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
April 10, 2009 MD HB 310 Extending Unemployment Benefits to Part-Time Employees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
April 10, 2009 ID S 1186 Highway Project Financing Bill Passed - House (39 - 29)
April 9, 2009 NH HB 2 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (182 - 165)
April 9, 2009 ID H 135 Fuel Tax for Highway Maintenance Bill Failed - House (32 - 37)
April 8, 2009 OR SB 311 Changes in Liability Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
April 8, 2009 NH HB 1 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (193 - 174)
April 7, 2009 MN SF 1328 2009-2011 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 29)
April 7, 2009 MA S 2024 Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation Bill Passed - House (147 - 7)
April 7, 2009 ID S 1186 Highway Project Financing Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
April 7, 2009 ID H 276 2009-2010 Department of Environmental Quality Budget Bill Passed - House (53 - 16)
April 6, 2009 OR SB 311 Changes in Liability Limits Bill Passed - House (50 - 8)
April 3, 2009 GA HB 119 2009-2010 State Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (137 - 41)
April 3, 2009 NY A 157-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 30)
April 3, 2009 VT H 441 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - House (94 - 52)
April 3, 2009 NY A 159-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 30)
April 3, 2009 NE LB 260 Wrongful Conviction Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
April 3, 2009 NY A 158-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 30)
April 3, 2009 GA HB 243 Ending New Enrollment in Bonus Program for Teachers' National Certification Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
April 3, 2009 ID H 173 Restricting Eligibility for State Retiree Health Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
April 2, 2009 RI H 5019 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
April 2, 2009 NY A 156-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 30)
April 1, 2009 TX SB 1 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
April 1, 2009 RI H 5019 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (58 - 16)
April 1, 2009 VT H 438 Gas Tax Increase to Fund Transportation Construction Bonds Bill Passed - House (108 - 35)
April 1, 2009 AK HB 81 2009-2010 Operating Budget Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
April 1, 2009 GA SB 200 Reorganization of the Department of Transportation Bill Passed - House (90 - 84)
April 1, 2009 OH HB 2 2009-2011 Biennium Transportation Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 29)
March 31, 2009 KS HB 2354 2009-2010 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 5)
March 31, 2009 KS HB 2354 2009-2010 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 53)
March 31, 2009 NY A 157-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - House (85 - 61)
March 31, 2009 NY A 159-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - House (86 - 59)
March 31, 2009 NY A 158-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - House (88 - 59)
March 31, 2009 NY A 156-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - House (91 - 56)
March 26, 2009 MD HB 310 Extending Unemployment Benefits to Part-Time Employees Bill Passed - House (94 - 43)
March 26, 2009 MN HF 1797 Federal Stimulus Transportation Funding Bill Passed - House (113 - 19)
March 26, 2009 MO HB 2 2009-10 Education Budget Bill Passed - House (92 - 64)
March 26, 2009 MO HB 10 2009-10 Health Budget Bill Passed - House (88 - 66)
March 26, 2009 MO HB 11 2009-2010 Social Services Budget Bill Passed - House (88 - 66)
March 26, 2009 ID H 262 Teacher Compensation Adjustments Bill Passed - House (49 - 20)
March 25, 2009 PA SB 490 Oil and Gas Lease Fund Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
March 25, 2009 KS HB 2275 Drug Testing for Cash Assistance Recipients Bill Passed - House (99 - 26)
March 25, 2009 GA SB 83 Expanding Homestead Property Tax Exemption Bill Failed - House (109 - 63)
March 24, 2009 IN HB 1379 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
March 24, 2009 WI SB 37 Allowing Drivers To Keep Licenses While Paying Fines Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
March 24, 2009 KS HB 2354 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
March 24, 2009 NC SB 287 State Health Plan Changes and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
March 24, 2009 KS HB 2373 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (70 - 54)
March 23, 2009 GA HB 233 Two-Year Property Tax Assessment Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - House (114 - 55)
March 19, 2009 ID H 246 Gasoline Tax Increase Bill Failed - House (27 - 43)
March 19, 2009 IA SF 389 Health Insurance Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
March 19, 2009 NM HB 154 Capital Improvement Appropriations Bill Passed - House (37 - 28)
March 18, 2009 OH HB 2 2009-2011 Biennium Transportation Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
March 17, 2009 MT HB 2 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (65 - 35)
March 17, 2009 CO SB 228 Repealing the General Fund Spending Cap Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
March 16, 2009 NJ S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral Bill Passed - House (42 - 36)
March 16, 2009 NJ S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
March 13, 2009 SD HB Fiscal Year 2009-2010 State Budget Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
March 13, 2009 SD HB 1300 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
March 13, 2009 NM HB 346 Increasing Gross Receipts Tax and Compensating Tax to Fund Education Bill Passed - House (37 - 31)
March 13, 2009 SD HB 1300 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
March 13, 2009 KY HB 374 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
March 13, 2009 AK HB 81 2009-2010 Operating Budget Bill Passed - House (29 - 9)
March 12, 2009 SD HB 1197 Tax Changes Relating to Single Family Dwellings Under Construction Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
March 12, 2009 UT HB 2 2009-2010 Education Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 27)
March 12, 2009 MO HJR 23 Constitutional State Spending Cap Joint Resolution Passed - House (82 - 78)
March 12, 2009 GA HB 480 Car Tax Amendments Bill Passed - House (133 - 39)
March 12, 2009 KS HB 2320 State Spending Limitations and Savings Accounts Bill Passed - House (89 - 33)
March 12, 2009 MI SB 69 Alternative Business Tax Eligibility Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
March 12, 2009 WA SB 2252 Shifting Local Tax Revenue Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
March 12, 2009 WA HB 2261 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
March 12, 2009 GA HB 243 Ending New Enrollment in Bonus Program for Teachers' National Certification Bill Passed - House (92 - 79)
March 12, 2009 MI SB 201 Vehicle Sales Tax Modification Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
March 11, 2009 SD HB 1197 Tax Changes Relating to Single Family Dwellings Under Construction Veto Override Passed - House (60 - 10)
March 11, 2009 SC H 3560 2009-2010 Budget Motion Agreed - House (71 - 43)
March 11, 2009 UT HB 2 2009-2010 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9)
March 10, 2009 NV IP 1 Lodging Tax Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
March 10, 2009 HI HB 1744 Suspending the Distribution of Transient Accommodation Tax Revenue to Counties Bill Passed - House (33 - 17)
March 9, 2009 UT SB 241 Instructional Spending Requirements for School Districts Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 17)
March 9, 2009 GA HB 160 Speeding Fee Bill Passed - House (113 - 53)
March 9, 2009 KY HB 102 State and Local Transportation Authorities Bill Passed - House (67 - 23)
March 9, 2009 AR HB 1700 Expanding Eligibility for Children's Health Insurance Program Bill Passed - House (82 - 14)
March 6, 2009 UT HB 100 Prison Education and Medical Financing Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
March 6, 2009 KY HB 374 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - House (82 - 17)
March 5, 2009 OH HB 2 2009-2011 Biennium Transportation Budget Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
March 5, 2009 OR SB 581 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (37 - 22)
March 5, 2009 OR SB 5552 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (37 - 22)
March 5, 2009 NM HB 616 State Employee Return-to-Work Restrictions Bill Passed - House (49 - 13)
March 5, 2009 GA SB 200 Reorganization of State Transportation Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25)
March 4, 2009 OK SB 748 Independent Performance Audit of State Department of Education Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
March 4, 2009 OK SB 318 Repeal of the Grocery Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
March 4, 2009 NH HB 644 Gasoline Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (190 - 162)
March 3, 2009 OH HB 6 Transferable Tax Credit for Film Production Bill Passed - House (83 - 14)
March 3, 2009 OH SB 9 Transferable Tax Credit for Film Production Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
March 3, 2009 AL SB 279 Funding for Road Construction Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 11)
March 3, 2009 OR SB 581 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
March 3, 2009 OR SB 5552 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
March 3, 2009 OK SB 315 Top Marginal Income Tax Rate Reduction Postponement Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
March 2, 2009 UT HB 66 Tax Law and Education Funding Amendments Bill Failed - House (33 - 42)
Feb. 26, 2009 IA HF 414 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
Feb. 26, 2009 MO HB 242 Authorizing Four-Day School Weeks Bill Passed - House (101 - 60)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/10 HB 310 Extending Unemployment Benefits to Part-Time Employees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
4/10 S 1186 Highway Project Financing Bill Passed - House (39 - 29)
4/09 HB 2 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (182 - 165)
4/09 H 135 Fuel Tax for Highway Maintenance Bill Failed - House (32 - 37)
4/08 SB 311 Changes in Liability Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
4/08 HB 1 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (193 - 174)
4/07 SF 1328 2009-2011 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 29)
4/07 S 2024 Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation Bill Passed - House (147 - 7)
4/07 S 1186 Highway Project Financing Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
4/07 H 276 2009-2010 Department of Environmental Quality Budget Bill Passed - House (53 - 16)
4/06 SB 311 Changes in Liability Limits Bill Passed - House (50 - 8)
4/03 HB 119 2009-2010 State Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (137 - 41)
4/03 A 157-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 30)
4/03 H 441 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - House (94 - 52)
4/03 A 159-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 30)
4/03 LB 260 Wrongful Conviction Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
4/03 A 158-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 30)
4/03 HB 243 Ending New Enrollment in Bonus Program for Teachers' National Certification Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
4/03 H 173 Restricting Eligibility for State Retiree Health Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
4/02 H 5019 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
4/02 A 156-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 30)
4/01 SB 1 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
4/01 H 5019 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (58 - 16)
4/01 H 438 Gas Tax Increase to Fund Transportation Construction Bonds Bill Passed - House (108 - 35)
4/01 HB 81 2009-2010 Operating Budget Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
4/01 SB 200 Reorganization of the Department of Transportation Bill Passed - House (90 - 84)
4/01 HB 2 2009-2011 Biennium Transportation Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 29)
3/31 HB 2354 2009-2010 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 5)
3/31 HB 2354 2009-2010 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 53)
3/31 A 157-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - House (85 - 61)
3/31 A 159-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - House (86 - 59)
3/31 A 158-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - House (88 - 59)
3/31 A 156-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - House (91 - 56)
3/26 HB 310 Extending Unemployment Benefits to Part-Time Employees Bill Passed - House (94 - 43)
3/26 HF 1797 Federal Stimulus Transportation Funding Bill Passed - House (113 - 19)
3/26 HB 2 2009-10 Education Budget Bill Passed - House (92 - 64)
3/26 HB 10 2009-10 Health Budget Bill Passed - House (88 - 66)
3/26 HB 11 2009-2010 Social Services Budget Bill Passed - House (88 - 66)
3/26 H 262 Teacher Compensation Adjustments Bill Passed - House (49 - 20)
3/25 SB 490 Oil and Gas Lease Fund Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
3/25 HB 2275 Drug Testing for Cash Assistance Recipients Bill Passed - House (99 - 26)
3/25 SB 83 Expanding Homestead Property Tax Exemption Bill Failed - House (109 - 63)
3/24 HB 1379 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
3/24 SB 37 Allowing Drivers To Keep Licenses While Paying Fines Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
3/24 HB 2354 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
3/24 SB 287 State Health Plan Changes and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
3/24 HB 2373 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (70 - 54)
3/23 HB 233 Two-Year Property Tax Assessment Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - House (114 - 55)
3/19 H 246 Gasoline Tax Increase Bill Failed - House (27 - 43)
3/19 SF 389 Health Insurance Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
3/19 HB 154 Capital Improvement Appropriations Bill Passed - House (37 - 28)
3/18 HB 2 2009-2011 Biennium Transportation Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
3/17 HB 2 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (65 - 35)
3/17 SB 228 Repealing the General Fund Spending Cap Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
3/16 S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral Bill Passed - House (42 - 36)
3/16 S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
3/13 HB Fiscal Year 2009-2010 State Budget Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
3/13 HB 1300 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
3/13 HB 346 Increasing Gross Receipts Tax and Compensating Tax to Fund Education Bill Passed - House (37 - 31)
3/13 HB 1300 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
3/13 HB 374 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
3/13 HB 81 2009-2010 Operating Budget Bill Passed - House (29 - 9)
3/12 HB 1197 Tax Changes Relating to Single Family Dwellings Under Construction Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
3/12 HB 2 2009-2010 Education Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 27)
3/12 HJR 23 Constitutional State Spending Cap Joint Resolution Passed - House (82 - 78)
3/12 HB 480 Car Tax Amendments Bill Passed - House (133 - 39)
3/12 HB 2320 State Spending Limitations and Savings Accounts Bill Passed - House (89 - 33)
3/12 SB 69 Alternative Business Tax Eligibility Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
3/12 SB 2252 Shifting Local Tax Revenue Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
3/12 HB 2261 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
3/12 HB 243 Ending New Enrollment in Bonus Program for Teachers' National Certification Bill Passed - House (92 - 79)
3/12 SB 201 Vehicle Sales Tax Modification Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
3/11 HB 1197 Tax Changes Relating to Single Family Dwellings Under Construction Veto Override Passed - House (60 - 10)
3/11 H 3560 2009-2010 Budget Motion Agreed - House (71 - 43)
3/11 HB 2 2009-2010 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9)
3/10 IP 1 Lodging Tax Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
3/10 HB 1744 Suspending the Distribution of Transient Accommodation Tax Revenue to Counties Bill Passed - House (33 - 17)
3/09 SB 241 Instructional Spending Requirements for School Districts Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 17)
3/09 HB 160 Speeding Fee Bill Passed - House (113 - 53)
3/09 HB 102 State and Local Transportation Authorities Bill Passed - House (67 - 23)
3/09 HB 1700 Expanding Eligibility for Children's Health Insurance Program Bill Passed - House (82 - 14)
3/06 HB 100 Prison Education and Medical Financing Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
3/06 HB 374 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - House (82 - 17)
3/05 HB 2 2009-2011 Biennium Transportation Budget Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
3/05 SB 581 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (37 - 22)
3/05 SB 5552 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (37 - 22)
3/05 HB 616 State Employee Return-to-Work Restrictions Bill Passed - House (49 - 13)
3/05 SB 200 Reorganization of State Transportation Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25)
3/04 SB 748 Independent Performance Audit of State Department of Education Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
3/04 SB 318 Repeal of the Grocery Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
3/04 HB 644 Gasoline Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (190 - 162)
3/03 HB 6 Transferable Tax Credit for Film Production Bill Passed - House (83 - 14)
3/03 SB 9 Transferable Tax Credit for Film Production Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
3/03 SB 279 Funding for Road Construction Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 11)
3/03 SB 581 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
3/03 SB 5552 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
3/03 SB 315 Top Marginal Income Tax Rate Reduction Postponement Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
3/02 HB 66 Tax Law and Education Funding Amendments Bill Failed - House (33 - 42)
2/26 HF 414 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
2/26 HB 242 Authorizing Four-Day School Weeks Bill Passed - House (101 - 60)

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