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)	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: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	1985: defended community activists in Alabama voter case: Strongly Favors topic 2 1970s: Routinely stopped by police, on foot in Milton MA: Strongly Favors topic 2 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: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Today in Massachusetts, you can marry whomever you love: Strongly Favors topic 3 Today in Massachusetts, you can marry whomever you love: Strongly Favors topic 3 Supports equal marriage rights for gays: Strongly Favors topic 3
Opposes topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (+2 points on Social scale)	Increase funding for employment and job training programs: Opposes topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	ObamaCare is interconnected with debt and other problems: Favors topic 5 Pursue cost-savings ideas within new health reform mandate: Strongly Favors topic 5 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: Vouchers for school choice (-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 Expand early education opportunities: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Supports charter schools: Favors topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+5 points on Social scale)	As NAACP lawyer, freed wrongly convicted death row inmate: Opposes topic 8 Actively protect water and wetlands: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Focus on environmental justice in poor communities: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+2 points on Social scale)	Police & black people often don't understand each other: Opposes topic 9 Marathon bomber will die in prison, one way or another: Favors topic 9 Reform mandatory sentencing law: longer time for 3rd felony: Favors topic 9 Comprehensive reentry program with job training & education: Opposes topic 9 Criticized for urging DNA tests in rape cases: Opposes topic 9 Supports criminal rehabilitation and alternative sentencing: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Opposes death penalty: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	More gun safety measures to help stop tragedies: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Strengthen existing gun laws; require background checks: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Focus on guns & gang violence, not immigration status: Opposes topic 10
Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-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: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+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
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	New airports open our doors to new markets: Favors topic 13
Neutral on topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Neutral on topic 15: Expand the military (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Show up & vote, to claim a stake in government: Favors topic 16 Limit campaign donations: Strongly Favors topic 16
Strongly Favors topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (+5 points on Social scale)	Obama ended war in Iraq & is ending war in Afghanistan: Favors topic 17 Bush was careless in starting Iraq war: Strongly Favors topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-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 Letter to Congress supporting renewable energy tax credit: Strongly Favors topic 18
Strongly Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+5 points on Social scale)	Warehousing non-violent offenders is a costly policy failure: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-5 points on Economic scale)	Reduce sales tax; and raise income tax: Favors topic 20 Let municipalities raise property, meals, and lodging taxes: Favors topic 20 Focus on stimulating economic growth via local aid: Strongly Favors topic 20 Increase the minimum wage: Strongly Favors topic 20