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 19, 2008 IA HF 2645 Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy Bill Passed - House (52 - 47)
March 19, 2008 IA SJR 2002 Natural Resources Trust Fund Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (47 - 2)
March 19, 2008 KS SB 541 Expanding Children's Health Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
March 19, 2008 ID S 1484 Disclosing Fiscal Impacts of Citizens Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
March 19, 2008 ID S 1447 Capping Medical Benefits for State Government Retirees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
March 18, 2008 KS Kelly Amnd. Premium Assistance Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27)
March 18, 2008 KS Hensley Amnd. Premium Assistance Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27)
March 18, 2008 MS SB 2497 Increasing Unemployment Compensation Bill Passed - House (71 - 48)
March 18, 2008 NH HB 1645 State Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (259 - 60)
March 18, 2008 CO HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
March 18, 2008 ID H 657 Highway Project Financing Bill Passed - House (47 - 23)
March 17, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Passed - House (61 - 8)
March 17, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 12)
March 17, 2008 PA SB 1137 Expanding Subsidized Health Care Bill Passed - House (118 - 81)
March 17, 2008 ID HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
March 17, 2008 KS HB 2762 Income Tax Reduction Bill Passed - House (109 - 13)
March 17, 2008 KS HB 2938 Sales Tax Exemptions Bill Passed - House (96 - 26)
March 17, 2008 ID H 594 Amending Property Tax Formula Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
March 17, 2008 ID H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
March 17, 2008 ID H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
March 16, 2008 WV SB 150 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 5)
March 14, 2008 IN HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 17)
March 14, 2008 IN HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6)
March 14, 2008 IN SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Conference Report Adopted - House (79 - 20)
March 14, 2008 IN SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 7)
March 14, 2008 KS HB 2873 Department of Corrections Bonds Bill Passed - House (104 - 18)
March 14, 2008 MD SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
March 13, 2008 WA HB 2687 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 18)
March 13, 2008 VA HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
March 13, 2008 WA HB 2687 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 32)
March 13, 2008 NJ A 873 Extending Family Leave Benefits Bill Passed - House (46 - 30)
March 12, 2008 MA DeLeo Amdt Legislative Committee Chair Pay Raises Amendment Adopted - House (126 - 20)
March 12, 2008 FL HB 7009 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (77 - 41)
March 12, 2008 FL HB 7009 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 12)
March 12, 2008 KY HB 600 State Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
March 12, 2008 MI SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
March 12, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (84 - 14)
March 12, 2008 KY HB 262 Taxation Changes Bill Passed - House (50 - 45)
March 12, 2008 CA ABx3 9 Oil Tax Bill Failed - House (45 - 30)
March 12, 2008 WI AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
March 11, 2008 WA SB 6809 Working Family Tax Exemption Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
March 11, 2008 ID H 581 Highway Spending Regulations Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
March 11, 2008 PA HB 1 Clean Energy Program Bill Passed - House (126 - 74)
March 11, 2008 WI AB 862 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
March 11, 2008 AZ HB 2220 State Equalization Property Tax Repeal Bill Passed - House (32 - 28)
March 11, 2008 GA HB 1158 Motor Vehicle Trauma Care Fee Bill Passed - House (164 - 7)
March 11, 2008 GA HB 1133 Tax Credits for Nonprofit Donations Bill Passed - House (92 - 73)
March 10, 2008 IA HF 2359 Veterans Trust Fund Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
March 10, 2008 AZ SB 1476 Reducing Probation for Good Behavior Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
March 10, 2008 ID H 592 Film and Television Production Rebate Bill Passed - House (51 - 17)
March 7, 2008 ID H 579 Voter-Mandated Property Tax Limitations Bill Passed - House (39 - 29)
March 7, 2008 ID H 577 Voter Approval of Local Improvement District Funding Bill Passed - House (43 - 25)
March 6, 2008 NH Amdt 0891 to SB 530 Fully Subsidized Kindergarten Construction Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 12)
March 6, 2008 WA SB 6809 Working Family Tax Exemption Bill Passed - House (57 - 37)
March 6, 2008 AZ HB 2043 State Government Hiring Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
March 6, 2008 MN HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
March 6, 2008 FL SB 1852 Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
March 6, 2008 AZ HB 2857 State Spending Freeze Bill Passed - House (33 - 24)
March 6, 2008 AZ HB 2857 State Spending Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
March 6, 2008 MN HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - House (99 - 34)
March 6, 2008 MS HB 1601 Medicaid Appropriations Bill Passed - House (74 - 41)
March 6, 2008 ID H 588 Food Tax Credit Expansion Bill Passed - House (62 - 8)
March 5, 2008 UT HB 359 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 23)
March 5, 2008 UT HB 15 Sexually Transmitted Disease Education Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 17)
March 5, 2008 IA HF 2359 Veterans Trust Fund Bill Passed - House (75 - 21)
March 5, 2008 GA SR 796 Property Tax Assessment Cap Resolution Failed - House (110 - 62)
March 5, 2008 ID H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
March 5, 2008 ID HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise Resolution Passed - House (51 - 19)
March 5, 2008 ID H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production Bill Passed - House (60 - 10)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 901 Austism Treatment Funding Bill Passed - House (55 - 39)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 151 Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (70 - 24)
March 5, 2008 AK SB 256 2008-2009 Supplemental Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 2)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 47 Health Savings Account Tax Deductions Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
March 4, 2008 GA HB 1245 Public Defender Funding Amendments Bill Passed - House (141 - 21)
March 4, 2008 HI SB 2423 Turtle Bay Acquisition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2)
March 4, 2008 AK HB 310 2008-2009 Operating Budget Bill Passed - House (29 - 10)
March 4, 2008 MD HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - House (105 - 31)
March 4, 2008 UT HB 359 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3)
March 4, 2008 UT SB 2 2007-2009 Biennium Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 3, 2008 MN Seifert Amendment: Restriction of State Aid Based on Compliance with Immigration Laws Amendment Rejected - House (66 - 67)
March 3, 2008 UT SB 48 School Building Funding Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
March 3, 2008 NJ S 786 Extending Family Leave Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
March 3, 2008 MN HF 3201 Omnibus Tax Bill Bill Passed - House (81 - 51)
Feb. 29, 2008 KS HB 2870 Employment Incentive for Teachers Bill Failed - House (59 - 63)
Feb. 29, 2008 ID S 1436 Teacher Pay-for-Performance Plan Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 19)
Feb. 28, 2008 KS Ward Amnd. Teacher Scholarship Program Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 71)
Feb. 28, 2008 IN SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Bill Passed - House (64 - 35)
Feb. 28, 2008 KS HB 2605 Changing School Finance Formula Bill Failed - House (62 - 63)
Feb. 28, 2008 UT SB 162 State Discretion Over Federal Education Programs Bill Passed - House (38 - 33)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 770 Corporate Research and Development Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (84 - 13)
Feb. 27, 2008 KS McKinney Amnd. A to HB 2760 Per Student Public School Funding Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 70)
Feb. 27, 2008 VA HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - House (52 - 13)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO SB 128 Eliminating Sales and Use Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
Feb. 27, 2008 SD HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1180 Unemployment Benefits for Military Spouses Bill Passed - House (60 - 5)
Feb. 26, 2008 WI A Amnd. 1 Divestment Due to Genocide Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (50 - 47)
Feb. 26, 2008 IN Amdt 1 to SJR 1 Adjusting the Constitutional Property Tax Cap Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 50)
Feb. 26, 2008 IN HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/19 HF 2645 Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy Bill Passed - House (52 - 47)
3/19 SJR 2002 Natural Resources Trust Fund Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (47 - 2)
3/19 SB 541 Expanding Children's Health Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
3/19 S 1484 Disclosing Fiscal Impacts of Citizens Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
3/19 S 1447 Capping Medical Benefits for State Government Retirees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
3/18 Kelly Amnd. Premium Assistance Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27)
3/18 Hensley Amnd. Premium Assistance Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27)
3/18 SB 2497 Increasing Unemployment Compensation Bill Passed - House (71 - 48)
3/18 HB 1645 State Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (259 - 60)
3/18 HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
3/18 H 657 Highway Project Financing Bill Passed - House (47 - 23)
3/17 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Passed - House (61 - 8)
3/17 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 12)
3/17 SB 1137 Expanding Subsidized Health Care Bill Passed - House (118 - 81)
3/17 HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
3/17 HB 2762 Income Tax Reduction Bill Passed - House (109 - 13)
3/17 HB 2938 Sales Tax Exemptions Bill Passed - House (96 - 26)
3/17 H 594 Amending Property Tax Formula Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
3/17 H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
3/17 H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
3/16 SB 150 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 5)
3/14 HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 17)
3/14 HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6)
3/14 SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Conference Report Adopted - House (79 - 20)
3/14 SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 7)
3/14 HB 2873 Department of Corrections Bonds Bill Passed - House (104 - 18)
3/14 SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
3/13 HB 2687 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 18)
3/13 HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
3/13 HB 2687 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 32)
3/13 A 873 Extending Family Leave Benefits Bill Passed - House (46 - 30)
3/12 DeLeo Amdt Legislative Committee Chair Pay Raises Amendment Adopted - House (126 - 20)
3/12 HB 7009 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (77 - 41)
3/12 HB 7009 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 12)
3/12 HB 600 State Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
3/12 SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
3/12 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (84 - 14)
3/12 HB 262 Taxation Changes Bill Passed - House (50 - 45)
3/12 ABx3 9 Oil Tax Bill Failed - House (45 - 30)
3/12 AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
3/11 SB 6809 Working Family Tax Exemption Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
3/11 H 581 Highway Spending Regulations Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
3/11 HB 1 Clean Energy Program Bill Passed - House (126 - 74)
3/11 AB 862 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
3/11 HB 2220 State Equalization Property Tax Repeal Bill Passed - House (32 - 28)
3/11 HB 1158 Motor Vehicle Trauma Care Fee Bill Passed - House (164 - 7)
3/11 HB 1133 Tax Credits for Nonprofit Donations Bill Passed - House (92 - 73)
3/10 HF 2359 Veterans Trust Fund Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
3/10 SB 1476 Reducing Probation for Good Behavior Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
3/10 H 592 Film and Television Production Rebate Bill Passed - House (51 - 17)
3/07 H 579 Voter-Mandated Property Tax Limitations Bill Passed - House (39 - 29)
3/07 H 577 Voter Approval of Local Improvement District Funding Bill Passed - House (43 - 25)
3/06 Amdt 0891 to SB 530 Fully Subsidized Kindergarten Construction Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 12)
3/06 SB 6809 Working Family Tax Exemption Bill Passed - House (57 - 37)
3/06 HB 2043 State Government Hiring Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
3/06 HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
3/06 SB 1852 Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
3/06 HB 2857 State Spending Freeze Bill Passed - House (33 - 24)
3/06 HB 2857 State Spending Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
3/06 HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - House (99 - 34)
3/06 HB 1601 Medicaid Appropriations Bill Passed - House (74 - 41)
3/06 H 588 Food Tax Credit Expansion Bill Passed - House (62 - 8)
3/05 HB 359 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 23)
3/05 HB 15 Sexually Transmitted Disease Education Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 17)
3/05 HF 2359 Veterans Trust Fund Bill Passed - House (75 - 21)
3/05 SR 796 Property Tax Assessment Cap Resolution Failed - House (110 - 62)
3/05 H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
3/05 HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise Resolution Passed - House (51 - 19)
3/05 H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production Bill Passed - House (60 - 10)
3/05 AB 901 Austism Treatment Funding Bill Passed - House (55 - 39)
3/05 AB 151 Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (70 - 24)
3/05 SB 256 2008-2009 Supplemental Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 2)
3/05 AB 47 Health Savings Account Tax Deductions Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
3/04 HB 1245 Public Defender Funding Amendments Bill Passed - House (141 - 21)
3/04 SB 2423 Turtle Bay Acquisition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2)
3/04 HB 310 2008-2009 Operating Budget Bill Passed - House (29 - 10)
3/04 HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - House (105 - 31)
3/04 HB 359 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3)
3/04 SB 2 2007-2009 Biennium Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/03 Seifert Amendment: Restriction of State Aid Based on Compliance with Immigration Laws Amendment Rejected - House (66 - 67)
3/03 SB 48 School Building Funding Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
3/03 S 786 Extending Family Leave Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
3/03 HF 3201 Omnibus Tax Bill Bill Passed - House (81 - 51)
2/29 HB 2870 Employment Incentive for Teachers Bill Failed - House (59 - 63)
2/29 S 1436 Teacher Pay-for-Performance Plan Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 19)
2/28 Ward Amnd. Teacher Scholarship Program Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 71)
2/28 SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Bill Passed - House (64 - 35)
2/28 HB 2605 Changing School Finance Formula Bill Failed - House (62 - 63)
2/28 SB 162 State Discretion Over Federal Education Programs Bill Passed - House (38 - 33)
2/28 AB 770 Corporate Research and Development Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (84 - 13)
2/27 McKinney Amnd. A to HB 2760 Per Student Public School Funding Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 70)
2/27 HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/27 HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
2/27 HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - House (52 - 13)
2/27 SB 128 Eliminating Sales and Use Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
2/27 HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
2/27 HB 1180 Unemployment Benefits for Military Spouses Bill Passed - House (60 - 5)
2/26 A Amnd. 1 Divestment Due to Genocide Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (50 - 47)
2/26 Amdt 1 to SJR 1 Adjusting the Constitutional Property Tax Cap Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 50)
2/26 HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)

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