Key Votes

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Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.

For more information about the legislative process, see here.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
March 13, 2012 KS Goodman Amdt Eliminates Sales Tax on Food Amendment Adopted - House (76 - 44)
March 9, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37)
March 7, 2012 FL HB 859 School Voucher Program Bill Passed - House (92 - 24)
March 5, 2012 ID HCR 40 2 Percent Pay Raise for State Employees Resolution Passed - House (54 - 14)
March 5, 2012 AZ HCR 2043 Amends Requirements for Ballot Measures for Future Tax Increases Resolution Passed - House (32 - 26)
March 5, 2012 AZ HB 2800 Prohibits State Funding for Abortion Providers Bill Passed - House (41 - 17)
March 1, 2012 SD HB 1228 Tax Credits for Alternative Energy Projects Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 16)
March 1, 2012 ID H 563 Reduces Income Tax Rates Bill Passed - House (49 - 20)
March 1, 2012 AZ HB 2815 Establishes Tax Credits for Certain Businesses Bill Passed - House (39 - 18)
Feb. 29, 2012 SD HB 1206 Repeals the South Dakota Sales Tax on Food Refund Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 6)
Feb. 29, 2012 AK HB 118 Research and Development Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (23 - 12)
Feb. 17, 2012 National HR 3630 Extends Payroll Tax Cut Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 132)
Feb. 15, 2012 CO HB 1301 Authorizes Legislative Appropriations Bill Passed - House (34 - 28)
Feb. 15, 2012 FL HB 7087 Increases Certain Business Tax Credits and Sales Tax Exemptions Bill Passed - House (92 - 22)
Feb. 14, 2012 IA HF 2274 Commercial and Industrial Property Tax Exemption Bill Passed - House (59 - 40)
Feb. 14, 2012 AL HB 160 Authorizes Companies to Retain Employee Income Tax Deductions Bill Passed - House (69 - 19)
Feb. 13, 2012 MS HCR 33 Amends the State Budget Process Bill Passed - House (72 - 48)
Feb. 9, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (79 - 38)
Feb. 8, 2012 National HR 3521 Authorizes the President to Line-Item Veto Certain Legislation Bill Passed - House (254 - 173)
Feb. 8, 2012 GA HR 1162 Authorizes the State to Approve Charter Schools Amendment Rejected - House (110 - 62)
Feb. 6, 2012 UT HB 210 Restricts the Use of Severance Tax Revenue Bill Failed - House (36 - 39)
Feb. 3, 2012 National HR 3578 Amends Budget Baseline Bill Passed - House (235 - 177)
Feb. 2, 2012 CA SB 95 Increase State's Ability to Borrow Bill Passed - House (54 - 17)
Jan. 19, 2012 MO HJR 43 Limits State Spending Amendment Adopted - House (105 - 54)
Jan. 18, 2012 NH CACR 13 Prohibits New Personal Income Taxes Resolution Passed - House (257 - 101)
Jan. 18, 2012 National H J Res 98 Disapproval of President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Joint Resolution Passed - House (239 - 176)
Jan. 18, 2012 KY HB 30 Authorizes Advertising on School Buses Bill Passed - House (67 - 29)
Jan. 18, 2012 NH CACR 13 Prohibits New Personal Income Taxes Resolution Passed - House (257 - 101)
Dec. 20, 2011 National HR 3630 Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (229 - 193)
Dec. 13, 2011 National HR 3630 Reduces Payroll Taxes and Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
Dec. 12, 2011 IL SB 397 Tax Code Amendments Bill Passed - House (81 - 28)
Dec. 12, 2011 IL SB 400 Amends State Income Tax Bill Passed - House (67 - 49)
Dec. 7, 2011 National HR 10 Congressional Approval of Regulations Bill Passed - House (241 - 184)
Nov. 30, 2011 NH CACR 14 Constitutional Amendment Authorizing the Legislature to Set Standards for Public Education Amendment Rejected - House (114 - 264)
Nov. 29, 2011 IL HB 1883 Property Tax Amendments Concurrence Vote Failed - House (8 - 99)
Nov. 29, 2011 NC HB 645 Temporary Fuel Tax Cap Bill Passed - House (94 - 23)
Nov. 18, 2011 National H J Res 2 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Joint Resolution Failed - House (261 - 165)
Nov. 14, 2011 PA HB 1503 Angel Investment Tax Credits Bill Passed - House (151 - 44)
Oct. 27, 2011 National HR 2576 Requires Inclusion of Social Security Benefits in Calculation of Modified Adjusted Gross Income Bill Passed - House (262 - 157)
Oct. 26, 2011 CT SB 1401 Establishes the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program Bill Passed - House (101 - 41)
Oct. 6, 2011 MO SB 8 Tax Credit Amendments Bill Passed - House (98 - 48)
Oct. 4, 2011 National HR 2608 Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (352 - 66)
Sept. 23, 2011 National HR 2608 Stopgap Spending and Disaster Relief Concurrence Vote Passed - House (219 - 203)
Sept. 23, 2011 MO SB 7 Incentives for Science-Based Businesses Bill Passed - House (94 - 48)
Sept. 23, 2011 National H Amdt 800 Requires the EPA to Consider Costs and Feasibility of Air Quality Standards Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 192)
Sept. 23, 2011 MO HA 1 to SB 7 Prohibits Public Funding for Certain Life Science Research Projects Amendment Rejected - House (68 - 74)
Sept. 21, 2011 National HR 2608 Stopgap Spending and Disaster Relief Concurrence Vote Failed - House (195 - 230)
Sept. 14, 2011 National H J Res 77 Disapproval of the President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Joint Resolution Passed - House (232 - 186)
Sept. 9, 2011 MO HB 6 Appropriations for Missouri Disaster Relief Bill Passed - House (127 - 22)
Sept. 8, 2011 CA ABX1 40 State Tax Code Restructuring Bill Passed - House (54 - 15)
Aug. 24, 2011 MI SB 348 1 Percent Tax on Paid Health Insurance Claims Bill Passed - House (65 - 42)
Aug. 1, 2011 National S 365 Budget Control Act of 2011 Bill Passed - House (269 - 161)
July 29, 2011 National S 627 Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Boehner Bill) Bill Passed - House (218 - 210)
July 22, 2011 National HR 2551 2011-2012 Congressional Budget Bill Passed - House (252 - 159)
July 19, 2011 MN SF 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (76 - 50)
July 19, 2011 National HR 2560 Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011 Bill Passed - House (234 - 190)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 25 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 26 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 56)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 20 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 4 Higher Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
June 30, 2011 PA SB 330 Amending The Taxpayer Relief Act Bill Passed - House (109 - 86)
June 29, 2011 OH HB 153 2011-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 40)
June 29, 2011 PA HB 1485 2011-2012 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (109 - 92)
June 29, 2011 NJ S 4000 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - House (46 - 32)
June 23, 2011 LA SB 259 Establishes a Commission to Repeal Income Taxes Motion Rejected - House (46 - 32)
June 23, 2011 LA SB 259 Establishes a Commission to Repeal Income Taxes Motion Rejected - House (46 - 32)
June 16, 2011 LA HB 591 Permanent Cigarette Tax Veto Override Failed - House (58 - 44)
June 15, 2011 NC HB 200 2011-2013 Budget Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 46)
June 14, 2011 WI AB 40 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
June 10, 2011 TX SB 1 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - House (83 - 62)
June 8, 2011 CT SB 1152 Funding for Construction at the University of Connecticut Health Center Bill Passed - House (97 - 45)
June 8, 2011 IA HF 697 State Budget for 2011-2012 Bill Passed - House (54 - 38)
June 7, 2011 OR SB 99 Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (48 - 12)
June 5, 2011 NV AB 580 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (36 - 6)
June 1, 2011 CA AB 131 In-State College Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (50 - 27)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/13 Goodman Amdt Eliminates Sales Tax on Food Amendment Adopted - House (76 - 44)
3/09 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37)
3/07 HB 859 School Voucher Program Bill Passed - House (92 - 24)
3/05 HCR 40 2 Percent Pay Raise for State Employees Resolution Passed - House (54 - 14)
3/05 HCR 2043 Amends Requirements for Ballot Measures for Future Tax Increases Resolution Passed - House (32 - 26)
3/05 HB 2800 Prohibits State Funding for Abortion Providers Bill Passed - House (41 - 17)
3/01 HB 1228 Tax Credits for Alternative Energy Projects Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 16)
3/01 H 563 Reduces Income Tax Rates Bill Passed - House (49 - 20)
3/01 HB 2815 Establishes Tax Credits for Certain Businesses Bill Passed - House (39 - 18)
2/29 HB 1206 Repeals the South Dakota Sales Tax on Food Refund Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 6)
2/29 HB 118 Research and Development Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (23 - 12)
2/17 HR 3630 Extends Payroll Tax Cut Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 132)
2/15 HB 1301 Authorizes Legislative Appropriations Bill Passed - House (34 - 28)
2/15 HB 7087 Increases Certain Business Tax Credits and Sales Tax Exemptions Bill Passed - House (92 - 22)
2/14 HF 2274 Commercial and Industrial Property Tax Exemption Bill Passed - House (59 - 40)
2/14 HB 160 Authorizes Companies to Retain Employee Income Tax Deductions Bill Passed - House (69 - 19)
2/13 HCR 33 Amends the State Budget Process Bill Passed - House (72 - 48)
2/09 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (79 - 38)
2/08 HR 3521 Authorizes the President to Line-Item Veto Certain Legislation Bill Passed - House (254 - 173)
2/08 HR 1162 Authorizes the State to Approve Charter Schools Amendment Rejected - House (110 - 62)
2/06 HB 210 Restricts the Use of Severance Tax Revenue Bill Failed - House (36 - 39)
2/03 HR 3578 Amends Budget Baseline Bill Passed - House (235 - 177)
2/02 SB 95 Increase State's Ability to Borrow Bill Passed - House (54 - 17)
1/19 HJR 43 Limits State Spending Amendment Adopted - House (105 - 54)
1/18 CACR 13 Prohibits New Personal Income Taxes Resolution Passed - House (257 - 101)
1/18 H J Res 98 Disapproval of President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Joint Resolution Passed - House (239 - 176)
1/18 HB 30 Authorizes Advertising on School Buses Bill Passed - House (67 - 29)
1/18 CACR 13 Prohibits New Personal Income Taxes Resolution Passed - House (257 - 101)
12/20 HR 3630 Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (229 - 193)
12/13 HR 3630 Reduces Payroll Taxes and Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
12/12 SB 397 Tax Code Amendments Bill Passed - House (81 - 28)
12/12 SB 400 Amends State Income Tax Bill Passed - House (67 - 49)
12/07 HR 10 Congressional Approval of Regulations Bill Passed - House (241 - 184)
11/30 CACR 14 Constitutional Amendment Authorizing the Legislature to Set Standards for Public Education Amendment Rejected - House (114 - 264)
11/29 HB 1883 Property Tax Amendments Concurrence Vote Failed - House (8 - 99)
11/29 HB 645 Temporary Fuel Tax Cap Bill Passed - House (94 - 23)
11/18 H J Res 2 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Joint Resolution Failed - House (261 - 165)
11/14 HB 1503 Angel Investment Tax Credits Bill Passed - House (151 - 44)
10/27 HR 2576 Requires Inclusion of Social Security Benefits in Calculation of Modified Adjusted Gross Income Bill Passed - House (262 - 157)
10/26 SB 1401 Establishes the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program Bill Passed - House (101 - 41)
10/06 SB 8 Tax Credit Amendments Bill Passed - House (98 - 48)
10/04 HR 2608 Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (352 - 66)
9/23 HR 2608 Stopgap Spending and Disaster Relief Concurrence Vote Passed - House (219 - 203)
9/23 SB 7 Incentives for Science-Based Businesses Bill Passed - House (94 - 48)
9/23 H Amdt 800 Requires the EPA to Consider Costs and Feasibility of Air Quality Standards Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 192)
9/23 HA 1 to SB 7 Prohibits Public Funding for Certain Life Science Research Projects Amendment Rejected - House (68 - 74)
9/21 HR 2608 Stopgap Spending and Disaster Relief Concurrence Vote Failed - House (195 - 230)
9/14 H J Res 77 Disapproval of the President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Joint Resolution Passed - House (232 - 186)
9/09 HB 6 Appropriations for Missouri Disaster Relief Bill Passed - House (127 - 22)
9/08 ABX1 40 State Tax Code Restructuring Bill Passed - House (54 - 15)
8/24 SB 348 1 Percent Tax on Paid Health Insurance Claims Bill Passed - House (65 - 42)
8/01 S 365 Budget Control Act of 2011 Bill Passed - House (269 - 161)
7/29 S 627 Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Boehner Bill) Bill Passed - House (218 - 210)
7/22 HR 2551 2011-2012 Congressional Budget Bill Passed - House (252 - 159)
7/19 SF 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (76 - 50)
7/19 HR 2560 Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011 Bill Passed - House (234 - 190)
7/19 HF 25 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
7/19 HF 26 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 56)
7/19 HF 20 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
7/19 HF 4 Higher Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
6/30 SB 330 Amending The Taxpayer Relief Act Bill Passed - House (109 - 86)
6/29 HB 153 2011-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 40)
6/29 HB 1485 2011-2012 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (109 - 92)
6/29 S 4000 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - House (46 - 32)
6/23 SB 259 Establishes a Commission to Repeal Income Taxes Motion Rejected - House (46 - 32)
6/23 SB 259 Establishes a Commission to Repeal Income Taxes Motion Rejected - House (46 - 32)
6/16 HB 591 Permanent Cigarette Tax Veto Override Failed - House (58 - 44)
6/15 HB 200 2011-2013 Budget Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 46)
6/14 AB 40 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
6/10 SB 1 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - House (83 - 62)
6/08 SB 1152 Funding for Construction at the University of Connecticut Health Center Bill Passed - House (97 - 45)
6/08 HF 697 State Budget for 2011-2012 Bill Passed - House (54 - 38)
6/07 SB 99 Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (48 - 12)
6/05 AB 580 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (36 - 6)
6/01 AB 131 In-State College Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (50 - 27)

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