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)	Fix Hobby Lobby: it's not about religious freedom: Favors topic 1 Vigorously defend women's access to affordable birth control: Strongly Favors topic 1 OpEd: In mainstream of NJ, supporting abortion rights: Favors topic 1 No restrictions before viability; exceptions after viability: Favors topic 1 Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1 Access safe, legal abortion without restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 1 Keep federal funding for family planning clinics: Strongly Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Creative civil rights activism revealed rampant injustice: Strongly Favors topic 2 Blacks more likely to be suspended in school & jailed later: Strongly Favors topic 2 Raised in only black family in segregated neighborhood: Favors topic 2 Post-WWII policy of redlining forced racially-biased housing: Strongly Favors topic 2 Government procurement should promote women-owned business: Strongly Favors topic 2 Gender wage gap problematic; minority wage gap worse: Strongly Favors topic 2 First African-American senator from New Jersey: Favors topic 2 Fund minority businesses with KIVA microloans: Favors topic 2 Prisoner re-entry is the new front line of civil rights: Favors topic 2 Supports Women, Minority and Small Business Assistance: Strongly Favors topic 2 Until college, tolerated gays but was disgusted personally: Opposes topic 2 Growing up gay today is like growing up Black decades ago: Strongly Favors topic 2 Enforce against wage discrimination based on gender: Strongly Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Officiated same-sex marriage at first moment legally allowed: Strongly Favors topic 3 Supports gay marriage: We are all equal under the law: Strongly Favors topic 3 African-Americans & gays should both be equal under the law: Strongly Favors topic 3 Equal marriage rights for same-sex couples are coming: Strongly Favors topic 3 Let states recognize same sex marriage: Favors topic 3
Strongly Opposes topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (+5 points on Social scale)	Even those with no religion are entitled to rights: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Resided in housing project after law school, to help tenants: Opposes topic 4 Show your religion in how you treat other people: Opposes topic 4 Led effort for religious freedom via no religious registry: Strongly Opposes topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	Ok to consider single-payer, but I'm not behind it: Opposes topic 5 Repealing ObamaCare hurts working-class: Strongly Favors topic 5 Repealing ObamaCare with no replacement just hurts Americans: Favors topic 5 ObamaCare is a vital step in the right direction: Strongly Favors topic 5 ObamaCare needs to be improved, but is helping people now: Strongly Favors topic 5 Control healthcare cost; no comment on single-payer: Favors topic 5 We need a national solution and also local solutions: Favors topic 5 Newark Rx: affordable medications for uninsured Newarkers: Strongly Favors topic 5
Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-3 points on Economic scale)	COLA adjustments needed for retirement plans: Opposes topic 6 Opposes raising the retirement age for several decades: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Don't raise retirement age, except maybe for young workers: Favors topic 6 Opposes raising retirement age; expand entitlements: Opposes topic 6
Strongly Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+5 points on Economic scale)	Urban school districts are beholden to public worker union: Favors topic 7 Star fundraiser for Democrats for Education Reform: Favors topic 7 Pre-school for 3-year-olds; more teacher empowerment: Favors topic 7 Fundamental right to high quality public education: Strongly Favors topic 7 Supports "Race to the Top" education reform: Favors topic 7 Supports school voucher proposal, like other Democrats: Strongly Favors topic 7 Brother runs a charter school in inner-city Memphis: Favors topic 7 Supports school vouchers: Strongly Favors topic 7 Charters & alternatives for persistently failing schools: Favors topic 7 Vouchers and charters can work in inner cities: Favors topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+5 points on Social scale)	Rated 100% on all animal welfare ratings: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Parks and green spaces are associated with safer communities: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Vegetarian since 1992; vegan since 2014: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Passaic River poisoned because it was cheaper for business: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Dumping pollutants into rivers externalizes costs: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Trees reduce erosion & increase property values: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Green space; green housing; green jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Businesses realize a return on our infrastructure investment: Opposes topic 8 Vegetarian because of environmental impact of eating meat: Strongly Opposes topic 8 GreenSpaces: public-private partnership for city parks: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Save our environment while creating jobs and wealth: Opposes topic 8 Require labeling genetically engineered food: Opposes topic 8 Endorsed Endorsed by LCV; supports conservation efforts: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+2 points on Social scale)	1960s cities had mostly white cops & mostly black majority: Opposes topic 9 Anti-recidivism funds much scanter than prison funds: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Police doesn't solve problem; they just attend to symptoms: Favors topic 9 Reduced crime by helping prisoners coming home: Opposes topic 9 Theory of "broken windows" doesn't drive down crime: Strongly Favors topic 9 Poor & minorities bear the brunt of policing practices: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Mass incarceration has failed: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Prison construction draws resources from other priorities: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Prisons grow irrespective of crime rates: Opposes topic 9 Incarceration isn't working; focus on preventing recidivism: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Increase the number of police in all neighborhoods: Strongly Favors topic 9 Ran off armed assailant: "Not in our city anymore!": Favors topic 9 Got celebrities to donate cash for police equipment: Favors topic 9 Long-term believer in "broken windows" theory: Favors topic 9 Launch Fatherhood Center and pro-bono legal help for ex-cons: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Applied "broken windows theory" in Newark policing: Favors topic 9 ReLeSe: Pro bono legal services to ex-offenders: Opposes topic 9 Rated 9% by the NAPO, indicating a police-the-police stance: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	Prohibit firearms to suspected terrorists: Strongly Opposes topic 10 $1,000 reward for tip on illegal weapons: Opposes topic 10 Common sense gun reform on day one: Strongly Opposes topic 10 More background checks & gun trace data: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Criminal gun runners shouldn't have Second Amendment rights: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Insane to carry concealed loaded weapons cross-state: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Coalition "Mayors Against Illegal Guns"; Keep state laws: Strongly Opposes topic 10 $1,000 reward for crime tips leading to gun recovery: Favors topic 10
Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+2 points on Economic scale)	Lower corporate tax rate & close loopholes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Replace spending with tax incentives to stimulate hiring: Opposes topic 11 Raise taxes because quick fix of cuts wasn't enough: Favors topic 11 One-time building sale, plus tax increase, to balance budget: Favors topic 11 Budget crisis: cut $60M in spending; cut municipal taxes: Opposes topic 11 Assist beneficiaries with earned income tax credit: Favors topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+5 points on Social scale)	Welcome Syrian refugees and fight any bans: Strongly Favors topic 12 Blocking the DREAM Act is crazy; it's how we built America: Strongly Favors topic 12 Against involving city police in immigration matters: Strongly Favors topic 12 Against involving city police in immigration matters: Favors topic 12 Provide lawyers and evidence for children being deported: Favors topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-3 points on Economic scale)	No fast-track for Trans-Pacific Partnership: Strongly Opposes topic 13 African trade makes stable countries & good for our security: Strongly Favors topic 13 China cheats via currency manipulation & IP theft: Strongly Opposes topic 13 China is engaging in unfair trade practices: Opposes topic 13 Declare Turkish rebar subject to anti-dumping duties: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Fight Chinese predatory trade practices on car tires: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Rated Voted FOR reauthorizing Ex-Im Bank: Strongly Favors topic 13 $25B more loans from Export-Import Bank: Strongly Favors topic 13
Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-3 points on Economic scale)	Fund the life-saving work done by diplomats: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Trump would denigrate relationships with Muslim countries: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Where Israel's security is at stake, so is America's: Favors topic 14 Development funds via international organizations for Africa: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Robust diplomacy and international development: Strongly Opposes topic 14 No head in the sand; but no global police: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Disallow Palestine from joining ICC to threaten Israel: Favors topic 14 Two-state solution despite Israeli settlements on West Bank: Favors topic 14 Enforce humanitarian aid access to South Sudan: Opposes topic 14
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	Form National Guard Cyber Protection Team: Favors topic 15 Maintain the strongest military force in the world: Strongly Favors topic 15 Irresponsible to spend on irrelevant weapon systems: Opposes topic 15 Technology empowers individuals but creates diverse threats: Favors topic 15 Incentives to train & hire troops returning home: Opposes topic 15 Exempt Veterans Affairs from federal hiring freeze: Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Even billionaires need transparency in confirmation hearings: Favors topic 16 Declined lavish perks as Newark City Councilor: Favors topic 16 Founding principle: make laws open to public debate: Favors topic 16 Threat to voting rights in America remains very real: Strongly Favors topic 16 Campaign PAC money shouldn't speak louder than people: Strongly Favors topic 16 Make it harder for wealthy to influence politicians: Strongly Favors topic 16 Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements: Favors topic 16 Automatic voter registration for all citizens: Strongly Favors topic 16
Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-3 points on Social scale)	All options on the table with Iran, including military: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Direct military intervention in Syria only as last resort: Favors topic 17 We're spending billions on a war based on unjust pretenses: Strongly Favors topic 17 Iran must accept long-term intrusive nuke inspection: Opposes topic 17 Hold Assad accountable for slaughter of civilians: Opposes topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Support existing nuclear power by pricing carbon: Neutral on topic 18 Climate change requires American leadership: Strongly Favors topic 18 Ice-melt is literally creating climate refugees: Favors topic 18 Rejoin Greenhouse Gas Initiative under Clean Power Plan: Favors topic 18 Treat carbon pollution like mercury and particle pollution: Strongly Favors topic 18 Sustainability programs: slow growth of carbon footprint: Favors topic 18 Eliminate unfair subsidies for oil and ga: Strongly Favors topic 18 Has never taken a public position on a carbon tax: Neutral on topic 18 Create green economy with lower carbon output: Strongly Favors topic 18 Federal collaboration for advanced nuclear technologies: Opposes topic 18 50% clean and carbon free electricity by 2030: Strongly Favors topic 18
Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+2 points on Social scale)	Give addicts treatment instead of long sentences: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Drug war isn't waged in privileged communities: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Staged sit-in at urban housing to disrupt drug trade: Strongly Favors topic 19 Minorities imprisoned for drugs at 6 times rate for whites: Opposes topic 19 End mandatory sentencing for nonviolent drug offenders: Strongly Opposes topic 19 The war on drugs has failed; support medical marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Never attracted to drink and drugs, even as teenager: Favors topic 19 Community courts for minor crimes like drug possession: Opposes topic 19 Rated B+ by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Keep ObamaCare's prevention, treatment, & recovery services: Opposes topic 19
Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-3 points on Economic scale)	We can't afford to ignore aging infrastructure anymore: Favors topic 20 SOAR Act: $25M for Startup Opportunity Accelerator: Strongly Favors topic 20 We will not be able to cut our way out of the jobs crisis: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Raise taxes because quick fix of cuts wasn't enough: Favors topic 20 One-time building sale, plus tax increase, to balance budget: Favors topic 20 Performance-based budgeting with no tax increases: Opposes topic 20 Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2016: Favors topic 20