaska, but is not man-made: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Resource rebate: suspend AK 8-cent fuel tax for one year: Opposes topic 18 Commercialize Alaska's North Slope natural gas: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Agrees with Obama on more Alaska oil & gas production: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Lift moratorium on offshore drilling: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Exxon-Mobil should pay $507 million for Exxon Valdez spill: Favors topic 18 Unlock ANWR; we're ready, willing and able to contribute: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Energy relief plan: $100 per person monthly, for oil & gas: Opposes topic 18 Bush is right: drill ANWR & develop our own supplies: Strongly Opposes topic 18 $250M for proven alternative energy, including wind & hydro: Strongly Favors topic 18 Fund cellulosic biofuel research in Farm Bill: Strongly Favors topic 18 Convince the rest of the nation to open ANWR: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Stranded Gas Development Act no longer applies: Opposes topic 18 Get ANWR open: Strongly Opposes topic 18
Favors topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (-3 points on Social scale)	Highway fatalities down because of strict drunk driving laws: Favors topic 19 Maintain alcohol sale database; bar giving alcohol to minors: Favors topic 19 Opposes legalizing marijuana, but meth is greater threat: Strongly Favors topic 19 Smoked marijuana when it was legal under Alaska law: Opposes topic 19 Top priorities include gangs & drugs; they harm family life: Strongly Favors topic 19
Favors topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (+2 points on Economic scale)	Recognize Salvation Army and encourage charity to them: Favors topic 20 Faith-based materials ok in homeschooling: Favors topic 20
Opposes topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (+2 points on Economic scale)	Raising taxes hurts small business and hurts jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Elected mayor based on tax cut promise: Strongly Opposes topic 11 As mayor, cut property taxes & increased sales tax: Favors topic 11 Windfall oil profits tax prevents investment: Opposes topic 11 $60M annually for municipal revenue sharing: Opposes topic 11 Eliminate taxes that inhibit business: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Repeal "nuisance taxes" including the tire tax: Favors topic 11 Encourage small business growth by reducing business taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 No income tax; no taking the people's dividends: Opposes topic 11 Would support a seasonal sales tax, but no income tax: Favors topic 11
Opposes topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (-3 points on Social scale)	OpEd: Palin is sick to death of this immigration nonsense: Opposes topic 12 Address jointly with Canada the border security challenges: Neutral on topic 12 Immigrants want more vocational training & senior assistance: Neutral on topic 12 Took no action on Alaska's "sanctuary cities": Favors topic 12 Tightened restrictions on illegal alien's drivers licenses: Opposes topic 12
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	Trade important to Alaska, but keep Alaska residents first: Opposes topic 13 Allow wineries to ship by mail within state: Favors topic 13 Record-high exports; growth of 12.6% since last year: Favors topic 13 Firm believer in free market capitalism: Favors topic 13
Strongly Favors topic 15: Expand the armed forces (-5 points on Social scale)	Strong military and sound energy: Strongly Favors topic 15 Ask all candidates "Are you doing all you can for security?": Favors topic 15 Obligation to support our troops, even if criticizing war: Favors topic 15 Promote from within, in Alaska's National Guard: Favors topic 15 Let military personnel know how much we support them: Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (-5 points on Economic scale)	VECO scandal & Stevens indictment shows need for GOP cleanup: Favors topic 16 Comprehensive ethics reform: change politics as usual: Strongly Favors topic 16 Presented comprehensive ethics bill in early 2007: Favors topic 16 Unions should get member permission for political donations: Favors topic 16
Opposes topic 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (-3 points on Social scale)	Don't worry about reading Al-Qaeda terrorists their rights: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Gang members on probation must wear electronic monitors: Favors topic 14 Proclaim "Loyalty Day" to reaffirm loyalty to America: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Opposes topic 17: US out of Iraq (-3 points on Social scale)	We don't know what the plan is to ever end the war: Favors topic 17 Armed forces, including my son, give us security and freedom: Opposes topic 17 Wants exit plan; also assurances to keep our troops safe: Favors topic 17 We have not been attacked since 2001; so support our troops: Opposes topic 17 I support the mission of our troops in Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Our troops in Iraq keep us safe at home: Strongly Opposes topic 17 I support President Bush's efforts to stop terrorism: Strongly Opposes topic 17