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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)	No 20-week ban on abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1 Supports Stem Cell Research: Favors topic 1 Pledges to focus on preventing abortions, not on attacking: 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 CC:Oppose strict Constitutionalist judges: Favors topic 1 CC:Publicly fund abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1 CC:No parental notification for abortions by minors: Favors topic 1 Rated Born-Alive Survivors bill tries to illegalize abortion: Favors topic 1 Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1 Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency 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: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Endorsed as "preferred" by The Feminist Majority indicating pro-women's rights: Strongly Favors topic 2 More funding & services for victims of domestic violence: Strongly Favors topic 2 Enforce against wage discrimination based on gender: Strongly Favors topic 2 Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2 YES on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act: Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	All couples should have same rights as heterosexual couples: Strongly Favors topic 3 Opposes gay marriage; but not worth amending Constitution: Favors topic 3 Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays: Favors topic 3 Let states recognize same sex marriage: Favors topic 3
No opinion on topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (0 points on Social scale)	No safe haven for neo-Nazi white nationalists: Favors topic 4 Opposes flag-burning; but not worth amending Constitution: Opposes topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	ObamaCare not perfect, but has helped: Favors topic 5 Protect people with pre-existing medical conditions: Strongly Favors topic 5 Negotiate for lower prescription drug prices: Strongly Favors topic 5 Extend enrollment period for new Medicare: Favors topic 5 Merge Alzheimers diagnosis and care benefit: Favors topic 5 Keep healthcare mandate, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 5 Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn: Strongly Favors topic 5 Expand the National Health Service Corps: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Favors topic 5 NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: Favors 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
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	Opposes any plan to privatize: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Privatization would end in massive debt or deep cuts: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Opposes privatization: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Rated 93% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance: Strongly Opposes topic 6 NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Opposes topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-5 points on Economic scale)	Privatizing public schools feeds destruction of democracy: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Public education is the backbone of our democracy: Opposes topic 7
Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+2 points on Social scale)	Sought removal of wolves from the endangered list: Favors topic 8 Global warming is much more rapid now than historically: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Clean air & water are Montana’s treasured resources: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Keep open access to public lands: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements: Opposes topic 8 Require labeling genetically engineered food: Opposes topic 8 Regulatory relief for smaller banks stimulates growth: Favors topic 8 Rated Keep restrictive rules for predator control in Alaska: Strongly Opposes topic 8 YES on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems: Opposes topic 8 YES on prohibiting eminent domain for use as parks or grazing land: Favors topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+2 points on Social scale)	First step: reduce recidivism & mass incarceration: Opposes topic 9 Rated 73% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues: Neutral on topic 9 YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9
Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+2 points on Economic scale)	Supports background checks & banning bump stocks: Strongly Opposes topic 10 AdWatch: Check if gun buyers are on terrorist watch-list: Opposes topic 10 Strongly believes in our Second Amendment rights: Favors topic 10 National cross-state standard for concealed carry: Strongly Favors topic 10 Sponsored veterans registering unlicensed guns from abroad: Favors topic 10 Restrict right to bear arms, according to CC survey: Opposes topic 10 Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC: Strongly Favors topic 10 NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership: Favors topic 10 YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains: Favors topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Trump tax cuts were a disastrous handout for jet-owners: Strongly Opposes topic 11 GOP tax plan saddles future generations with more debt: Strongly Favors topic 11 Extend Bush exemption for inheritance tax up to $10M: Opposes topic 11 Focus tax cuts on the middle class, not the rich: Strongly Favors topic 11 Bush’s tax cuts are irresponsible: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated Reducing tax rates balloons federal deficit & cuts programs: Favors topic 11 CC:Reverse federal income tax cuts: Favors topic 11 CC:Keep the inhertiance tax: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M: 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: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (-3 points on Social scale)	Bipartisan reform with earned path to citizenship: Favors topic 12 FactCheck: Opposes sanctuary cities, but don't punish them: Opposes topic 12 Touts bipartisanship; voted against DREAM Act: Opposes topic 12 Secure borders and no amnesty for law breakers: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Opposes more border security, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 12 Terminate national emergency at the Southern border: Favors 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
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	Tariffs on China harm our industries & drive up costs: Strongly Favors topic 13 Recent trade agreements put our jobs & farms in jeopardy: Opposes topic 13 Federal farm subsidies are a necessary evil: Opposes topic 13 Insist on access to post-mad-cow Japanese beef markets: Favors topic 13 Rated Voted FOR reauthorizing Ex-Im Bank: Strongly Favors topic 13 Implement USMCA for improved North American trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 25% by the USAE, indicating support for trade sanctions: Opposes topic 13 NO on promoting free trade with Peru: Opposes topic 13
Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-3 points on Economic scale)	Disallow Palestine from joining ICC to threaten Israel: Favors topic 14 Two-state solution despite Israeli settlements on West Bank: Favors topic 14 Allow travel between the United States and Cuba: Opposes topic 14 YES on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls: Opposes topic 14 NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 14
No opinion on topic 15: Expand the military (0 points on Social scale)	Build forces to fight terror cells; not take away our rights: Favors topic 15 Non-proliferation includes disposing of nuclear materials: Opposes topic 15 $515B for military plus $89B off sequester for wars: Favors topic 15 YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Opposes topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Introduced bill to ensure Native American voting access: Strongly Favors topic 16 Citizens United is scary for democracy: Strongly Favors topic 16 Oppose Citizens United: limit corporate political spending: Strongly Favors topic 16 Citizens United ruling puts democracy at risk: Favors topic 16 Citizens United puts democracy at risk: Strongly Favors topic 16 K-Street cronies control Congressional spending decisions: Favors topic 16 End policymaking for those with the biggest campaign checks: Favors topic 16 End the “pay-to-play” culture of Washington: Favors topic 16 Ban lobbyist gifts, and more, starting with my own campaign: Strongly Favors topic 16 Require Internet disclosure of all earmarks: Favors topic 16 Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements: Strongly Favors topic 16 Public financing of federal campaigns by voter vouchers: Strongly Favors topic 16 Sponsored bill for election holiday & easier voting access: Strongly Favors topic 16 Military spouses don't lose voting residency while abroad: Favors topic 16 Repeal automatic Congressional pay raises: Favors topic 16
Favors topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (+2 points on Social scale)	Iran nuclear treaty is only option: Favors topic 17 Critical of President Bush on Iraq war: Favors topic 17 It’s time for a clear exit strategy from Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Iran must accept long-term intrusive nuke inspection: Opposes topic 17 CC:Keep alliance with Israel: Opposes topic 17 No military force against Iran without Congress approval: 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
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Lead the world in clean technology: Strongly Favors topic 18 Kyoto Accord needs worldwide communication & US leadership: Strongly Favors topic 18 Long-term tax credits for wind power development: Strongly Favors topic 18 4-point plan for getting over America’s oil addiction: Strongly Favors topic 18 Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: Strongly Favors topic 18 Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning: Favors topic 18 YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Favors 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 YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Favors topic 18
Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+2 points on Social scale)	Supports medical and recreational marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Medical marijuana ok; full legalization later: Opposes topic 19 Tough penalties for manufacturing & selling drugs: Favors topic 19 Rated B+ by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-5 points on Economic scale)	2008 stimulus was necessary; invest more in infrastructure: Strongly Favors topic 20 $787B in stimulus spending was step in the right direction: Strongly Favors topic 20 Montana suffered from Burns’ cuts in discretionary funding: Strongly Favors topic 20 Minimum wage increase is long overdue: Strongly Favors topic 20 Rated 71% by UFCW, indicating a mixed management/labor voting record: Neutral on topic 20 CC:No Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment: Favors topic 20 Voted YES on $900 billion COVID relief package: Favors topic 20 NO on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: Strongly Opposes topic 20 YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package: Strongly Favors topic 20 YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending: Strongly Favors topic 20

Jon Tester is a Populist-Leaning Liberal
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