John Kerry on SenateMatch

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 right (+5 points on Social scale)	No undoing Constitutional rights, including right of choice: Strongly Favors topic 1 Life begins at conception, but we can't legislate that: Opposes topic 1 Kerry staunchly resists restrictions on abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1 Partial-birth abortion ban undermine women's right to choose: Strongly Favors topic 1 No criminalization of a woman's right to choose: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record: Strongly Favors topic 1 Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women: Favors topic 1 Sponsored bill for emergency contraception for rape victims: Favors topic 1 Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors topic 1 Provide emergency contraception at military facilities: Favors topic 1 Protect the reproductive rights of women: Strongly 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 NO on banning partial birth abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions: Favors topic 1 NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime: Favors topic 1 YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives: Favors topic 1 NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions: 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
Strongly Favors topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Questions the ultimate practicality of affirmative action: Opposes topic 2 Supports affirmative action now and into the future: Strongly Favors topic 2 Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all: Neutral on topic 2 Add 10% for HUBZone businesses in federal awards: Favors topic 2 Increase subsidies for women-owned non-profit business: Strongly Favors topic 2 Sponsored bill for a Rosa Parks commemorative postage stamp: Favors topic 2 Rated 100% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2 Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2 Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2 Reinforce anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements: Favors topic 2 NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on prohibiting same-sex basic training: Favors topic 2 YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women: Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (+5 points on Social scale)	Personally believes marriage is between a man & a woman: Opposes topic 3 Defense of Marriage Act is fundamentally ugly: Strongly Favors topic 3 Opposes Massachusetts DOMA since there's a federal DOMA: Opposes topic 3 For partnership rights and civil union: Strongly Favors topic 3 More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 Increase funding to combat the global HIV/AIDS epidemic: Strongly Favors topic 3 Rated 100% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3 Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees: Strongly Favors topic 3 NO on prohibiting same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3 YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation: Strongly Favors topic 3 YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation: Favors topic 3 YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3
Strongly Opposes topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (+5 points on Social scale)	Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Rated 100% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer: Opposes topic 4 NO on $75M for abstinence education: Strongly Opposes topic 4 YES on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors: Opposes topic 4 NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Opposes topic 4
Opposes topic 8: Death Penalty (+2 points on Social scale)	Opposes death penalty except for post 9-11 terrorists: Favors topic 8 States should not engage in killing-too many mistakes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Moratorium on federal executions-only exception is terrorism: Opposes topic 8 A state doesn't honor life by sanctioning killing: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Require DNA testing for all federal executions: Opposes topic 8 NO on rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals: Opposes topic 8 NO on limiting death penalty appeals: Opposes topic 8
Strongly Opposes topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (+5 points on Social scale)	Rated 63% by CURE, indicating mixed votes on rehabilitation: Neutral on topic 9 Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program: Opposes topic 9 Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance: Strongly Opposes topic 9 NO on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms: Strongly Opposes topic 9 NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes topic 9 YES on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program: Opposes topic 9 YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	Gun owner & hunter, but rights come with responsibility: Favors topic 10 Democratic Party shouldn't be for the NRA: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Supports assault weapons ban & Brady Bill: Opposes topic 10 Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology: Opposes topic 10 Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 10 NO on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks: Strongly Opposes topic 10 NO on loosening license & background checks at gun shows: Opposes topic 10 YES on background checks at gun shows: Strongly Opposes topic 10 NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence: Strongly Opposes topic 10 NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Opposes topic 10 YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership: Favors topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (-5 points on Economic scale)	Find common ground to cover 11 million uninsured children: Strongly Favors topic 5 Fight for affordable health care for all children: Strongly Favors topic 5 Health care is not a privilege but a right for all: Favors topic 5 Lack of accessible health care is a disgrace: Favors topic 5 It is morally wrong to leave so many Americans uninsured: Favors topic 5 Start providing health insurance for every child in America: Strongly Favors topic 5 Catastrophic health coverage for all costs over $50,000: Favors topic 5 Cut $350B of bureaucracy and cover 90% of Americans: Favors topic 5 Cover more citizens with health plan like Congress gets: Strongly Favors topic 5 Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care: Favors topic 5 Invest funds to alleviate the nursing shortage: Favors topic 5 Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations: Opposes topic 5 Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors topic 5 Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn: 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 YES on blocking medical savings acounts: Favors topic 5 YES on Medicare means-testing: Opposes topic 5 NO on limiting self-employment health deduction: Favors topic 5 YES on including prescription drugs under Medicare: Favors topic 5 NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit: Favors topic 5 YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics: Favors topic 5 YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Favors topic 5 YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D: Favors topic 5 NO on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000: 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
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	Personal retirement accounts are an invitation to disaster: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Will not privatize Social Security nor cut benefits: Opposes topic 6 I will never privatize, extend retirement age, nor cut SS: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Don't threaten Social Security on Wall Street trading block: Opposes topic 6 Create Retirement Savings Accounts: Favors topic 6 Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 6 NO on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes: Opposes topic 6 NO on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees: Opposes topic 6 NO on allowing personal retirement accounts: Opposes topic 6 NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Opposes topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (-5 points on Economic scale)	Vouchers drain resources from public schools: Opposes topic 7 Stop viewing charter schools as threatening innovation: Favors topic 7 Nothing good about vouchers can't be done in public schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice: Opposes topic 7 Rated 100% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on school vouchers in DC: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on education savings accounts: Opposes topic 7 NO on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on Educational Savings Accounts: Opposes topic 7 YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors: Opposes topic 7 YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors: Opposes topic 7 YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Opposes topic 7
Strongly Favors topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (-5 points on Economic scale)	20% renewable energy by 2020: Strongly Favors topic 18 Invent our way out of oil dependency-don't drill our way out: Favors topic 18 Invest in advancing secure forms of energy instead of oil: Strongly Favors topic 18 Led effort to try to raise fuel efficiency standards: Strongly Favors topic 18 Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 Reduce liability for hazardous waste cleanup: Opposes topic 18 Include pickup trucks in CAFE; include hybrids in HOV lanes: Favors topic 18 Keep climate change in EPA "State of the Environment" report: Favors topic 18 Rated 53% by the LCV, indicating a mixed record on environment: Neutral on topic 18 Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence: Favors topic 18 Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: Strongly Favors topic 18 Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness: Favors topic 18 Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18 Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on do not require ethanol in gasoline: Favors topic 18 YES on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests: Favors topic 18 NO on defunding renewable and solar energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards: Opposes topic 18 NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling: Favors topic 18 NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill: Favors topic 18 YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%): Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: 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
Opposes topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (+2 points on Social scale)	End harsher sentencing for crack vs. powder cocaine: Opposes topic 19 Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use: Favors topic 19 NO on spending international development funds on drug control: Strongly Opposes topic 19 NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes topic 19 NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses: Opposes topic 19
Favors topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (+2 points on Economic scale)	We need to do more to link good work with faith: Favors topic 20 Persecuted Catholics rely on church-state separation: Opposes topic 20 Finish welfare reform by moving able recipients into jobs: Favors topic 20 YES on welfare overhaul: Favors topic 20 NO on allowing state welfare waivers: Opposes topic 20 YES on eliminating block grants for food stamps: Opposes topic 20 YES on welfare block grants: Favors topic 20
Strongly Favors topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (-5 points on Economic scale)	Offer tax cuts that will help the middle class families: Favors topic 11 More tax cuts for people who make less than $200,000: Favors topic 11 Base policy on broad growth and progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11 GOP tax policy comforts the comfortable: Favors topic 11 Bush tax cuts reach 32 million in middle class: Strongly Opposes topic 11 No excuse for special tax cuts for the rich: Strongly Favors topic 11 We're tired of being trickled on--Middle class tax cuts now: Strongly Favors topic 11 Trade a tax cut for the huge cuts in student loans: Strongly Favors topic 11 They're not Bush tax cuts, they're Democrat tax cuts: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Rated 14% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation: Strongly 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 YES on Internet sales tax moratorium: Opposes topic 11 NO on requiring super-majority for raising taxes: Favors topic 11 NO on eliminating the 'marriage penalty': Favors topic 11 NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts: Favors topic 11 YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates: Favors topic 11 YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction: Favors topic 11 NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut: Favors topic 11 NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts: Strongly 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
Strongly Favors topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (+5 points on Social scale)	Temporary workers ok, and earned amnesty ok: Strongly Favors topic 12 Restore immigrant benefits lost in 1996 welfare reform: Strongly Favors topic 12 Earned legalization for undocumented immigrants: Favors topic 12 Amnesty to anyone here over 5 or 6 years: Strongly Favors topic 12 Comprehensive immigration reform without amnesty: Strongly Favors topic 12 Cover child resident aliens under Medicaid and SCHIP: Favors topic 12 Rated 0% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Favors topic 12 NO on limit welfare for immigrants: Strongly Favors topic 12 NO on visas for skilled workers: Opposes topic 12 NO on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work: Opposes topic 12 YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on establishing a Guest Worker program: Favors topic 12 NO on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Favors topic 12 NO on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program: Neutral topic 12 NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Favors topic 12
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	Trade grows jobs: Strongly Favors topic 13 Veto FTAA and CAFTA until they have stronger standards: Opposes topic 13 Build a rule-based global trading system: Favors topic 13 Rated 33% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues: Neutral on topic 13 YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority: Favors topic 13 YES on permanent normal trade relations with China: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on expanding trade to the third world: Favors topic 13 YES on removing common goods from national security export rules: Favors topic 13 YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam: Favors topic 13 YES on extending free trade to Andean nations: Strongly Favors topic 13 NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13 YES on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on promoting free trade with Peru: Favors topic 13
Opposes topic 15: Expand the armed forces (+2 points on Social scale)	Increase military by 40,000 troops-but no draft: Favors topic 15 Bring allies to share our burden in fighting terrorism: Opposes topic 15 Voted against a $87 billion supplemental that hurts veterans: Opposes topic 15 Zell: Kerry voted against weapons needed for War on Terror: Strongly Opposes topic 15 $87B for Iraq only when internationalization is addressed: Favors topic 15 Rated 20% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record: Strongly Favors topic 15 Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11: Favors topic 15 NO on 1996 Defense Appropriations: Opposes topic 15 NO on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty: Opposes topic 15 NO on favoring 36 vetoed military projects: Strongly Opposes topic 15 YES on allowing another round of military base closures: Opposes topic 15 YES on military pay raise of 4.8%: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP: Strongly 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)	Prohibit 'voter caging' which intimidates minority voting: Favors topic 16 YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance: Favors topic 16 YES on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations: Favors topic 16 YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads: Favors topic 16 YES on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Favors topic 16 NO on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Favors topic 16
Strongly Favors topic 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (+5 points on Social scale)	Shutting one's eyes and ears to the truth is not patriotism: Favors topic 14 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 NO on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision: Strongly Favors topic 14 YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act: Opposes topic 14 YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Favors topic 14 YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods: Strongly Favors topic 14
Strongly Favors topic 17: US out of Iraq (+5 points on Social scale)	We stood up to Bush's aimless and failed course in Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17 Regrets nothing more that his 2002 vote for Iraq War: Strongly Favors topic 17 Preemptive strike must pass a global test: Strongly Favors topic 17 America should lead by extending a hand, not a fist: Strongly Favors topic 17 Get US more deeply involved in Arab-Israeli peace process: Strongly Favors topic 17 War in Iraq was founded & perpetuated on lies, like Vietnam: Strongly Favors topic 17 Supports multilateral cooperative internationalism: Strongly Favors topic 17 Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence: Favors topic 17 Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine: Strongly Favors topic 17 More foreign languages courses and exchange students: Favors topic 17 YES on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007: Strongly Favors topic 17 YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008: Strongly Favors topic 17 YES on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months: Favors topic 17