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
Feb. 10, 2010 VA SB 601 Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 9, 2010 WA SB 6382 Extending State Employee Salary Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
Feb. 9, 2010 WA SB 6843 Suspension of Tax Increase Vote Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
Feb. 9, 2010 MN SF 2360 Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14)
Feb. 8, 2010 VA SB 239 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Feb. 4, 2010 IA SF 2062 State Worker Retirement Incentive Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 6)
Feb. 2, 2010 AZ SCR 1001 Temporary Sales Tax Increase Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
Feb. 2, 2010 AZ SB 1003 Lottery Revenue Bond Authorization and State Building Lease-Purchase Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
Feb. 1, 2010 IA SF 2088 Government Reorganization Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
Jan. 28, 2010 National PN 959 Ben S. Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 30)
Jan. 28, 2010 National H J Res 45 Increasing the Public Debt Limit and Reinstating PAYGO Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
Jan. 28, 2010 DE HB 310 Legalizing Table Games Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
Jan. 26, 2010 OH HJR 12 "Third Frontier" Program Extension Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Jan. 26, 2010 OH Schiavoni Amdt Casino Location Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (20 - 13)
Jan. 26, 2010 National S Amdt 3302 Establishing a Federal Budget Deficit Commission Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46)
Jan. 21, 2010 National S Amdt 3301 Ending the Troubled Asset Relief Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 45)
Jan. 19, 2010 IA HF 2030 School District Budget Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
Jan. 14, 2010 MA S 2247 Education Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 12)
Jan. 13, 2010 IA SF 2033 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
Jan. 12, 2010 IN SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
Jan. 12, 2010 IN SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
Jan. 6, 2010 CA SBx5 4 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Jan. 6, 2010 CA SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
Jan. 5, 2010 PA SB 711 Legalizing Table Games Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 22)
Dec. 24, 2009 National HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
Dec. 24, 2009 National HR 4314 Increasing the National Public Debt Limit Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
Dec. 23, 2009 National HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39)
Dec. 21, 2009 CT HB 7101 Delaying the Estate and Gift Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Dec. 21, 2009 CT SB 2101 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
Dec. 17, 2009 OH HB 318 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Dec. 16, 2009 PA SB 711 Legalizing Table Games Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Dec. 13, 2009 National HR 3288 2009-2010 Omnibus Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (57 - 35)
Dec. 2, 2009 NY A 40022 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 3)
Nov. 18, 2009 WV SB 4004 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2)
Nov. 4, 2009 CA SBx7 2 Water Investment Bond Measure Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Nov. 4, 2009 CA SBx7 8 Water Diversion Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 3)
Nov. 3, 2009 CA SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Nov. 2, 2009 CA SBx7 8 Water Management Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Nov. 2, 2009 CA SBx7 2 Water Investment Bond Measure Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
Oct. 29, 2009 National HR 2996 Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (72 - 28)
Oct. 27, 2009 National HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits Cloture Invoked - Senate (87 - 13)
Oct. 23, 2009 NM HB 17 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Oct. 21, 2009 NM HB 3 Fund Transfers and 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 5)
Oct. 13, 2009 MI SB 884 Tax Amnesty Period Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
Oct. 9, 2009 PA HB 1416 2009-2010 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
Oct. 9, 2009 PA HB 1614 Fiscal Code Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
Oct. 8, 2009 MI HB 4447 2009-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 13)
Oct. 8, 2009 National HR 2997 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
Oct. 6, 2009 PA HB 1531 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
Sept. 30, 2009 MI HB 4437 2009-2010 Department of Corrections Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 14)
Sept. 30, 2009 National HR 2918 Continuing Appropriations Resolution and 2009-2010 Legislative Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 38)
Sept. 29, 2009 MI SB 245 2009-2010 Executive and Legislative Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 16)
Sept. 24, 2009 CT HB 7002 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Sept. 11, 2009 CA SB 19 Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Sept. 11, 2009 CA SBx3 18 Correctional Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
Sept. 2, 2009 CA AB 1422 Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Program Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Aug. 31, 2009 CT HB 6802 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Aug. 26, 2009 PA HB 1828 Municipal Pension System Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
Aug. 20, 2009 CA ABx3 14 Correctional Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
Aug. 14, 2009 AL HB 13 Authorizes an Occupational Tax for Jefferson County Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
Aug. 12, 2009 AZ HB 2010 Budget Reconciliation (Criminal Justice) Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 8)
Aug. 12, 2009 AZ HB 2013 Budget Reconciliation (Health and Welfare) Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
Aug. 10, 2009 AK HB 199 Federal Funds Appropriations Veto Override Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
Aug. 7, 2009 NC SB 943 Expanding Production Company Tax Credit Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18)
Aug. 7, 2009 NC HB 836 Modifying Appropriations Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
Aug. 6, 2009 National HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37)
Aug. 5, 2009 NC SB 202 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 18)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 15 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Implementing Prop 1A Suspension Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 23 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 2 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Education Revisions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 26 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Shifting Redevelopment Funds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 30 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Transfer of Local Government Revenue Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 14 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
July 23, 2009 CA ABX4 1 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/10 SB 601 Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/09 SB 6382 Extending State Employee Salary Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
2/09 SB 6843 Suspension of Tax Increase Vote Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
2/09 SF 2360 Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14)
2/08 SB 239 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
2/04 SF 2062 State Worker Retirement Incentive Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 6)
2/02 SCR 1001 Temporary Sales Tax Increase Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
2/02 SB 1003 Lottery Revenue Bond Authorization and State Building Lease-Purchase Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
2/01 SF 2088 Government Reorganization Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
1/28 PN 959 Ben S. Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 30)
1/28 H J Res 45 Increasing the Public Debt Limit and Reinstating PAYGO Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
1/28 HB 310 Legalizing Table Games Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
1/26 HJR 12 "Third Frontier" Program Extension Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
1/26 Schiavoni Amdt Casino Location Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (20 - 13)
1/26 S Amdt 3302 Establishing a Federal Budget Deficit Commission Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46)
1/21 S Amdt 3301 Ending the Troubled Asset Relief Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 45)
1/19 HF 2030 School District Budget Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
1/14 S 2247 Education Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 12)
1/13 SF 2033 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
1/12 SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
1/12 SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
1/06 SBx5 4 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
1/06 SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
1/05 SB 711 Legalizing Table Games Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 22)
12/24 HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
12/24 HR 4314 Increasing the National Public Debt Limit Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
12/23 HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39)
12/21 HB 7101 Delaying the Estate and Gift Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
12/21 SB 2101 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
12/17 HB 318 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
12/16 SB 711 Legalizing Table Games Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
12/13 HR 3288 2009-2010 Omnibus Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (57 - 35)
12/02 A 40022 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 3)
11/18 SB 4004 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2)
11/04 SBx7 2 Water Investment Bond Measure Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
11/04 SBx7 8 Water Diversion Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 3)
11/03 SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
11/02 SBx7 8 Water Management Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
11/02 SBx7 2 Water Investment Bond Measure Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
10/29 HR 2996 Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (72 - 28)
10/27 HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits Cloture Invoked - Senate (87 - 13)
10/23 HB 17 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
10/21 HB 3 Fund Transfers and 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 5)
10/13 SB 884 Tax Amnesty Period Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
10/09 HB 1416 2009-2010 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
10/09 HB 1614 Fiscal Code Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
10/08 HB 4447 2009-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 13)
10/08 HR 2997 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
10/06 HB 1531 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
9/30 HB 4437 2009-2010 Department of Corrections Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 14)
9/30 HR 2918 Continuing Appropriations Resolution and 2009-2010 Legislative Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 38)
9/29 SB 245 2009-2010 Executive and Legislative Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 16)
9/24 HB 7002 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
9/11 SB 19 Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
9/11 SBx3 18 Correctional Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
9/02 AB 1422 Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Program Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
8/31 HB 6802 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
8/26 HB 1828 Municipal Pension System Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
8/20 ABx3 14 Correctional Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
8/14 HB 13 Authorizes an Occupational Tax for Jefferson County Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
8/12 HB 2010 Budget Reconciliation (Criminal Justice) Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 8)
8/12 HB 2013 Budget Reconciliation (Health and Welfare) Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
8/10 HB 199 Federal Funds Appropriations Veto Override Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
8/07 SB 943 Expanding Production Company Tax Credit Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18)
8/07 HB 836 Modifying Appropriations Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
8/06 HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37)
8/05 SB 202 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 18)
7/24 ABX4 15 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Implementing Prop 1A Suspension Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
7/24 ABX4 23 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
7/24 ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
7/24 ABX4 2 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Education Revisions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
7/24 ABX4 26 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Shifting Redevelopment Funds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
7/24 ABX4 30 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Transfer of Local Government Revenue Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
7/24 ABX4 14 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
7/23 ABX4 1 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)

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