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
May 2, 2011 CT SB 1239 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17)
April 28, 2011 MT HB 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
April 25, 2011 OR SB 99 Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
April 20, 2011 IA SF 525 Revises the Iowa Mental Health System Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
April 19, 2011 IN HB 1210 Repealing Medicaid Funding for Planned Parenthood Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13)
April 14, 2011 NC HB 383 Relating to Unemployment Insurance Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
April 14, 2011 National HR 1473 2011 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 19)
April 12, 2011 MT HB 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Conference Report Rejected - Senate (25 - 25)
April 11, 2011 MT HB 439 Authorizing New Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
April 7, 2011 AL SB 133 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
April 4, 2011 ID S 1202 Appropriations to Secretary of State Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
April 1, 2011 AZ SB 1618 2011-2012 Budget Reconciliation for Higher Education Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
April 1, 2011 AZ SB 1619 Provisions to Health and Health Care for 2011-2012 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
April 1, 2011 AZ SB 1617 K-12 Education Budget for 2011-2012 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
March 30, 2011 NY S 2808 Implementing the Education, Labor, and Family Assistance Budget Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 13)
March 28, 2011 ID H 260 Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
March 27, 2011 MS SB 3100 Issuance of State Bonds for Improvements in Higher Learning Institutions Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 10)
March 24, 2011 ID S 1182 2012-2013 State Liquor Division Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
March 23, 2011 MI HB 4408 Employment Compensation Fund Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
March 22, 2011 AL SB 72 Repealing the Deferred Retirement Option Plan Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13)
March 17, 2011 National H J Res 48 Additional Continuing Appropriations Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (87 - 13)
March 16, 2011 NM HB 2 General Appropriation Act of 2011 Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14)
March 16, 2011 AZ SB 1613 Budget Proposal Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
March 10, 2011 AZ SCR 1019 State Appropriations Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
March 9, 2011 MI SB 158 Collective Bargaining Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
March 9, 2011 NC SB 13 2010-2011 Budget Amendments Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
March 9, 2011 National HR 1 Continuing Appropriations Bill Failed - Senate (44 - 56)
March 9, 2011 National S Amdt 149 Department of Defense funding and Continuing Appropriations Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 58)
March 3, 2011 NJ S 1216 Loans for Women and Minority-Owned Businesses Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 16)
March 2, 2011 National H J Res 44 Continuing Appropriations Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (91 - 9)
March 2, 2011 National S Amdt 115 Calling for a Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (58 - 40)
March 2, 2011 AZ SB 1231 State Spending Cap Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
March 1, 2011 National S Amdt 112 Prioritizing Payment of Public Debt Amendment Tabled - Senate (52 - 47)
March 1, 2011 SC S 434 Prohibiting DHHS From Reducing Provider Rates Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
Feb. 24, 2011 ID S 1108 Education Provisions and Teacher Entitlements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
Feb. 23, 2011 TX SJR 1 Urging Congress to Propose a Balanced Budget Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
Feb. 21, 2011 VA SB 1446 Transportation Budget Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (1 - 38)
Feb. 17, 2011 VA HB 2527 Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Fund and Bank Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
Feb. 15, 2011 KS HB 2014 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Feb. 7, 2011 NC SB 13 2010-2011 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
Feb. 3, 2011 MN HF 130 2010-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 27)
Jan. 31, 2011 NY S 2707 Funding State Mandated Programs Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 20)
Jan. 28, 2011 WY HB 244 Unemployment Insurance Amendments
Jan. 19, 2011 NY S 1892 Limiting State Spending Amendment Adopted - Senate (41 - 19)
Dec. 21, 2010 National HR 3082 Continuing Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (79 - 16)
Dec. 8, 2010 National S 3985 Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45)
Nov. 30, 2010 National S Amdt 4697 Prohibiting Earmarks Motion Rejected - Senate (39 - 56)
Sept. 29, 2010 National HR 3081 Continuing Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 30)
Sept. 29, 2010 National S Amdt 4676 Reducing "Continuing Appropriation" Amounts by 5 Percent Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
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)
June 9, 2010 National S Amdt 4326 Requiring Reports on Foreign Holdings of U.S. Debt Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 41)
June 9, 2010 National S Amdt 4302 Requiring Reports on Foreign Holdings of U.S. Debt Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (38 - 61)
May 27, 2010 National HR 4899 Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Supplemental Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 28)
May 18, 2010 National S Amdt 4051 Prohibiting Funding of State and Local Governments to Prevent Defaulting on Debt Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
May 11, 2010 National S Amdt 3839 Termination of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Conservatorships Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 56)
April 15, 2010 National HR 4851 Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 38)
April 1, 2010 AZ SCR 1060 State Debt Limit Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
March 10, 2010 National HR 4213 Extending Unemployment Benefits and Certain Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
March 3, 2010 National S Amdt 3353 Payment to Social Security Recipients Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
Feb. 2, 2010 AZ SB 1003 Lottery Revenue Bond Authorization and State Building Lease-Purchase Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
Jan. 28, 2010 National H J Res 45 Increasing the Public Debt Limit and Reinstating PAYGO Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
Jan. 26, 2010 National S Amdt 3302 Establishing a Federal Budget Deficit Commission Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46)
Jan. 21, 2010 National S Amdt 3301 Ending the Troubled Asset Relief Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 45)
Dec. 24, 2009 National HR 4314 Increasing the National Public Debt Limit Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
Dec. 13, 2009 National HR 3288 2009-2010 Omnibus Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (57 - 35)
Oct. 29, 2009 National HR 2996 Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (72 - 28)
Oct. 27, 2009 National HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits Cloture Invoked - Senate (87 - 13)
Oct. 8, 2009 National HR 2997 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
Sept. 30, 2009 National HR 2918 Continuing Appropriations Resolution and 2009-2010 Legislative Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 38)
Aug. 6, 2009 National HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37)
April 29, 2009 National S Con Res 13 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 43)
March 31, 2009 National S Amdt 739 Public Debt Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 54)
Feb. 13, 2009 National HR 1 Appropriations, Tax Law Amendments, and Unemployment Benefit Amendments ("Stimulus Bill") Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 38)
Feb. 10, 2009 National HR 1 Appropriations, Tax Law Amendments, and Unemployment Benefit Amendments ("Stimulus Bill") Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/02 SB 1239 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17)
4/28 HB 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
4/25 SB 99 Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
4/20 SF 525 Revises the Iowa Mental Health System Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
4/19 HB 1210 Repealing Medicaid Funding for Planned Parenthood Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13)
4/14 HB 383 Relating to Unemployment Insurance Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
4/14 HR 1473 2011 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 19)
4/12 HB 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Conference Report Rejected - Senate (25 - 25)
4/11 HB 439 Authorizing New Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
4/07 SB 133 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
4/04 S 1202 Appropriations to Secretary of State Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
4/01 SB 1618 2011-2012 Budget Reconciliation for Higher Education Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
4/01 SB 1619 Provisions to Health and Health Care for 2011-2012 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
4/01 SB 1617 K-12 Education Budget for 2011-2012 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
3/30 S 2808 Implementing the Education, Labor, and Family Assistance Budget Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 13)
3/28 H 260 Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
3/27 SB 3100 Issuance of State Bonds for Improvements in Higher Learning Institutions Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 10)
3/24 S 1182 2012-2013 State Liquor Division Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
3/23 HB 4408 Employment Compensation Fund Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
3/22 SB 72 Repealing the Deferred Retirement Option Plan Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13)
3/17 H J Res 48 Additional Continuing Appropriations Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (87 - 13)
3/16 HB 2 General Appropriation Act of 2011 Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14)
3/16 SB 1613 Budget Proposal Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
3/10 SCR 1019 State Appropriations Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
3/09 SB 158 Collective Bargaining Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
3/09 SB 13 2010-2011 Budget Amendments Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
3/09 HR 1 Continuing Appropriations Bill Failed - Senate (44 - 56)
3/09 S Amdt 149 Department of Defense funding and Continuing Appropriations Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 58)
3/03 S 1216 Loans for Women and Minority-Owned Businesses Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 16)
3/02 H J Res 44 Continuing Appropriations Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (91 - 9)
3/02 S Amdt 115 Calling for a Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (58 - 40)
3/02 SB 1231 State Spending Cap Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
3/01 S Amdt 112 Prioritizing Payment of Public Debt Amendment Tabled - Senate (52 - 47)
3/01 S 434 Prohibiting DHHS From Reducing Provider Rates Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
2/24 S 1108 Education Provisions and Teacher Entitlements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
2/23 SJR 1 Urging Congress to Propose a Balanced Budget Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
2/21 SB 1446 Transportation Budget Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (1 - 38)
2/17 HB 2527 Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Fund and Bank Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
2/15 HB 2014 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
2/07 SB 13 2010-2011 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
2/03 HF 130 2010-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 27)
1/31 S 2707 Funding State Mandated Programs Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 20)
1/28 HB 244 Unemployment Insurance Amendments
1/19 S 1892 Limiting State Spending Amendment Adopted - Senate (41 - 19)
12/21 HR 3082 Continuing Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (79 - 16)
12/08 S 3985 Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45)
11/30 S Amdt 4697 Prohibiting Earmarks Motion Rejected - Senate (39 - 56)
9/29 HR 3081 Continuing Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 30)
9/29 S Amdt 4676 Reducing "Continuing Appropriation" Amounts by 5 Percent Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
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)
6/09 S Amdt 4326 Requiring Reports on Foreign Holdings of U.S. Debt Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 41)
6/09 S Amdt 4302 Requiring Reports on Foreign Holdings of U.S. Debt Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (38 - 61)
5/27 HR 4899 Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Supplemental Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 28)
5/18 S Amdt 4051 Prohibiting Funding of State and Local Governments to Prevent Defaulting on Debt Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
5/11 S Amdt 3839 Termination of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Conservatorships Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 56)
4/15 HR 4851 Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 38)
4/01 SCR 1060 State Debt Limit Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
3/10 HR 4213 Extending Unemployment Benefits and Certain Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
3/03 S Amdt 3353 Payment to Social Security Recipients Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
2/02 SB 1003 Lottery Revenue Bond Authorization and State Building Lease-Purchase Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
1/28 H J Res 45 Increasing the Public Debt Limit and Reinstating PAYGO Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
1/26 S Amdt 3302 Establishing a Federal Budget Deficit Commission Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46)
1/21 S Amdt 3301 Ending the Troubled Asset Relief Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 45)
12/24 HR 4314 Increasing the National Public Debt Limit Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
12/13 HR 3288 2009-2010 Omnibus Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (57 - 35)
10/29 HR 2996 Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (72 - 28)
10/27 HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits Cloture Invoked - Senate (87 - 13)
10/08 HR 2997 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
9/30 HR 2918 Continuing Appropriations Resolution and 2009-2010 Legislative Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 38)
8/06 HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37)
4/29 S Con Res 13 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 43)
3/31 S Amdt 739 Public Debt Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 54)
2/13 HR 1 Appropriations, Tax Law Amendments, and Unemployment Benefit Amendments ("Stimulus Bill") Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 38)
2/10 HR 1 Appropriations, Tax Law Amendments, and Unemployment Benefit Amendments ("Stimulus Bill") Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)

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