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 unrestricted right (+2 points on Social scale)	2006: I'm pro-life; 2014: That was for Republicans: Opposes topic 1 Favors embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 1995: Opposed mandatory 24-hour waiting period for abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1 I'm pro-life, but stay out of other people's lives: Favors topic 1 Vetoed bill requiring ultrasound exams before abortions: Favors topic 1 Tea Party is too extreme on outlawing abortion: Opposes topic 1 Defend parental notification rights: Opposes topic 1 Prohibit partial-birth abortion: Opposes topic 1 Abortion is a personal decision; but ban partial-birth: Favors topic 1 Supports both federal abortion funding & judicial activism: Strongly Favors topic 1 Opposes prohibiting human embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Supports public funding for abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	I left GOP because they bash Obama's race: Strongly Favors topic 2 Civil rights is an American value that all should embrace: Strongly Favors topic 2 Diversity is one of our strengths in America: Strongly Favors topic 2 Lifetime member of NAACP: Favors topic 2 Provide compensation to victims of racial discrimination: Strongly Favors topic 2 Discontinue affirmative action programs: Strongly Opposes topic 2
Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+2 points on Social scale)	2006: Came out for civil unions; denied rumors he was gay: Strongly Favors topic 3 2010: Backed gay marriage ban; 2014: supports gay marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3 I support marriage equality in Florida: Strongly Favors topic 3 Military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy has worked: Opposes topic 3 Uphold Florida’s Defense of Marriage Act: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Opposes banning homosexuals in the military: Strongly Favors topic 3 Supports sexual preference as a protected minority status: Strongly Favors topic 3
Strongly Favors topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (-5 points on Social scale)	Constitutional amendment for school prayer: Strongly Favors topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	2007 & 2010: opposed ObamaCare; now supports fixing it: Favors topic 5 AdWatch: unwavering support of ObamaCare: Strongly Favors topic 5 Cover Florida: 6,000 uninsured given peace of mind: Strongly Favors topic 5 Cover Florida: $150 a month plan for 3.8 million uninsured: Strongly Favors topic 5 Expand tax-free medical savings accounts: Opposes topic 5 Opposes repealing mandated health insurance: Strongly Favors topic 5
Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-3 points on Economic scale)	Reducing COLA is unfair to seniors living on fixed income: Opposes topic 6 Focus on waste & fraud, not retirement age & COLA: Favors topic 6 Invest budget surplus into Trust Fund: Opposes topic 6 Don't raise eligibility age; don't tax benefits: Opposes topic 6
Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+2 points on Economic scale)	Supports charter schools and standardized testing: Favors topic 7 Some public school teachers should earn $100,000: Strongly Opposes topic 7 National testing mostly favors for-profit testing firms: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Vetoed merit-based pay for teachers: Opposes topic 7 School choice gives kids the best chance for success: Favors topic 7 As Commissioner of Educ., implemented school accountability: Favors topic 7 Propose $3.8 billion to reduce class size: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Early advocate for parental choice in education: Strongly Favors topic 7 Allow vouchers for any public, private or religious school: Strongly Favors topic 7 Supports vouchers to let parents choose public or private school: Strongly Favors topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+5 points on Social scale)	1992: Elected to State Senate on pro-environment message: Opposes topic 8 Asked BP to pay $65M for tourism promotion, after oil spill: Opposes topic 8 Appropriate $100 million to continue to restore Everglades: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Strongly Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-5 points on Social scale)	"Chain Gang Charlie": reinstitute prisoner labor on highways: Favors topic 9 1993: Sponsored STOP law: Stop Turning Out Prisoners: Strongly Favors topic 9 Chain-Gang Charlie: reinstitute prison chain gangs: Strongly Favors topic 9 Stop Turning Out Prisoners: serve at least 85% of sentence: Strongly Favors topic 9 Toughened penalties for identity theft and Internet spam: Favors topic 9 Supports 10-20-Life and Stop Turning Out Prisoners program: Strongly Favors topic 9 Require that prisoners serve at least 85% of their sentences: Strongly Favors topic 9 Broaden use of federal death penalty: Favors topic 9 More federal prisons; more “truth in sentencing”: Strongly Favors topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Strongly supports Second Amendment rights: Strongly Favors topic 10 Repeal gun restrictions; allow concealed carry: Strongly Favors topic 10 Opposes restrictions on the right to bear arms: Strongly Favors topic 10 Rated A- by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record: Strongly Favors topic 10 Opposes restrictions on right to bear arms: Strongly Favors topic 10
No opinion on topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (0 points on Economic scale)	Humble roots led to values of lower taxes & less government: Opposes topic 11 Replace income tax with a flat tax or national sales tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Supports increasing income tax rates: Strongly Favors topic 11 $12B in federal economic stimulus as state block grants: Favors topic 11
Opposes topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (-3 points on Social scale)	No amnesty, but an earned path to citizenship: Favors topic 12 Seal borders; enforce laws; send illegals to back of line: Opposes topic 12 Close the door of illegal immigration; protect our borders: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Strongly Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-5 points on Economic scale)	Opposes NAFTA; supports tariffs; opposes Fast Track: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-3 points on Economic scale)	Lift the Cuban embargo; it has failed for 50 years: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Find a way to work with our international allies: Strongly Opposes topic 14 2008: I don't believe in torture: Opposes topic 14 Two-state solution despite Israeli settlements on West Bank: Favors topic 14
Strongly Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-5 points on Social scale)	Supports strong national defense: Strongly Favors topic 15
Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+2 points on Social scale)	Supports term limits & instant contribution reporting: Favors topic 16
No opinion on topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	I'm not a scientists, but I can use my brain & talk to one: Strongly Favors topic 18 Reduce climate change by doing things we should do anyway: Strongly Favors topic 18 BP oil spill made me oppose offshore oil drilling: Favors topic 18 Instituted state cap-and-trade by Executive Order: Strongly Favors topic 18 Open to cap-and-trade plan for carbon emissions: Favors topic 18 $200M package for solar, wind, & biofuel from citrus: Favors topic 18 Propose almost $70 million on alternative energy development: Favors topic 18 Supports renewable energy tax credits: Strongly Favors topic 18
Strongly Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-5 points on Social scale)	More penalties against drugs; more funds for enforcement: Strongly Favors topic 19
Opposes topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+2 points on Economic scale)	Supports economic stimulus and some parts of ObamaCare: Strongly Favors topic 20 $8B stimulus funds saved or created 87,000 jobs in Florida: Strongly Favors topic 20 Reduce the tax brackets to let private enterprise flourish: Strongly Opposes topic 20 2006: Pledged no taxes; 2009: $2.2B in fees on 16M people: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Best to extend all tax cuts; but compromise and push later: Opposes topic 20