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
Feb. 13, 2008 TN SB 3419 Parental Consent for Sexual Abuse Prevention Education Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
Feb. 13, 2008 TN SB 3419 Parental Consent for Sexual Abuse Prevention Education Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
Feb. 13, 2008 NY A 9998 New York Racing Association Funding Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17)
Feb. 12, 2008 NM HB 305 Energy Efficiency Requirements for Public Utilities Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
Feb. 12, 2008 NM HB 37 Electronic Medical Records Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 23)
Feb. 12, 2008 GA SR 796 Property Tax Assessment Cap Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 7)
Feb. 12, 2008 GA SR 686 Property Tax Assessment Freeze Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 3)
Feb. 11, 2008 NM HB 180 Healthy Food Initiatives Board Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
Feb. 11, 2008 NM HB 180 Healthy Food Initiatives Board Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
Feb. 11, 2008 NM SB 225 Health Care Commission Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 19)
Feb. 11, 2008 OR SB 1080 Driver's License Residency Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
Feb. 10, 2008 NM HB 661 Affordable Housing Tax Relief Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
Feb. 10, 2008 NM SB 487 Uranium Cleanup Fund Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Feb. 7, 2008 National HR 5140 Economic Stimulus Plan Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 16)
Feb. 7, 2008 GA SB 350 Increasing Penalties for Driving Without a License Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13)
Feb. 7, 2008 MA H 4488 Education Reorganization Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
Feb. 7, 2008 KY SB 40 Abortion Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
Feb. 6, 2008 SD SB 164 Right to Obtain Contraception Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 22)
Feb. 6, 2008 WA SB 6381 Good Faith Duties of Mortgage Brokers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
Feb. 6, 2008 MI SB 962 Prohibiting Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
Feb. 6, 2008 WA SB 6794 New Ferry Vessels Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 8)
Feb. 6, 2008 WA SB 6452 Yield Spread Premium Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17)
Feb. 5, 2008 UT SB 35 Salary Supplement for Math and Science Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 7)
Feb. 5, 2008 VA SB 501 Restaurant and Bar Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
Feb. 5, 2008 VA SB 298 Banning Smoking Public Places Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 5, 2008 VA SB 202 Local Regulation of Smoking in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
Feb. 4, 2008 MS SB 2199 Gaming Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
Feb. 4, 2008 NM SB 34 New Mexico School for the Arts Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
Feb. 4, 2008 NM SB 34 New Mexico School for the Arts Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
Jan. 31, 2008 SD SB 173 Eliminating Restrictions on Corporate Dairy Farms Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
Jan. 30, 2008 CA SB 908 Global Warming Education in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
Jan. 30, 2008 WA SB 5261 Health Insurance Rate Oversight Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
Jan. 30, 2008 CA SB 926 Mortgage Lender Requirements Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14)
Jan. 30, 2008 KY SB 112 Restricting Public Employee Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
Jan. 30, 2008 KY SB 112 Restricting Public Employee Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
Jan. 29, 2008 IN SB 143 Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13)
Jan. 29, 2008 IN SB 143 Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13)
Jan. 29, 2008 IN SB 3 Authorizing Physicians to Refuse Prescriptions Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
Jan. 29, 2008 IN SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
Jan. 29, 2008 SD SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Jan. 24, 2008 CO GN Baker Matt Baker to the Public Utilities Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (21 - 13)
Jan. 24, 2008 IN SB 3 Authorizing Physicians to Refuse Prescriptions Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 24)
Jan. 22, 2008 SD SB 26 State Regulation of Preschools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Jan. 22, 2008 National HR 4986 Defense Authorizations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 3)
Jan. 22, 2008 IN SB 18 Allowing Referendum on Public Construction Projects Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
Jan. 22, 2008 MI SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Jan. 17, 2008 IL HB 656 Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
Jan. 17, 2008 GA HB 89 Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 15)
Jan. 15, 2008 NE LB 253 Repealing Motorcycle Helmet Law Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 25)
Jan. 10, 2008 IL HB 656 Transportation Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ A 500 Education Funding Reform Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ A 4559 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ A 4314 Traffic Control Signal Monitoring Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
Dec. 18, 2007 National S Amdt 3875 Iraq Withdrawal Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 71)
Dec. 18, 2007 National HR 2764 Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17)
Dec. 18, 2007 National HR 2764 Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 25)
Dec. 18, 2007 National HR 2764 Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17)
Dec. 14, 2007 National HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 14)
Dec. 14, 2007 National HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 14)
Dec. 13, 2007 National S Amdt 3695 Limit on Farm Subsidies Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 43)
Dec. 13, 2007 National S Amdt 3810 Income Limit for Subsidies to Farmers Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 47)
Dec. 13, 2007 National HR 6 Energy Act of 2007 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (86 - 8)
Dec. 13, 2007 MI S Sub for Sub HB 4869 Extending Boxing Regulation to Mixed Martial Arts Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Dec. 13, 2007 MI SB 981 Mackinac Bridge Funding Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Dec. 11, 2007 National S Amdt 3711 Government Sponsored Farm Insurance Policies Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 58)
Nov. 29, 2007 WA Sub SB 6178 Property Tax Deferral Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
Nov. 29, 2007 WA HB 2416 Adjusting the Property Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
Nov. 20, 2007 MI HB 5408 Michigan Business Tax Surcharge Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
Nov. 19, 2007 MD HB 5 Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
Nov. 19, 2007 MD HB 1 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
Nov. 19, 2007 MD HB 1 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
Nov. 19, 2007 MD HB 1 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
Nov. 16, 2007 National S 2340 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Department of Defense Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (45 - 53)
Nov. 16, 2007 National HR 4156 Supplemental Appropriations for the Department of Defense and Timeline for Withdrawal from Iraq Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45)
Nov. 16, 2007 AK SCS CSHB 2001 Oil and Gas Production Tax Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
Nov. 8, 2007 WI SB 299 School Tax Credit Formula Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
Oct. 30, 2007 MI S Sub for Sub HB 4344 2007-2008 Department of Community Health Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3)
Oct. 30, 2007 MI S Sub for Sub HB 4360 2007-2008 Community College and Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2)
Oct. 30, 2007 National S 294 Amtrak Reauthorization Bill Passed - Senate (70 - 22)
Oct. 29, 2007 MI SB 231 2007-2008 Department of Art, History, and Library Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2)
Oct. 29, 2007 MI H Sub for Sub SB 235 2007-2008 Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3)
Oct. 29, 2007 MI SB 231 2007-2008 Department of Art, History, and Library Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2)
Oct. 29, 2007 HI SB 1 Superferry Environmental Assessment Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 5)
Oct. 25, 2007 National S Amdt 3453 Amtrak Federal Subsidy Limits Amendment Rejected - Senate (28 - 66)
Oct. 23, 2007 WI AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
Oct. 23, 2007 WI AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
Oct. 23, 2007 WI AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
Oct. 23, 2007 WI AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
Oct. 22, 2007 NY S 6484 Driver's License Citizenship Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19)
Oct. 18, 2007 MI S Sub for Sub HB 4749 Motorcycle Helmet Law Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Oct. 18, 2007 MI S Sub for Sub HB 4749 Motorcycle Helmet Law Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Oct. 17, 2007 OH Am Sub HB 177 Gambling Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Oct. 15, 2007 WI SB 2 Transportation Funding Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
Oct. 12, 2007 IL HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1)
Oct. 12, 2007 IL HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1)
Oct. 3, 2007 IL SB 1463 Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 9)
Oct. 2, 2007 IL SB 540 Truck Speed Limit Increase Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 10)
Oct. 1, 2007 MI H Sub for Sub SB 547 Public School Employee Retirement Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Oct. 1, 2007 MI H Sub for S Sub SB 546 Public School Employee Retirement Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/13 SB 3419 Parental Consent for Sexual Abuse Prevention Education Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
2/13 SB 3419 Parental Consent for Sexual Abuse Prevention Education Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
2/13 SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
2/13 A 9998 New York Racing Association Funding Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17)
2/12 HB 305 Energy Efficiency Requirements for Public Utilities Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
2/12 HB 37 Electronic Medical Records Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 23)
2/12 SR 796 Property Tax Assessment Cap Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 7)
2/12 SR 686 Property Tax Assessment Freeze Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 3)
2/11 HB 180 Healthy Food Initiatives Board Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
2/11 HB 180 Healthy Food Initiatives Board Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
2/11 SB 225 Health Care Commission Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 19)
2/11 SB 1080 Driver's License Residency Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
2/10 HB 661 Affordable Housing Tax Relief Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
2/10 SB 487 Uranium Cleanup Fund Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
2/07 HR 5140 Economic Stimulus Plan Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 16)
2/07 SB 350 Increasing Penalties for Driving Without a License Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13)
2/07 H 4488 Education Reorganization Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
2/07 SB 40 Abortion Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
2/06 SB 164 Right to Obtain Contraception Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 22)
2/06 SB 6381 Good Faith Duties of Mortgage Brokers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
2/06 SB 962 Prohibiting Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
2/06 SB 6794 New Ferry Vessels Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 8)
2/06 SB 6452 Yield Spread Premium Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17)
2/05 SB 35 Salary Supplement for Math and Science Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 7)
2/05 SB 501 Restaurant and Bar Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
2/05 SB 298 Banning Smoking Public Places Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/05 SB 202 Local Regulation of Smoking in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
2/04 SB 2199 Gaming Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
2/04 SB 34 New Mexico School for the Arts Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
2/04 SB 34 New Mexico School for the Arts Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
1/31 SB 173 Eliminating Restrictions on Corporate Dairy Farms Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
1/30 SB 908 Global Warming Education in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
1/30 SB 5261 Health Insurance Rate Oversight Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
1/30 SB 926 Mortgage Lender Requirements Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14)
1/30 SB 112 Restricting Public Employee Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
1/30 SB 112 Restricting Public Employee Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
1/29 SB 143 Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13)
1/29 SB 143 Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13)
1/29 SB 3 Authorizing Physicians to Refuse Prescriptions Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
1/29 SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
1/29 SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
1/24 GN Baker Matt Baker to the Public Utilities Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (21 - 13)
1/24 SB 3 Authorizing Physicians to Refuse Prescriptions Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 24)
1/22 SB 26 State Regulation of Preschools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
1/22 HR 4986 Defense Authorizations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 3)
1/22 SB 18 Allowing Referendum on Public Construction Projects Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
1/22 SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
1/17 HB 656 Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
1/17 HB 89 Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 15)
1/15 LB 253 Repealing Motorcycle Helmet Law Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 25)
1/10 HB 656 Transportation Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25)
1/07 A 500 Education Funding Reform Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
1/07 A 4559 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
1/07 A 4314 Traffic Control Signal Monitoring Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
12/18 S Amdt 3875 Iraq Withdrawal Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 71)
12/18 HR 2764 Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17)
12/18 HR 2764 Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 25)
12/18 HR 2764 Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17)
12/14 HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 14)
12/14 HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 14)
12/13 S Amdt 3695 Limit on Farm Subsidies Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 43)
12/13 S Amdt 3810 Income Limit for Subsidies to Farmers Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 47)
12/13 HR 6 Energy Act of 2007 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (86 - 8)
12/13 S Sub for Sub HB 4869 Extending Boxing Regulation to Mixed Martial Arts Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
12/13 SB 981 Mackinac Bridge Funding Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
12/11 S Amdt 3711 Government Sponsored Farm Insurance Policies Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 58)
11/29 Sub SB 6178 Property Tax Deferral Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
11/29 HB 2416 Adjusting the Property Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
11/20 HB 5408 Michigan Business Tax Surcharge Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
11/19 HB 5 Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
11/19 HB 1 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
11/19 HB 1 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
11/19 HB 1 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
11/16 S 2340 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Department of Defense Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (45 - 53)
11/16 HR 4156 Supplemental Appropriations for the Department of Defense and Timeline for Withdrawal from Iraq Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45)
11/16 SCS CSHB 2001 Oil and Gas Production Tax Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
11/08 SB 299 School Tax Credit Formula Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
10/30 S Sub for Sub HB 4344 2007-2008 Department of Community Health Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3)
10/30 S Sub for Sub HB 4360 2007-2008 Community College and Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2)
10/30 S 294 Amtrak Reauthorization Bill Passed - Senate (70 - 22)
10/29 SB 231 2007-2008 Department of Art, History, and Library Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2)
10/29 H Sub for Sub SB 235 2007-2008 Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3)
10/29 SB 231 2007-2008 Department of Art, History, and Library Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2)
10/29 SB 1 Superferry Environmental Assessment Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 5)
10/25 S Amdt 3453 Amtrak Federal Subsidy Limits Amendment Rejected - Senate (28 - 66)
10/23 AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
10/23 AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
10/23 AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
10/23 AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
10/22 S 6484 Driver's License Citizenship Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19)
10/18 S Sub for Sub HB 4749 Motorcycle Helmet Law Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
10/18 S Sub for Sub HB 4749 Motorcycle Helmet Law Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
10/17 Am Sub HB 177 Gambling Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
10/15 SB 2 Transportation Funding Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
10/12 HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1)
10/12 HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1)
10/03 SB 1463 Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 9)
10/02 SB 540 Truck Speed Limit Increase Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 10)
10/01 H Sub for Sub SB 547 Public School Employee Retirement Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
10/01 H Sub for S Sub SB 546 Public School Employee Retirement Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15)

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