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:
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.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 10, 2009 | National | HR 1 | Appropriations, Tax Law Amendments, and Unemployment Benefit Amendments ("Stimulus Bill") | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
| Feb. 10, 2009 | National | HR 1 | Appropriations, Tax Law Amendments, and Unemployment Benefit Amendments ("Stimulus Bill") | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
| Feb. 9, 2009 | ND | SB 2238 | Higher Education Tuition Increase Limits | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 22) |
| Feb. 9, 2009 | IN | SJR 1 | Constitutional Property Tax Cap | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| Feb. 6, 2009 | National | S Amdt 538 | Tax Credit Substitute Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (35 - 61) |
| Feb. 6, 2009 | GA | HB 143 | Property Tax Grant Appropriation Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 24) |
| Feb. 6, 2009 | GA | SB 83 | Expanding Homestead Property Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 14) |
| Feb. 5, 2009 | CO | SB 108 | Increasing Vehicle Fees to Fund Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| Feb. 4, 2009 | VA | SB 1473 | Department of Forestry Land Use Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| Feb. 3, 2009 | National | S Amdt 109 | Hollywood Productions Tax Credit | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 45) |
| Feb. 3, 2009 | NY | S 249-A | Budget Financing | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| Feb. 3, 2009 | NY | A 163-A | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| Feb. 2, 2009 | UT | SB 4 | 2008-2009 Education Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| Jan. 30, 2009 | AZ | SB 1001 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| Jan. 29, 2009 | MS | HB 364 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| Jan. 29, 2009 | KS | SB 23 | 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| Jan. 28, 2009 | OR | SB 338 | Authorizing Bonds for Public-Works Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| Jan. 28, 2009 | OR | SB 5562 | Authorizing Bonds for Public-Works Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| Jan. 27, 2009 | IA | SF 44 | Expediting Local-Option Tax Approval in Disaster Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
| Jan. 26, 2009 | National | PN 64-6 | Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 34) |
| Jan. 26, 2009 | National | PN 64-6 | Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 34) |
| Jan. 15, 2009 | National | S J Res 5 | Releasing Funds for Economic Stabilization Act | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (42 - 52) |
| Jan. 15, 2009 | CT | HB 5095 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| Jan. 14, 2009 | FL | SB 2-A | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 5 | Modifying Transportation Project Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 8 | Amending Sentencing, Parole, and Property Crime Statutes | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 4 | Reducing Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 2 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | OH | HB 649 | Funding Veterans' Bonuses Using the Budget Stabilization Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| Dec. 15, 2008 | NJ | S 1599 | Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Dec. 15, 2008 | NJ | A 3373 | Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| Dec. 10, 2008 | MI | SB 861 | Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| Nov. 24, 2008 | NJ | A 3294 | Capital Investment and Employment Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
| Nov. 24, 2008 | NJ | A 3459 | Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| Nov. 18, 2008 | NE | Amdt 4 | Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law | Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 26) |
| Oct. 1, 2008 | National | HR 1424 | Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25) |
| Sept. 19, 2008 | CA | SBx1 28 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
| Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | AB 1452 | Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | SCA 12 | State Lottery Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| Sept. 8, 2008 | CA | AB 1793 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
| Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (24 - 15) |
| Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 2321 | Metro Sales Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Aug. 19, 2008 | IL | HB 4201 | Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| Aug. 19, 2008 | NY | S 8738 | State Spending Cap | Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 20) |
| Aug. 19, 2008 | NM | HB 4 | Working Families Tax Credit Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| Aug. 18, 2008 | NM | HB 5 | Electronic Medical Records | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| Aug. 18, 2008 | NM | SB 24 | Tax Rebate | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/10 | HR 1 | Appropriations, Tax Law Amendments, and Unemployment Benefit Amendments ("Stimulus Bill") | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
| 2/10 | HR 1 | Appropriations, Tax Law Amendments, and Unemployment Benefit Amendments ("Stimulus Bill") | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
| 2/09 | SB 2238 | Higher Education Tuition Increase Limits | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 22) |
| 2/09 | SJR 1 | Constitutional Property Tax Cap | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| 2/06 | S Amdt 538 | Tax Credit Substitute Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (35 - 61) |
| 2/06 | HB 143 | Property Tax Grant Appropriation Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 24) |
| 2/06 | SB 83 | Expanding Homestead Property Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 14) |
| 2/05 | SB 108 | Increasing Vehicle Fees to Fund Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 2/04 | SB 1473 | Department of Forestry Land Use Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| 2/03 | S Amdt 109 | Hollywood Productions Tax Credit | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 45) |
| 2/03 | S 249-A | Budget Financing | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| 2/03 | A 163-A | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| 2/02 | SB 4 | 2008-2009 Education Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| 1/30 | SB 1001 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| 1/29 | HB 364 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| 1/29 | SB 23 | 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| 1/28 | SB 338 | Authorizing Bonds for Public-Works Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| 1/28 | SB 5562 | Authorizing Bonds for Public-Works Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| 1/27 | SF 44 | Expediting Local-Option Tax Approval in Disaster Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
| 1/26 | PN 64-6 | Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 34) |
| 1/26 | PN 64-6 | Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 34) |
| 1/15 | S J Res 5 | Releasing Funds for Economic Stabilization Act | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (42 - 52) |
| 1/15 | HB 5095 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| 1/14 | SB 2-A | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 5 | Modifying Transportation Project Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 8 | Amending Sentencing, Parole, and Property Crime Statutes | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 4 | Reducing Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 2 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 12/18 | HB 649 | Funding Veterans' Bonuses Using the Budget Stabilization Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| 12/15 | S 1599 | Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 12/15 | A 3373 | Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| 12/10 | SB 861 | Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| 11/24 | A 3294 | Capital Investment and Employment Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
| 11/24 | A 3459 | Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| 11/18 | Amdt 4 | Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law | Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 26) |
| 10/01 | HR 1424 | Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25) |
| 9/19 | SBx1 28 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| 9/16 | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
| 9/16 | AB 1452 | Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| 9/16 | SCA 12 | State Lottery Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| 9/08 | AB 1793 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
| 8/31 | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| 8/29 | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 8/29 | AB 2321 | Metro Sales Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 8/29 | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 8/19 | HB 4201 | Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| 8/19 | S 8738 | State Spending Cap | Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 20) |
| 8/19 | HB 4 | Working Families Tax Credit Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| 8/18 | HB 5 | Electronic Medical Records | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| 8/18 | SB 24 | Tax Rebate | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |