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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
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 3810 Income Limit for Subsidies to Farmers Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 47)
Dec. 13, 2007 National S Amdt 3695 Limit on Farm Subsidies Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 43)
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)
June 20, 2007 MI Sub for SB 504 Agricultural Pollution Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
June 20, 2007 MI Sub for SB 448 State Registration for CAFOs Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
June 20, 2007 MI Sub for SB 447 Insurance for Water Pollution Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
May 21, 2007 CA SB 180 Collective Bargaining Representation for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
March 22, 2007 ND HB 1420 Animal Feedlot Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
March 6, 2007 OK SCS SB 709 Pollution Ban Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
Dec. 7, 2006 National PN 1396 Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11)
Aug. 3, 2006 National HR 5970 Death/Estate Tax and Minimum Wage Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
June 15, 2006 National HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1)
May 4, 2006 National HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 21)
May 3, 2006 IA HF 2540 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 2)
May 3, 2006 IA SF 2377 Confinement Feeding Operations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
May 2, 2006 National S Amdt 3617 Sugarcane Growers Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 59)
May 2, 2006 VT S 18 Genetically Modified Seed Liability Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 8)
March 20, 2006 ID H 544 Irrigation Voting Procedure Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
March 20, 2006 PA HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
March 16, 2006 National S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
March 9, 2006 WI ASA 3 Ethanol Bill Motion Agreed - Senate (17 - 15)
Jan. 30, 2006 IN SB 354 Forestry Classifications Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
Jan. 17, 2006 SD SB 27 State Fair Appropriation Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
Nov. 3, 2005 National HR 2744 Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 18)
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)
Sept. 22, 2005 National HR 2744 Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2)
Sept. 22, 2005 National HR 2744 Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2)
April 28, 2005 National H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47)
Jan. 22, 2004 National HR 2673 Consolidated Appropriations Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 28)
May 8, 2002 National HR 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 35)
May 8, 2002 National HR 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 35)
Feb. 13, 2002 National HR 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 40)
Feb. 13, 2002 National HR 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 40)
Nov. 15, 2001 National HR 2330 Agriculture FY2002 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7)
Oct. 13, 1999 National HR 1906 FY 2000 Agriculture Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 26)
Aug. 4, 1999 National S Amdt 1499 Agricultural Aid Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 8)
March 25, 1999 National S Amdt 178 Agricultural Appropriations Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 45)
Oct. 6, 1998 National HR 4101 Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 43)
July 23, 1998 National S Amdt 3258 Temporary Farm Workers Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 31)
May 12, 1998 National S 1150 Agricultural Research bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8)
Sept. 17, 1996 National S Amdt 5353 Federal Land Grazing Fee Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (50 - 50)
March 28, 1996 National HR 2854 Agricultural Market Transition Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 26)
March 21, 1996 National S 1459 Public Rangelands Management Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 47)
Feb. 7, 1996 National S 1541 Farm Bill Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 32)
Aug. 3, 1994 National S Amdt 2446 Ethanol Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 50)
July 20, 1994 National S Amdt 2320 Department of Agriculture Homosexual Policy Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 41)
July 20, 1994 National HR 4554 Agriculture FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8)
Date No. Title Outcome
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 3810 Income Limit for Subsidies to Farmers Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 47)
12/13 S Amdt 3695 Limit on Farm Subsidies Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 43)
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)
6/20 Sub for SB 504 Agricultural Pollution Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
6/20 Sub for SB 448 State Registration for CAFOs Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
6/20 Sub for SB 447 Insurance for Water Pollution Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
5/21 SB 180 Collective Bargaining Representation for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
3/22 HB 1420 Animal Feedlot Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
3/06 SCS SB 709 Pollution Ban Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
12/07 PN 1396 Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11)
8/03 HR 5970 Death/Estate Tax and Minimum Wage Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
6/15 HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1)
5/04 HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 21)
5/03 HF 2540 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 2)
5/03 SF 2377 Confinement Feeding Operations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
5/02 S Amdt 3617 Sugarcane Growers Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 59)
5/02 S 18 Genetically Modified Seed Liability Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 8)
3/20 H 544 Irrigation Voting Procedure Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
3/20 HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
3/16 S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
3/09 ASA 3 Ethanol Bill Motion Agreed - Senate (17 - 15)
1/30 SB 354 Forestry Classifications Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
1/17 SB 27 State Fair Appropriation Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
11/03 HR 2744 Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 18)
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)
9/22 HR 2744 Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2)
9/22 HR 2744 Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2)
4/28 H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47)
1/22 HR 2673 Consolidated Appropriations Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 28)
5/08 HR 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 35)
5/08 HR 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 35)
2/13 HR 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 40)
2/13 HR 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 40)
11/15 HR 2330 Agriculture FY2002 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7)
10/13 HR 1906 FY 2000 Agriculture Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 26)
8/04 S Amdt 1499 Agricultural Aid Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 8)
3/25 S Amdt 178 Agricultural Appropriations Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 45)
10/06 HR 4101 Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 43)
7/23 S Amdt 3258 Temporary Farm Workers Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 31)
5/12 S 1150 Agricultural Research bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8)
9/17 S Amdt 5353 Federal Land Grazing Fee Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (50 - 50)
3/28 HR 2854 Agricultural Market Transition Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 26)
3/21 S 1459 Public Rangelands Management Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 47)
2/07 S 1541 Farm Bill Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 32)
8/03 S Amdt 2446 Ethanol Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 50)
7/20 S Amdt 2320 Department of Agriculture Homosexual Policy Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 41)
7/20 HR 4554 Agriculture FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8)

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