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:
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.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2008 | National | HR 5818 | Assistance to States for Purchasing Foreclosed Homes | Bill Passed - House (239 - 188) |
| May 7, 2008 | SC | S Amdt P-4A | Cigarette Tax Rate Adjustment | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (18 - 24) |
| May 7, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4719 | Optional Wind Damage Insurance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 74) |
| May 7, 2008 | KS | SB 586 | Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 3) |
| May 7, 2008 | KS | SB 586 | Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - House (101 - 22) |
| May 7, 2008 | KS | HB 2412 | Coal Plant Incentives | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 48) |
| May 7, 2008 | MO | HB 2011 | 2008-2009 Department of Social Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (86 - 63) |
| May 7, 2008 | MN | SF 3001 | Modifying State Education Policies | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (45 - 20) |
| May 7, 2008 | MN | SF 3001 | Modifying State Education Policies | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (45 - 20) |
| May 7, 2008 | NH | SB 539 | Education Funding Amendments | Bill Passed - House (184 - 141) |
| May 7, 2008 | SC | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11) |
| May 7, 2008 | PA | HB 2297 | Expansion of the Keystone Opportunity Zone | Bill Passed - House (126 - 72) |
| May 7, 2008 | NY | A 9695 | Foreclosure Relief | Bill Passed - House (126 - 11) |
| May 7, 2008 | NY | A 10219 | Mortgage Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - House (122 - 15) |
| May 7, 2008 | NY | A 8972 | Foreclosure and Lending | Bill Passed - House (113 - 21) |
| May 7, 2008 | NY | A 10083 | Foreclosure Assistance Finance | Bill Passed - House (104 - 33) |
| May 7, 2008 | NY | S 7594 | Gasoline Tax Holiday | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 15) |
| May 7, 2008 | OH | SB 57 | Disability Scholarship Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| May 7, 2008 | NH | SB 312 | Insurance Coverage for Obesity Treatments | Bill Passed - House (209 - 139) |
| May 6, 2008 | RI | H 7040 | Twenty-Four Hour Operation of Video Lottery Games | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| May 6, 2008 | RI | H 7040 | Twenty-Four Hour Operation of Video Lottery Games | Veto Override Passed - House (51 - 16) |
| May 6, 2008 | SC | S Amdt P-1 | Cigarette Tax Increase for Medicaid | Amendment Tabled - Senate (31 - 13) |
| May 6, 2008 | CO | HB 1388 | Increasing Education Funding | Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 5) |
| May 6, 2008 | CO | HB 1388 | Increasing Education Funding | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13) |
| May 6, 2008 | KS | HB 2412 | Coal Plant Incentives | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 10) |
| May 6, 2008 | MO | HB 2010 | 2008-2009 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 63) |
| May 6, 2008 | CO | SB 217 | Extended Health Care Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| May 6, 2008 | CT | HB 5536 | Health Insurance Pool | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| May 6, 2008 | LA | SB 137 | Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| May 5, 2008 | MN | Howes Amendment: Gas Tax Holiday | Amendment Rejected - House (28 - 102) | |
| May 5, 2008 | KS | HB 2860 | Eminent Domain and Water Rights | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 57) |
| May 5, 2008 | KS | HB 2860 | Eminent Domain and Water Rights | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 57) |
| May 5, 2008 | MO | HB 2002 | 2008-2009 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 62) |
| May 5, 2008 | MO | HB 2003 | 2008-2009 Department of Higher Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 63) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1385 | Health Insurance Website | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 17) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | SB 200 | Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1161 | Mining Regulation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 15) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 17) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | SB 226 | Zebra Mussels Ban | Bill Passed - House (54 - 11) |
| May 5, 2008 | CT | HB 5577 | Mortgage Assistance | Bill Passed - House (124 - 24) |
| May 5, 2008 | CA | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - House (44 - 20) |
| May 5, 2008 | MN | HF 3149 | Homeowner and Property Tax Bill | Bill Passed - House (80 - 52) |
| May 3, 2008 | KS | SB 81 | Health Care Reform | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 1) |
| May 3, 2008 | KS | SB 81 | Health Care Reform | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 16) |
| May 2, 2008 | CO | SB 200 | Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination | Bill Passed - House (38 - 26) |
| May 2, 2008 | CO | HB 1161 | Mining Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2) |
| May 2, 2008 | CO | SB 217 | Extended Health Care Coverage | Bill Passed - House (44 - 22) |
| May 2, 2008 | CO | HB 1385 | Health Insurance Website | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| May 2, 2008 | CO | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| May 1, 2008 | KS | SB 148 | Electricity Generation and Conservation | Veto Override Failed - House (80 - 45) |
| May 1, 2008 | MN | SF 2369 | Background Checks for Coaches | Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 15) |
| May 1, 2008 | MI | Sub HB 5282 | Independent Health Benefit Plans | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| May 1, 2008 | AL | HB 787 | State Employees in Public Office | Bill Passed - House (57 - 36) |
| May 1, 2008 | MI | HB 5283 | Health Insurance Package | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| May 1, 2008 | RI | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| May 1, 2008 | CO | HB 1357 | Changing student testing requirements | Bill Passed - House (35 - 29) |
| May 1, 2008 | CA | AB 1943 | Passenger Rights on Commercial Airlines | Bill Passed - House (57 - 17) |
| April 30, 2008 | KS | SB 389 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| April 30, 2008 | KS | SB 148 | Electricity Generation and Conservation | Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 7) |
| April 30, 2008 | MN | HF 3195 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 21) |
| April 29, 2008 | AZ | HB 2557 | Fine Arts and Physical Education in School | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4) |
| April 29, 2008 | AZ | HB 2557 | Fine Arts and Physical Education in School | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4) |
| April 29, 2008 | RI | H 7040 | Twenty-Four Hour Operation of Video Lottery Games | Bill Passed - House (51 - 19) |
| April 29, 2008 | RI | S 2009 | Expansion of Video Lottery Facility Hours | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| April 29, 2008 | LA | HB 674 | Anti-Bullying Bill | Bill Failed - House (28 - 63) |
| April 29, 2008 | TN | SB 3042 | Open Container Law | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| April 29, 2008 | National | S 2739 | Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 | Bill Passed - House (291 - 117) |
| April 28, 2008 | MN | Walker Amdt to SF 3001 | Sex Education in Schools | Amendment Adopted - House (79 - 53) |
| April 28, 2008 | CA | SB 1137 | Residential Property Foreclosures | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| April 28, 2008 | FL | SB 2692 | Teaching Evolution in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (71 - 43) |
| April 25, 2008 | IA | SF 2425 | 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 45) |
| April 25, 2008 | RI | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (60 - 12) |
| April 24, 2008 | FL | Amdt 28283 | Commuter Trains in Orlando | Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 64) |
| April 24, 2008 | AZ | HB 2711 | State Control of Mismanaged Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 6) |
| April 24, 2008 | AZ | HB 2395 | Driving and Boating Under the Influence | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 15) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/08 | HR 5818 | Assistance to States for Purchasing Foreclosed Homes | Bill Passed - House (239 - 188) |
| 5/07 | S Amdt P-4A | Cigarette Tax Rate Adjustment | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (18 - 24) |
| 5/07 | S Amdt 4719 | Optional Wind Damage Insurance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 74) |
| 5/07 | SB 586 | Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 3) |
| 5/07 | SB 586 | Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - House (101 - 22) |
| 5/07 | HB 2412 | Coal Plant Incentives | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 48) |
| 5/07 | HB 2011 | 2008-2009 Department of Social Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (86 - 63) |
| 5/07 | SF 3001 | Modifying State Education Policies | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (45 - 20) |
| 5/07 | SF 3001 | Modifying State Education Policies | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (45 - 20) |
| 5/07 | SB 539 | Education Funding Amendments | Bill Passed - House (184 - 141) |
| 5/07 | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11) |
| 5/07 | HB 2297 | Expansion of the Keystone Opportunity Zone | Bill Passed - House (126 - 72) |
| 5/07 | A 9695 | Foreclosure Relief | Bill Passed - House (126 - 11) |
| 5/07 | A 10219 | Mortgage Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - House (122 - 15) |
| 5/07 | A 8972 | Foreclosure and Lending | Bill Passed - House (113 - 21) |
| 5/07 | A 10083 | Foreclosure Assistance Finance | Bill Passed - House (104 - 33) |
| 5/07 | S 7594 | Gasoline Tax Holiday | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 15) |
| 5/07 | SB 57 | Disability Scholarship Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| 5/07 | SB 312 | Insurance Coverage for Obesity Treatments | Bill Passed - House (209 - 139) |
| 5/06 | H 7040 | Twenty-Four Hour Operation of Video Lottery Games | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| 5/06 | H 7040 | Twenty-Four Hour Operation of Video Lottery Games | Veto Override Passed - House (51 - 16) |
| 5/06 | S Amdt P-1 | Cigarette Tax Increase for Medicaid | Amendment Tabled - Senate (31 - 13) |
| 5/06 | HB 1388 | Increasing Education Funding | Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 5) |
| 5/06 | HB 1388 | Increasing Education Funding | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 5/06 | HB 2412 | Coal Plant Incentives | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 5/06 | HB 2010 | 2008-2009 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 63) |
| 5/06 | SB 217 | Extended Health Care Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 5/06 | HB 5536 | Health Insurance Pool | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 5/06 | SB 137 | Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| 5/05 | Howes Amendment: Gas Tax Holiday | Amendment Rejected - House (28 - 102) | |
| 5/05 | HB 2860 | Eminent Domain and Water Rights | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 57) |
| 5/05 | HB 2860 | Eminent Domain and Water Rights | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 57) |
| 5/05 | HB 2002 | 2008-2009 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 62) |
| 5/05 | HB 2003 | 2008-2009 Department of Higher Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 63) |
| 5/05 | HB 1385 | Health Insurance Website | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 17) |
| 5/05 | SB 200 | Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 5/05 | HB 1161 | Mining Regulation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 15) |
| 5/05 | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 17) |
| 5/05 | SB 226 | Zebra Mussels Ban | Bill Passed - House (54 - 11) |
| 5/05 | HB 5577 | Mortgage Assistance | Bill Passed - House (124 - 24) |
| 5/05 | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - House (44 - 20) |
| 5/05 | HF 3149 | Homeowner and Property Tax Bill | Bill Passed - House (80 - 52) |
| 5/03 | SB 81 | Health Care Reform | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 1) |
| 5/03 | SB 81 | Health Care Reform | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 16) |
| 5/02 | SB 200 | Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination | Bill Passed - House (38 - 26) |
| 5/02 | HB 1161 | Mining Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2) |
| 5/02 | SB 217 | Extended Health Care Coverage | Bill Passed - House (44 - 22) |
| 5/02 | HB 1385 | Health Insurance Website | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 5/02 | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 5/01 | SB 148 | Electricity Generation and Conservation | Veto Override Failed - House (80 - 45) |
| 5/01 | SF 2369 | Background Checks for Coaches | Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 15) |
| 5/01 | Sub HB 5282 | Independent Health Benefit Plans | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 5/01 | HB 787 | State Employees in Public Office | Bill Passed - House (57 - 36) |
| 5/01 | HB 5283 | Health Insurance Package | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 5/01 | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 5/01 | HB 1357 | Changing student testing requirements | Bill Passed - House (35 - 29) |
| 5/01 | AB 1943 | Passenger Rights on Commercial Airlines | Bill Passed - House (57 - 17) |
| 4/30 | SB 389 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| 4/30 | SB 148 | Electricity Generation and Conservation | Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 7) |
| 4/30 | HF 3195 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 21) |
| 4/29 | HB 2557 | Fine Arts and Physical Education in School | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4) |
| 4/29 | HB 2557 | Fine Arts and Physical Education in School | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4) |
| 4/29 | H 7040 | Twenty-Four Hour Operation of Video Lottery Games | Bill Passed - House (51 - 19) |
| 4/29 | S 2009 | Expansion of Video Lottery Facility Hours | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| 4/29 | HB 674 | Anti-Bullying Bill | Bill Failed - House (28 - 63) |
| 4/29 | SB 3042 | Open Container Law | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| 4/29 | S 2739 | Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 | Bill Passed - House (291 - 117) |
| 4/28 | Walker Amdt to SF 3001 | Sex Education in Schools | Amendment Adopted - House (79 - 53) |
| 4/28 | SB 1137 | Residential Property Foreclosures | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 4/28 | SB 2692 | Teaching Evolution in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (71 - 43) |
| 4/25 | SF 2425 | 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 45) |
| 4/25 | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (60 - 12) |
| 4/24 | Amdt 28283 | Commuter Trains in Orlando | Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 64) |
| 4/24 | HB 2711 | State Control of Mismanaged Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 6) |
| 4/24 | HB 2395 | Driving and Boating Under the Influence | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 15) |