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 23, 2011 MI HB 4408 Employment Compensation Fund Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
March 17, 2011 ID H 260 Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - House (56 - 14)
March 2, 2011 KY HB 305 2010-2012 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
March 2, 2011 ID H 109 Extends Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (41 - 28)
March 1, 2011 SC S 434 Prohibiting DHHS From Reducing Provider Rates Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
Feb. 8, 2011 MT HB 30 Health Care Sharing Ministries Bill Passed - House (68 - 32)
Feb. 8, 2011 ND HB 1377 Children's Health Insurance Program Bill Failed - House (25 - 67)
Feb. 7, 2011 SD HB 1152 Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Failed - House (32 - 36)
Feb. 7, 2011 WY HB 244 Unemployment Insurance Amendments Bill Failed - House (25 - 34)
Feb. 2, 2011 UT HB 211 Community Service Medicaid Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (56 - 15)
Jan. 31, 2011 IN HB 1450 Unemployment Insurance Amendments Bill Passed - House (61 - 38)
Jan. 28, 2011 WY HB 244 Unemployment Insurance Amendments
Jan. 20, 2011 AZ SB 1001 Request for Medicaid Waiver Bill Passed - House (40 - 20)
Dec. 13, 2010 NJ S 1 Low-Income Housing Amendments and Abolishing the Council on Affordable Housing Bill Passed - House (43 - 32)
Nov. 18, 2010 National HR 6419 Extension of Certain Unemployment Benefits Bill Failed - House (258 - 154)
July 22, 2010 National HR 4213 Unemployment Benefits Extension Concurrence Vote Passed - House (272 - 152)
July 21, 2010 National HR 4213 Unemployment Benefits Extension Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (59 - 39)
July 20, 2010 National HR 4213 Unemployment Benefits Extension Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 40)
July 1, 2010 National HR 5618 Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill Passed - House (270 - 153)
May 28, 2010 National HR 4213 Unemployment Benefits Extension and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (215 - 204)
May 13, 2010 CA AB 1756 Food Stamps for Drug Felons Bill Passed - House (44 - 31)
April 29, 2010 MO HB 2011 2010-2011 Department of Social Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 63)
April 28, 2010 MA Sánchez Amdt Sending Public Benefits Amendment to Study Amendment Adopted - House (83 - 75)
April 28, 2010 LA HB 617 Expanding Drug Testing Requirements for Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (61 - 27)
April 21, 2010 GA HB 1198 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
April 21, 2010 VA Amdt 28 Reducing Funding for Comprehensive Services for At Risk Youth and Families Amendment Rejected - House (25 - 69)
April 20, 2010 WI SB 484 BadgerCare Plus Basic Health Plan Bill Passed - House (50 - 47)
April 19, 2010 FL HB 7223 HMO Plans for Medicaid Coverage Bill Passed - House (80 - 34)
April 15, 2010 National HR 4851 Unemployment Benefits Extension Concurrence Vote Passed - House (289 - 112)
April 15, 2010 National HR 4851 Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 38)
March 22, 2010 WA HB 2782 Limiting Disability Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 40)
March 22, 2010 WA HB 2782 Limiting Disability Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 16)
March 10, 2010 National HR 4213 Extending Unemployment Benefits and Certain Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
March 3, 2010 WY SF 61 Establishing Health Care Demonstration Project Bill Passed - House (42 - 16)
Feb. 24, 2010 IL HB 4654 Limiting Free Mass Transit for Seniors Bill Passed - House (83 - 27)
Feb. 13, 2010 NM SB 10 Limiting Food Tax Deduction to Staple Foods Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19)
Feb. 10, 2010 WA HB 1956 Limiting Local Regulations of Homeless Shelters Bill Passed - House (57 - 39)
Feb. 8, 2010 UT HB 18 Expanding Unemployment Insurance Eligibility Bill Passed - House (46 - 28)
Jan. 28, 2010 WI SB 263 Expanding Access to Public Defenders Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Jan. 28, 2010 CA SB 810 Statewide Single Payer Health Care System Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
Dec. 22, 2009 National S Amdt 3276 Senate Health Care Bill Amendments Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39)
Nov. 5, 2009 National HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits and Providing Business and Homebuyer Tax Credits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (403 - 12)
Oct. 27, 2009 National HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits Cloture Invoked - Senate (87 - 13)
Oct. 6, 2009 MI HB 5386 Physician Services Tax Bill Passed - House (56 - 52)
Sept. 22, 2009 National HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (331 - 83)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 33)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
July 20, 2009 CT HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Veto Override Passed - House (102 - 40)
July 20, 2009 CT HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
June 29, 2009 PA HB 1 Expanding Health Insurance Bill Passed - House (104 - 96)
June 25, 2009 NJ A 3101 Creating Homelessness Trust Funds Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27)
June 24, 2009 MI HB 4436 2009-2010 Department of Community Health Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
June 23, 2009 MI HB 4441 2009-2010 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17)
June 22, 2009 CA AB 761 Mobile Home Rent Control Bill Failed - House (38 - 27)
June 19, 2009 CT SB 2001 Employment and Training Funds for Disadvantaged Workers Bill Passed - House (97 - 32)
June 18, 2009 NJ A 3101 Creating Homelessness Trust Funds Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7)
June 18, 2009 MI SB 248 2010 Human Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
June 8, 2009 LA HB 316 Property Tax Exemption Joint Resolution Failed - House (30 - 63)
May 31, 2009 IL SB 1918 Low-Income Energy Assistance Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (47 - 11)
May 30, 2009 CT HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 20, 2009 CT HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Bill Passed - House (107 - 35)
May 15, 2009 TX HB 2962 Childrens' Health Care Bill Passed - House (87 - 55)
May 6, 2009 MI HB 4786 Part-Time Work Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (68 - 39)
May 5, 2009 CO HB 1170 Allowing Locked-Out Employees to Collect Unemployment Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 29)
April 29, 2009 FL Amdt 337171 Expanding Unemployment Benefits Eligibility Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 71)
April 28, 2009 CO HB 1170 Allowing Locked-Out Employees to Collect Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
April 22, 2009 WA HB 1709 Payday Lending Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
April 11, 2009 WV SB 246 Temporary Unemployment Compensation Tax Increase for Employers Bill Passed - House (71 - 29)
April 10, 2009 MD HB 310 Extending Unemployment Benefits to Part-Time Employees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
March 26, 2009 MD HB 310 Extending Unemployment Benefits to Part-Time Employees Bill Passed - House (94 - 43)
March 25, 2009 KS HB 2275 Drug Testing for Cash Assistance Recipients Bill Passed - House (99 - 26)
March 11, 2009 NH SB 115 Expanding Subsidized Health Care Program Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 4)
March 9, 2009 UT SB 225 Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
March 9, 2009 WA HB 1709 Payday Lending Regulations Bill Passed - House (84 - 10)
March 9, 2009 UT HB 171 Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (50 - 23)
March 5, 2009 ID S 1119 Allowing Public Utility Assistance Programs Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
March 3, 2009 WA HB 1956 Limiting Local Regulations of Homeless Shelters Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
Feb. 26, 2009 OR HB 2436 Real Estate Fees to Fund Housing Programs Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
Feb. 25, 2009 AR HB 1464 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (67 - 27)
Feb. 17, 2009 OR HB 2436 Real Estate Fees to Fund Housing Programs Bill Passed - House (44 - 15)
Feb. 2, 2009 NY A 1686 Reducing the Cap on Vacated Apartment Rent Increases Bill Passed - House (100 - 43)
Jan. 14, 2009 FL SB 2-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13)
Jan. 14, 2009 FL SB 2-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 43)
Dec. 19, 2008 MI SB 861 Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas Bill Passed - House (61 - 34)
Dec. 10, 2008 MI SB 861 Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Nov. 24, 2008 NJ A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
Nov. 17, 2008 NJ A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - House (47 - 26)
Nov. 17, 2008 NJ A 3374 Public Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - House (67 - 10)
Oct. 3, 2008 National HR 6867 Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Bill Passed - House (368 - 28)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA AB 1107 Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Bill Passed - House (44 - 32)
Aug. 19, 2008 NM SB 24 Tax Rebate Bill Passed - House (51 - 16)
Aug. 19, 2008 NM HB 4 Working Families Tax Credit Increase Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
Aug. 18, 2008 NM SB 22 Subsidizing Children's Health Care Bill Passed - House (47 - 19)
Aug. 18, 2008 NM SB 24 Tax Rebate Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
Aug. 16, 2008 NM HB 4 Working Families Tax Credit Increase Bill Passed - House (39 - 25)
Aug. 14, 2008 CA AB 1107 Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
July 26, 2008 National S 3186 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Funding Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 35)
July 26, 2008 National HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 13)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/23 HB 4408 Employment Compensation Fund Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
3/17 H 260 Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - House (56 - 14)
3/02 HB 305 2010-2012 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
3/02 H 109 Extends Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (41 - 28)
3/01 S 434 Prohibiting DHHS From Reducing Provider Rates Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
2/08 HB 30 Health Care Sharing Ministries Bill Passed - House (68 - 32)
2/08 HB 1377 Children's Health Insurance Program Bill Failed - House (25 - 67)
2/07 HB 1152 Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Failed - House (32 - 36)
2/07 HB 244 Unemployment Insurance Amendments Bill Failed - House (25 - 34)
2/02 HB 211 Community Service Medicaid Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (56 - 15)
1/31 HB 1450 Unemployment Insurance Amendments Bill Passed - House (61 - 38)
1/28 HB 244 Unemployment Insurance Amendments
1/20 SB 1001 Request for Medicaid Waiver Bill Passed - House (40 - 20)
12/13 S 1 Low-Income Housing Amendments and Abolishing the Council on Affordable Housing Bill Passed - House (43 - 32)
11/18 HR 6419 Extension of Certain Unemployment Benefits Bill Failed - House (258 - 154)
7/22 HR 4213 Unemployment Benefits Extension Concurrence Vote Passed - House (272 - 152)
7/21 HR 4213 Unemployment Benefits Extension Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (59 - 39)
7/20 HR 4213 Unemployment Benefits Extension Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 40)
7/01 HR 5618 Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill Passed - House (270 - 153)
5/28 HR 4213 Unemployment Benefits Extension and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (215 - 204)
5/13 AB 1756 Food Stamps for Drug Felons Bill Passed - House (44 - 31)
4/29 HB 2011 2010-2011 Department of Social Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 63)
4/28 Sánchez Amdt Sending Public Benefits Amendment to Study Amendment Adopted - House (83 - 75)
4/28 HB 617 Expanding Drug Testing Requirements for Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (61 - 27)
4/21 HB 1198 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
4/21 Amdt 28 Reducing Funding for Comprehensive Services for At Risk Youth and Families Amendment Rejected - House (25 - 69)
4/20 SB 484 BadgerCare Plus Basic Health Plan Bill Passed - House (50 - 47)
4/19 HB 7223 HMO Plans for Medicaid Coverage Bill Passed - House (80 - 34)
4/15 HR 4851 Unemployment Benefits Extension Concurrence Vote Passed - House (289 - 112)
4/15 HR 4851 Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 38)
3/22 HB 2782 Limiting Disability Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 40)
3/22 HB 2782 Limiting Disability Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 16)
3/10 HR 4213 Extending Unemployment Benefits and Certain Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
3/03 SF 61 Establishing Health Care Demonstration Project Bill Passed - House (42 - 16)
2/24 HB 4654 Limiting Free Mass Transit for Seniors Bill Passed - House (83 - 27)
2/13 SB 10 Limiting Food Tax Deduction to Staple Foods Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19)
2/10 HB 1956 Limiting Local Regulations of Homeless Shelters Bill Passed - House (57 - 39)
2/08 HB 18 Expanding Unemployment Insurance Eligibility Bill Passed - House (46 - 28)
1/28 SB 263 Expanding Access to Public Defenders Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
1/28 SB 810 Statewide Single Payer Health Care System Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
12/22 S Amdt 3276 Senate Health Care Bill Amendments Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39)
11/05 HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits and Providing Business and Homebuyer Tax Credits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (403 - 12)
10/27 HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits Cloture Invoked - Senate (87 - 13)
10/06 HB 5386 Physician Services Tax Bill Passed - House (56 - 52)
9/22 HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (331 - 83)
7/24 ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 33)
7/24 ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
7/20 HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Veto Override Passed - House (102 - 40)
7/20 HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
6/29 HB 1 Expanding Health Insurance Bill Passed - House (104 - 96)
6/25 A 3101 Creating Homelessness Trust Funds Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27)
6/24 HB 4436 2009-2010 Department of Community Health Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
6/23 HB 4441 2009-2010 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17)
6/22 AB 761 Mobile Home Rent Control Bill Failed - House (38 - 27)
6/19 SB 2001 Employment and Training Funds for Disadvantaged Workers Bill Passed - House (97 - 32)
6/18 A 3101 Creating Homelessness Trust Funds Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7)
6/18 SB 248 2010 Human Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
6/08 HB 316 Property Tax Exemption Joint Resolution Failed - House (30 - 63)
5/31 SB 1918 Low-Income Energy Assistance Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (47 - 11)
5/30 HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/20 HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Bill Passed - House (107 - 35)
5/15 HB 2962 Childrens' Health Care Bill Passed - House (87 - 55)
5/06 HB 4786 Part-Time Work Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (68 - 39)
5/05 HB 1170 Allowing Locked-Out Employees to Collect Unemployment Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 29)
4/29 Amdt 337171 Expanding Unemployment Benefits Eligibility Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 71)
4/28 HB 1170 Allowing Locked-Out Employees to Collect Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
4/22 HB 1709 Payday Lending Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
4/11 SB 246 Temporary Unemployment Compensation Tax Increase for Employers Bill Passed - House (71 - 29)
4/10 HB 310 Extending Unemployment Benefits to Part-Time Employees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
3/26 HB 310 Extending Unemployment Benefits to Part-Time Employees Bill Passed - House (94 - 43)
3/25 HB 2275 Drug Testing for Cash Assistance Recipients Bill Passed - House (99 - 26)
3/11 SB 115 Expanding Subsidized Health Care Program Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 4)
3/09 SB 225 Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
3/09 HB 1709 Payday Lending Regulations Bill Passed - House (84 - 10)
3/09 HB 171 Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (50 - 23)
3/05 S 1119 Allowing Public Utility Assistance Programs Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
3/03 HB 1956 Limiting Local Regulations of Homeless Shelters Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
2/26 HB 2436 Real Estate Fees to Fund Housing Programs Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
2/25 HB 1464 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (67 - 27)
2/17 HB 2436 Real Estate Fees to Fund Housing Programs Bill Passed - House (44 - 15)
2/02 A 1686 Reducing the Cap on Vacated Apartment Rent Increases Bill Passed - House (100 - 43)
1/14 SB 2-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13)
1/14 SB 2-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 43)
12/19 SB 861 Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas Bill Passed - House (61 - 34)
12/10 SB 861 Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
11/24 A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
11/17 A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - House (47 - 26)
11/17 A 3374 Public Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - House (67 - 10)
10/03 HR 6867 Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Bill Passed - House (368 - 28)
8/31 SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
8/29 AB 1107 Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18)
8/29 SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Bill Passed - House (44 - 32)
8/19 SB 24 Tax Rebate Bill Passed - House (51 - 16)
8/19 HB 4 Working Families Tax Credit Increase Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
8/18 SB 22 Subsidizing Children's Health Care Bill Passed - House (47 - 19)
8/18 SB 24 Tax Rebate Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
8/16 HB 4 Working Families Tax Credit Increase Bill Passed - House (39 - 25)
8/14 AB 1107 Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
7/26 S 3186 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Funding Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 35)
7/26 HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 13)

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