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
Jan. 12, 2006 MD SB 790 Health Care for Large Companies Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
Jan. 12, 2006 MD SB 790 Health Care for Large Companies Veto Override Passed - House (88 - 50)
Jan. 12, 2006 MD HB 391 Minimum Wage Increase Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 48)
Jan. 11, 2006 MS SB 2310 Food and Tobacco Taxes Bill Passed - House (90 - 30)
Jan. 10, 2006 ME LD 1690 Race Tracks and Casinos in Washington County Veto Override Failed - House (63 - 77)
Jan. 6, 2006 MS SB 2310 Food and Tobacco Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 15)
Jan. 5, 2006 NJ S 2907 Reimbursement for Contaminated Sites Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
Jan. 5, 2006 MS HB 206 Bonds for Economic Development Bill Passed - House (77 - 40)
Jan. 5, 2006 NJ S 1412 Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Jan. 5, 2006 NJ S 1412 Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
July 26, 2005 National H Amdt 514 Small Employer Health Benefits Plan Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (197 - 230)
March 7, 2005 National S Amdt 44 Minimum Wage Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 49)
March 7, 2005 National S Amdt 128 Minimum Wage Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 61)
Oct. 11, 2004 National HR 4520 JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Strength) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 17)
Oct. 7, 2004 National HR 4520 JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Strength) Conference Report Adopted - House (280 - 141)
Sept. 9, 2004 National HR 5006 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill- FY 2005 Bill Passed - House (388 - 13)
July 8, 2004 National HR 4754 Commerce Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (397 - 18)
May 12, 2004 National HR 4279 Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (273 - 152)
May 11, 2004 National S 1637 Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 5)
April 8, 2004 National HR 3108 Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 19)
April 2, 2004 National HR 3108 Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 Conference Report Adopted - House (336 - 69)
March 10, 2004 National HR 339 Food Industry Obesity Lawsuits (Cheeseburger Bill) Bill Passed - House (276 - 139)
March 3, 2004 National HR 1561 US Patent and Trademark Fee Modernization Act, 2004 Bill Passed - House (379 - 28)
Feb. 25, 2004 National HR 2751 GAO Human Capital Reform Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (382 - 43)
June 19, 2003 National HR 660 Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (262 - 162)
Jan. 8, 2003 National S 23 Unemployment Benefits bill Bill Passed - House (416 - 4)
June 18, 2002 National S 2600 Terrorism Insurance Bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14)
July 19, 2001 National H Amdt 200 Community Solutions Act Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (168 - 261)
March 6, 2001 National S J Res 6 Ergonomics Regulations Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 44)
Sept. 26, 2000 National HR 5175 Small Business Superfund Exemption Bill Failed - House (253 - 161)
July 13, 2000 National S Amdt 3821 Estate Tax Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
June 9, 2000 National H Amdt 763 Estate Tax Substitute Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 222)
June 8, 2000 National H Amdt 760 OSHA Ergonomic Protection Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 220)
March 9, 2000 National H Amdt 594 Minimum Wage Increase-Two Year Raise Amendment Adopted - House (246 - 179)
March 9, 2000 National HR 3081 Small Business Tax Fairness Act of 2000 Bill Passed - House (257 - 169)
March 9, 2000 National HR 3846 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - House (282 - 143)
March 9, 2000 National HR 3081 Small Business Tax Fairness Act of 2000 Bill Passed - House (257 - 169)
Feb. 16, 2000 National HR 2366 Small Business Liability Reform bill Bill Passed - House (221 - 193)
Feb. 2, 2000 National HR 833 Bankruptcy Reform bill Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 14)
Nov. 9, 1999 National S Amdt 2751 Two Year Minimum Wage Increase Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 48)
Nov. 9, 1999 National S Amdt 2547 Three Year Minimum Wage Increase Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 44)
May 5, 1999 National HR 833 Bankruptcy Reform bill Bill Passed - House (313 - 108)
Sept. 24, 1998 National HR 3736 Nonimmigrant Specialty Workers bill Bill Passed - House (288 - 133)
Sept. 24, 1998 National HR 3736 Nonimmigrant Specialty Workers bill Bill Passed - House (288 - 133)
July 23, 1998 National S Amdt 3258 Temporary Farm Workers Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 31)
May 18, 1998 National S Amdt 2417 U.S. Citizen Recruitment Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 39)
April 1, 1998 National H Amdt 548 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 225)
March 26, 1998 National HR 3246 Small Business and Employee Fairness bill Bill Passed - House (202 - 200)
March 6, 1998 National S Amdt 1708 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (58 - 37)
Nov. 7, 1997 National HR 2647 PLA Monitoring bill Bill Passed - House (408 - 10)
March 19, 1997 National HR 1 Compensatory Time Bill Bill Passed - House (222 - 210)
Sept. 10, 1996 National S 2056 Employment Nondiscrimination Act of 1996 Bill Failed - Senate (49 - 50)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3103 Health Insurance Portability bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
Aug. 1, 1996 National HR 3103 Health Insurance Portability bill Conference Report Adopted - House (421 - 2)
July 30, 1996 National HR 2391 Working Families Flexibility Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (225 - 195)
July 11, 1996 National H Amdt 1273 Drug Price Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (180 - 242)
July 10, 1996 National S Amdt 4438 Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 38)
July 10, 1996 National HR 743 Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 46)
July 9, 1996 National S Amdt 4435 Minimum Wage Increase Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52)
July 9, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24)
July 9, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24)
May 23, 1996 National H Amdt 1085 Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 229)
May 23, 1996 National H Amdt 1085 Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 188)
May 23, 1996 National H Amdt 1085 Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 188)
May 23, 1996 National H Amdt 1085 Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 229)
May 23, 1996 National H Amdt 1084 Minimum Wage Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (266 - 162)
May 23, 1996 National HR 1227 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (281 - 144)
May 22, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - House (414 - 10)
May 22, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - House (414 - 10)
May 9, 1996 National HR 956 Product Liability bill Veto Override Failed - House (258 - 163)
May 1, 1996 National S Amdt 3752 Citizen Verification Pilot Program Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 46)
Date No. Title Outcome
1/12 SB 790 Health Care for Large Companies Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
1/12 SB 790 Health Care for Large Companies Veto Override Passed - House (88 - 50)
1/12 HB 391 Minimum Wage Increase Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 48)
1/11 SB 2310 Food and Tobacco Taxes Bill Passed - House (90 - 30)
1/10 LD 1690 Race Tracks and Casinos in Washington County Veto Override Failed - House (63 - 77)
1/06 SB 2310 Food and Tobacco Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 15)
1/05 S 2907 Reimbursement for Contaminated Sites Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
1/05 HB 206 Bonds for Economic Development Bill Passed - House (77 - 40)
1/05 S 1412 Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
1/05 S 1412 Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
7/26 H Amdt 514 Small Employer Health Benefits Plan Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (197 - 230)
3/07 S Amdt 44 Minimum Wage Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 49)
3/07 S Amdt 128 Minimum Wage Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 61)
10/11 HR 4520 JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Strength) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 17)
10/07 HR 4520 JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Strength) Conference Report Adopted - House (280 - 141)
9/09 HR 5006 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill- FY 2005 Bill Passed - House (388 - 13)
7/08 HR 4754 Commerce Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (397 - 18)
5/12 HR 4279 Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (273 - 152)
5/11 S 1637 Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 5)
4/08 HR 3108 Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 19)
4/02 HR 3108 Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 Conference Report Adopted - House (336 - 69)
3/10 HR 339 Food Industry Obesity Lawsuits (Cheeseburger Bill) Bill Passed - House (276 - 139)
3/03 HR 1561 US Patent and Trademark Fee Modernization Act, 2004 Bill Passed - House (379 - 28)
2/25 HR 2751 GAO Human Capital Reform Act of 2004 Bill Passed - House (382 - 43)
6/19 HR 660 Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (262 - 162)
1/08 S 23 Unemployment Benefits bill Bill Passed - House (416 - 4)
6/18 S 2600 Terrorism Insurance Bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14)
7/19 H Amdt 200 Community Solutions Act Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (168 - 261)
3/06 S J Res 6 Ergonomics Regulations Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 44)
9/26 HR 5175 Small Business Superfund Exemption Bill Failed - House (253 - 161)
7/13 S Amdt 3821 Estate Tax Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
6/09 H Amdt 763 Estate Tax Substitute Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 222)
6/08 H Amdt 760 OSHA Ergonomic Protection Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 220)
3/09 H Amdt 594 Minimum Wage Increase-Two Year Raise Amendment Adopted - House (246 - 179)
3/09 HR 3081 Small Business Tax Fairness Act of 2000 Bill Passed - House (257 - 169)
3/09 HR 3846 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - House (282 - 143)
3/09 HR 3081 Small Business Tax Fairness Act of 2000 Bill Passed - House (257 - 169)
2/16 HR 2366 Small Business Liability Reform bill Bill Passed - House (221 - 193)
2/02 HR 833 Bankruptcy Reform bill Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 14)
11/09 S Amdt 2751 Two Year Minimum Wage Increase Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 48)
11/09 S Amdt 2547 Three Year Minimum Wage Increase Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 44)
5/05 HR 833 Bankruptcy Reform bill Bill Passed - House (313 - 108)
9/24 HR 3736 Nonimmigrant Specialty Workers bill Bill Passed - House (288 - 133)
9/24 HR 3736 Nonimmigrant Specialty Workers bill Bill Passed - House (288 - 133)
7/23 S Amdt 3258 Temporary Farm Workers Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 31)
5/18 S Amdt 2417 U.S. Citizen Recruitment Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 39)
4/01 H Amdt 548 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 225)
3/26 HR 3246 Small Business and Employee Fairness bill Bill Passed - House (202 - 200)
3/06 S Amdt 1708 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (58 - 37)
11/07 HR 2647 PLA Monitoring bill Bill Passed - House (408 - 10)
3/19 HR 1 Compensatory Time Bill Bill Passed - House (222 - 210)
9/10 S 2056 Employment Nondiscrimination Act of 1996 Bill Failed - Senate (49 - 50)
8/02 HR 3103 Health Insurance Portability bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0)
8/02 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
8/02 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72)
8/02 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72)
8/02 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
8/01 HR 3103 Health Insurance Portability bill Conference Report Adopted - House (421 - 2)
7/30 HR 2391 Working Families Flexibility Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (225 - 195)
7/11 H Amdt 1273 Drug Price Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (180 - 242)
7/10 S Amdt 4438 Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 38)
7/10 HR 743 Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 46)
7/09 S Amdt 4435 Minimum Wage Increase Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52)
7/09 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24)
7/09 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24)
5/23 H Amdt 1085 Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 229)
5/23 H Amdt 1085 Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 188)
5/23 H Amdt 1085 Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 188)
5/23 H Amdt 1085 Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 229)
5/23 H Amdt 1084 Minimum Wage Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (266 - 162)
5/23 HR 1227 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (281 - 144)
5/22 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - House (414 - 10)
5/22 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - House (414 - 10)
5/09 HR 956 Product Liability bill Veto Override Failed - House (258 - 163)
5/01 S Amdt 3752 Citizen Verification Pilot Program Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 46)

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