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 4, 2008 WA HB 2438 Permitting Dogs in Cougar Hunting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
Feb. 28, 2008 KS SB 586 Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
Feb. 28, 2008 KS SB 586 Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1069 Prohibiting Motor Vehicles on Public Lands Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
Feb. 27, 2008 UT SB 297 Increasing Penalties for Animal Cruelty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6)
Feb. 25, 2008 WY SF 46 Water Discharge from Methane Gas Wells Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
Feb. 21, 2008 MS SB 2793 Utility Rate Increases During Planning or Construction of Plants Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
Feb. 18, 2008 WA SB 6777 Halting Mining on Maury Island Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23)
Feb. 14, 2008 MN HF 2285 Funding for Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 17)
Feb. 14, 2008 UT SB 117 Increasing Penalties for Animal Cruelty Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
Feb. 14, 2008 KS HB 2066 Restricting the Secretary of Health and Environment's Enforcement Powers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7)
Feb. 14, 2008 KS HB 2066 Restricting the Secretary of Health and Environment's Enforcement Powers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7)
Feb. 13, 2008 KS Steineger Amnd. Limiting Carbon Dioxide Emissions Amendment Rejected - Senate (3 - 32)
Feb. 13, 2008 KS Steineger Amnd. Limiting Carbon Dioxide Emissions Amendment Rejected - Senate (3 - 32)
Feb. 12, 2008 NM HB 305 Energy Efficiency Requirements for Public Utilities Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
Feb. 12, 2008 NM HB 305 Energy Efficiency Requirements for Public Utilities Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
Feb. 10, 2008 NM SB 487 Uranium Cleanup Fund Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Feb. 10, 2008 NM SB 487 Uranium Cleanup Fund Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Jan. 31, 2008 SD SB 173 Eliminating Restrictions on Corporate Dairy Farms Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
Jan. 30, 2008 CA SB 908 Global Warming Education in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
Jan. 24, 2008 CO GN Baker Matt Baker to the Public Utilities Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (21 - 13)
Jan. 24, 2008 CO GN Baker Matt Baker to the Public Utilities Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (21 - 13)
Jan. 18, 2008 GA SR 701 State-Wide Water Management Plan Resolution Passed - Senate (39 - 12)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ A 4559 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ A 4559 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
Dec. 18, 2007 National HR 2764 Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17)
Dec. 14, 2007 National HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 14)
Dec. 14, 2007 National HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 14)
Dec. 13, 2007 National S Amdt 3695 Limit on Farm Subsidies Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 43)
Dec. 13, 2007 National S Amdt 3810 Income Limit for Subsidies to Farmers Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 47)
Dec. 13, 2007 National HR 6 Energy Act of 2007 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (86 - 8)
Dec. 11, 2007 National S Amdt 3711 Government Sponsored Farm Insurance Policies Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 58)
Dec. 11, 2007 National S Amdt 3711 Government Sponsored Farm Insurance Policies Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 58)
Nov. 19, 2007 MD HB 1 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
Nov. 19, 2007 MD HB 1 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
Nov. 16, 2007 AK SCS CSHB 2001 Oil and Gas Production Tax Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
Nov. 8, 2007 National HR 1495 Water Resources Development Act of 2007 Veto Override Passed - Senate (79 - 14)
Oct. 30, 2007 MI S Sub for Sub HB 4358 2007-2008 Department of Environmental Quality Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 13)
Oct. 30, 2007 MI S Sub for Sub HB 4354 2007-2008 Department of Natural Resources Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6)
Oct. 30, 2007 WI SB 15 Secretary of Natural Resources Appointment Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Oct. 29, 2007 HI SB 1 Superferry Environmental Assessment Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 5)
Oct. 12, 2007 IL HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1)
Sept. 5, 2007 MT SB 1 Extending Fire Related State of Emergencies Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
Aug. 24, 2007 KY HCS HB 1 Renewable Energy Tax Incentives Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
Aug. 24, 2007 KY HCS HB 1 Renewable Energy Tax Incentives Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
July 26, 2007 IL SB 1592 Electricity Relief and Regulation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 13)
June 21, 2007 National S Amdt 1704 Alternative Energy Subsidies Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 36)
June 21, 2007 National HR 6 Energy Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27)
June 21, 2007 National HR 6 Energy Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27)
June 20, 2007 MI Sub for SB 504 Agricultural Pollution Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/04 HB 2438 Permitting Dogs in Cougar Hunting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
2/28 SB 586 Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
2/28 SB 586 Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
2/27 HB 1069 Prohibiting Motor Vehicles on Public Lands Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
2/27 SB 297 Increasing Penalties for Animal Cruelty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6)
2/25 SF 46 Water Discharge from Methane Gas Wells Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
2/21 SB 2793 Utility Rate Increases During Planning or Construction of Plants Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
2/18 SB 6777 Halting Mining on Maury Island Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23)
2/14 HF 2285 Funding for Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 17)
2/14 SB 117 Increasing Penalties for Animal Cruelty Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
2/14 HB 2066 Restricting the Secretary of Health and Environment's Enforcement Powers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7)
2/14 HB 2066 Restricting the Secretary of Health and Environment's Enforcement Powers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7)
2/13 Steineger Amnd. Limiting Carbon Dioxide Emissions Amendment Rejected - Senate (3 - 32)
2/13 Steineger Amnd. Limiting Carbon Dioxide Emissions Amendment Rejected - Senate (3 - 32)
2/12 HB 305 Energy Efficiency Requirements for Public Utilities Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
2/12 HB 305 Energy Efficiency Requirements for Public Utilities Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
2/10 SB 487 Uranium Cleanup Fund Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
2/10 SB 487 Uranium Cleanup Fund Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
1/31 SB 173 Eliminating Restrictions on Corporate Dairy Farms Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
1/30 SB 908 Global Warming Education in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
1/24 GN Baker Matt Baker to the Public Utilities Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (21 - 13)
1/24 GN Baker Matt Baker to the Public Utilities Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (21 - 13)
1/18 SR 701 State-Wide Water Management Plan Resolution Passed - Senate (39 - 12)
1/07 A 4559 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
1/07 A 4559 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
12/18 HR 2764 Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17)
12/14 HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 14)
12/14 HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 14)
12/13 S Amdt 3695 Limit on Farm Subsidies Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 43)
12/13 S Amdt 3810 Income Limit for Subsidies to Farmers Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 47)
12/13 HR 6 Energy Act of 2007 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (86 - 8)
12/11 S Amdt 3711 Government Sponsored Farm Insurance Policies Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 58)
12/11 S Amdt 3711 Government Sponsored Farm Insurance Policies Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 58)
11/19 HB 1 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
11/19 HB 1 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
11/16 SCS CSHB 2001 Oil and Gas Production Tax Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
11/08 HR 1495 Water Resources Development Act of 2007 Veto Override Passed - Senate (79 - 14)
10/30 S Sub for Sub HB 4358 2007-2008 Department of Environmental Quality Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 13)
10/30 S Sub for Sub HB 4354 2007-2008 Department of Natural Resources Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6)
10/30 SB 15 Secretary of Natural Resources Appointment Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
10/29 SB 1 Superferry Environmental Assessment Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 5)
10/12 HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1)
9/05 SB 1 Extending Fire Related State of Emergencies Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
8/24 HCS HB 1 Renewable Energy Tax Incentives Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
8/24 HCS HB 1 Renewable Energy Tax Incentives Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
7/26 SB 1592 Electricity Relief and Regulation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 13)
6/21 S Amdt 1704 Alternative Energy Subsidies Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 36)
6/21 HR 6 Energy Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27)
6/21 HR 6 Energy Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27)
6/20 Sub for SB 504 Agricultural Pollution Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)

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