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)
Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's right (+2 points on Social scale)	Support embryonic stem cell research but not cloning: Favors topic 1 Support a ban on partial-birth abortion: Opposes topic 1 Continue promising stem-cell research: Favors topic 1 Provide emergency contraception at military facilities: Favors topic 1 Ensure access to and funding for 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 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: Require hiring more women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2 Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2
No opinion on topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 8: Death Penalty (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (0 points on Social scale)	Increase sentences for repeat violent criminals: Favors topic 9 Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program: Opposes topic 9 Permanent crime database for volunteers with kids: Favors topic 9 YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9
No opinion on topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (0 points on Economic scale)	YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership: Favors topic 10 NO on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains: Opposes topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (-5 points on Economic scale)	Opposes annual limit on federal Medicare spending: Strongly Favors topic 5 Expand Medicare for people, not for drug companies: Strongly Favors topic 5 Negotiate for lower Rx prices and reimportation: Favors topic 5 Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn: Strongly Favors topic 5 Disclose payments from manufacturers to physicians: Favors topic 5 NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5 YES on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Opposes 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
Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-3 points on Economic scale)	Diverting revenue to private accounts eliminates guarantee: Strongly Opposes topic 6 YES on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Favors topic 6
Opposes topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (-3 points on Economic scale)	Expand pre-school and Head Start: Opposes topic 7 Scholarships to fill science & math slots in public schools: Opposes topic 7 Education dollars wasted on bureaucracy: Favors topic 7
Favors topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (-3 points on Economic scale)	Energy independence by 2020 via alternative fuels: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning: Favors topic 18 NO on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Opposes 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 YES on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade: Opposes topic 18 YES on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax: Opposes topic 18 NO on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Opposes topic 18
Favors topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (-3 points on Social scale)	National leader in the war on meth: Favors topic 19 Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use: 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 Favors topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (-5 points on Economic scale)	Estate tax repeal takes care of millionaires: Strongly Favors topic 11 Restore College Tuition Tax Credit as middle class tax break: Favors topic 11 NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: 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
Opposes topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (-3 points on Social scale)	Building a border fence is a first step: Opposes topic 12 No amnesty for illegal immigrants; no guest workers: Strongly Opposes 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 YES on declaring English as the official language of the US government: Strongly Opposes topic 12 NO on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-3 points on Economic scale)	Supports fair trade which avoids shipping jobs overseas: Opposes topic 13 NO on promoting free trade with Peru: Opposes topic 13
Favors topic 15: Expand the armed forces (-3 points on Social scale)	Economic sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program: Strongly Favors topic 15 Talk to North Korea to renounce nuclear program: 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 limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Opposes topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (-5 points on Economic scale)	Ban lobbyist gifts to root out corruption: Strongly Favors topic 16 Repeal automatic Congressional pay raises: Favors topic 16
Favors topic 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (+2 points on Social scale)	Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror: Favors topic 14 YES on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls: Strongly Favors topic 14 YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Strongly Favors topic 17: US out of Iraq (+5 points on Social scale)	US should create respect abroad, not just fear: Strongly Favors topic 17 Define a plan for success in Iraq with a clear exit strategy: Favors topic 17 No troop surge: no military escalation in Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17 YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008: Strongly Favors topic 17 NO on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months: Opposes topic 17