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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 8, 2006 | AZ | SB 1356 | Air Pollutant Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| March 8, 2006 | WA | 2nd Sub HB 2572 | Health Insurance for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |
| March 8, 2006 | AZ | SB 1356 | Air Pollutant Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| March 7, 2006 | WI | AB 1073 | Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| March 6, 2006 | OK | SCS SB 1874 | Senate Committee Substitute for the "Lawsuit Responsibility Act of 2006" | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| March 6, 2006 | OK | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| March 6, 2006 | OK | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| March 3, 2006 | MS | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 19) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | CO | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | ID | S 1337 | Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 27, 2006 | MO | SA 5 | Renewable Energy Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 22) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | S Amdt 1215cb | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | S Amdt 1215ca | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 21) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | WY | SF 50 | Health Care Information Technology | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 14) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | HB 1215 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Feb. 21, 2006 | MS | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| Feb. 16, 2006 | AZ | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | MI | SB 838 | Medicare Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | PA | SB 1025 | PA Clean Vehicles Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | MI | Sub for SB 1028 | Changes to the Family Independent Agency | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | NM | HB 211 | Pseudoephedrine as a Controlled Substance | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| Feb. 13, 2006 | VA | SB 648 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Feb. 8, 2006 | AK | SB 85 | Off-Road Vehicle Use Near Dalton Highway | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| Feb. 8, 2006 | VA | SB 648 | Smoking Ban | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | MS | SB 2511 | Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | National | S Amdt 2730 | Medicare Part D Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 45) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | NM | SB 258 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 6) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | SD | SB 175 | Emergency Contraceptives for Rape Victims | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 26) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | NM | SB 258 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 6) |
| Jan. 30, 2006 | IN | SB 354 | Forestry Classifications | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| Jan. 23, 2006 | SD | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Jan. 20, 2006 | UT | SB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Jan. 19, 2006 | IN | SB 111 | Student Nutrition and Physical Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| Jan. 12, 2006 | MD | SB 790 | Health Care for Large Companies | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| Jan. 5, 2006 | NJ | S 2907 | Reimbursement for Contaminated Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| Jan. 3, 2006 | RI | H 6052 Sub. A | Medical Marijuana Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| Jan. 3, 2006 | RI | H 6052 Sub. A | Medical Marijuana Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| Dec. 21, 2005 | National | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 44) |
| Dec. 21, 2005 | National | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 0) |
| Dec. 21, 2005 | National | S Con Res 74 | Removal of ANWR Provision from HR 2863 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 45) |
| Nov. 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2601 | Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 47) |
| Nov. 16, 2005 | National | HR 2862 | Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2356 | Hurricane Health Care for Survivors Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2409 | Targeted Case Management Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2400 | Alaska Judicial Review of Oil Revenue Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2358 | ANWR Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2371 | Medicare Prescription Drug Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 48) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2348 | Medicaid Generic Drug Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2365 | Medical Assistance and Prescription Drug Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 45) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2357 | Medicare Premiums Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | HR 2744 | Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 18) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| Oct. 27, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2259 | AIDS Drug Assistance Program Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 50) |
| Oct. 27, 2005 | National | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3) |
| Oct. 7, 2005 | National | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0) |
| Oct. 5, 2005 | National | S Amdt 1937 | Health Care for Veterans Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| Sept. 22, 2005 | National | HR 2744 | Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
| Sept. 13, 2005 | National | S J Res 20 | EPA's Clean Air Mercury Rule | Bill Failed - Senate (47 - 51) |
| July 29, 2005 | National | HR 2361 | Interior Department FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (99 - 1) |
| July 1, 2005 | National | HR 2419 | Energy and Water Appropriations Bill FY 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 3) |
| June 29, 2005 | National | HR 2361 | Interior Department FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 0) |
| June 14, 2005 | National | S Amdt 781 | Environmental Effects Caused by Ethanol Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 38) |
| May 10, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0) |
| May 10, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0) |
| April 28, 2005 | National | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
| April 28, 2005 | National | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
| April 21, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0) |
| April 21, 2005 | National | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0) |
| March 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 244 | Unintended Pregnancy Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53) |
| March 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 214 | Prescription Drugs Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50) |
| March 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 229 | Medicaid Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 51) |
| March 25, 2004 | National | HR 1997 | Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38) |
| Jan. 22, 2004 | National | HR 2673 | Consolidated Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 28) |
| Nov. 25, 2003 | National | HR 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/08 | SB 1356 | Air Pollutant Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 3/08 | 2nd Sub HB 2572 | Health Insurance for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |
| 3/08 | SB 1356 | Air Pollutant Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 3/07 | AB 1073 | Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 3/06 | SCS SB 1874 | Senate Committee Substitute for the "Lawsuit Responsibility Act of 2006" | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| 3/06 | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 3/06 | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 3/03 | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 19) |
| 2/28 | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 2/28 | S 1337 | Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 2/27 | SA 5 | Renewable Energy Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 22) |
| 2/22 | S Amdt 1215cb | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22) |
| 2/22 | S Amdt 1215ca | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 21) |
| 2/22 | SF 50 | Health Care Information Technology | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 14) |
| 2/22 | HB 1215 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 2/21 | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 2/16 | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| 2/15 | SB 838 | Medicare Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 2/15 | SB 1025 | PA Clean Vehicles Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| 2/14 | Sub for SB 1028 | Changes to the Family Independent Agency | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| 2/14 | HB 211 | Pseudoephedrine as a Controlled Substance | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| 2/13 | SB 648 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 2/08 | SB 85 | Off-Road Vehicle Use Near Dalton Highway | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| 2/08 | SB 648 | Smoking Ban | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20) |
| 2/07 | SB 2511 | Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| 2/02 | S Amdt 2730 | Medicare Part D Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 45) |
| 1/31 | SB 258 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 6) |
| 1/31 | SB 175 | Emergency Contraceptives for Rape Victims | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 26) |
| 1/31 | SB 258 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 6) |
| 1/30 | SB 354 | Forestry Classifications | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| 1/23 | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 1/20 | SB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 1/19 | SB 111 | Student Nutrition and Physical Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| 1/12 | SB 790 | Health Care for Large Companies | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 1/05 | S 2907 | Reimbursement for Contaminated Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 1/03 | H 6052 Sub. A | Medical Marijuana Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| 1/03 | H 6052 Sub. A | Medical Marijuana Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| 12/21 | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 44) |
| 12/21 | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 0) |
| 12/21 | S Con Res 74 | Removal of ANWR Provision from HR 2863 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 45) |
| 11/17 | S Amdt 2601 | Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 47) |
| 11/16 | HR 2862 | Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2356 | Hurricane Health Care for Survivors Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2409 | Targeted Case Management Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2400 | Alaska Judicial Review of Oil Revenue Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2358 | ANWR Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2371 | Medicare Prescription Drug Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 48) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2348 | Medicaid Generic Drug Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2365 | Medical Assistance and Prescription Drug Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 45) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2357 | Medicare Premiums Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50) |
| 11/03 | HR 2744 | Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 18) |
| 11/03 | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 11/03 | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 10/27 | S Amdt 2259 | AIDS Drug Assistance Program Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 50) |
| 10/27 | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3) |
| 10/07 | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0) |
| 10/05 | S Amdt 1937 | Health Care for Veterans Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| 9/22 | HR 2744 | Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
| 9/13 | S J Res 20 | EPA's Clean Air Mercury Rule | Bill Failed - Senate (47 - 51) |
| 7/29 | HR 2361 | Interior Department FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (99 - 1) |
| 7/01 | HR 2419 | Energy and Water Appropriations Bill FY 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 3) |
| 6/29 | HR 2361 | Interior Department FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 0) |
| 6/14 | S Amdt 781 | Environmental Effects Caused by Ethanol Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 38) |
| 5/10 | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0) |
| 5/10 | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0) |
| 4/28 | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 4/28 | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 4/21 | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0) |
| 4/21 | HR 1268 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0) |
| 3/17 | S Amdt 244 | Unintended Pregnancy Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53) |
| 3/17 | S Amdt 214 | Prescription Drugs Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50) |
| 3/17 | S Amdt 229 | Medicaid Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 51) |
| 3/25 | HR 1997 | Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 1/22 | HR 2673 | Consolidated Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 28) |
| 11/25 | HR 1 | Medicare Prescription Drug bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |