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
Aug. 23, 2010 NJ A 2740 Requiring Review of New Drivers' Program Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Aug. 5, 2010 National HR 1586 Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39)
Aug. 3, 2010 NY S 8129B Suspending Hydraulic Fracturing for the Extraction of Natural Gas Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 9)
July 31, 2010 MA H 5000 Gambling Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15)
July 29, 2010 National S Amdt 4519 Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42)
July 15, 2010 National HR 4173 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 39)
July 15, 2010 National HR 4173 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 39)
July 8, 2010 NJ S 29 Reducing the property tax levy cap Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 3)
July 7, 2010 NC SB 1015 Homeowner and Homebuyer Protection Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
July 7, 2010 NC HB 1726 Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13)
July 1, 2010 MA H 4619 Gambling Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
June 29, 2010 PA SR 348 Audit of Methadone Treatment Programs & Medical Assistance Transportation Program Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
June 28, 2010 NJ A 3009 Professional Sports Team Specialty License Plates Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
June 28, 2010 NJ S 2036 Offshore Wind Economic Development Act Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
June 28, 2010 NJ S 2105 Delaying the Effective Date of the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
June 28, 2010 NJ S 2090 Car Inspection Waiver Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
June 28, 2010 NJ S 2094 Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
June 28, 2010 NJ S 29 Reducing the property tax levy cap Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
June 21, 2010 NY A 9705 2010-2011 Transportation, Economic Development, and Environmental Conservation Budget Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
June 21, 2010 CT HB 5455 Changes to State Transportation Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
June 21, 2010 CT HB 5236 Concerning Off-Track Betting Branch Facilities Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
June 21, 2010 NY A 9709 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
June 21, 2010 NJ SCR 108 Appeal to Governor Against Joining Federal Health Care Lawsuit Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
June 18, 2010 LA HB 1171 Performance Agreements for Colleges and Universities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
June 16, 2010 LA HB 1339 Increasing Driving Restrictions on Class E License Holders Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
June 16, 2010 NY S 2165B Allows Mixed Martial Arts Performances and Ultimate Fighting Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
June 16, 2010 MI SR 158 Oil Spill Prevention Plans for Dairy Farmers Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
June 15, 2010 NY S 5620 Reducing Drug Penalties for Offenders with Hypodermic Syringes Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18)
June 14, 2010 LA HB 303 Authorizing Home School Student Athletic Participation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
June 10, 2010 RI H 8094 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
June 8, 2010 LA SB 432 Oil and Gas Processing Tax Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (6 - 31)
June 7, 2010 NY S 8089 Emergency Appropriation Extension Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 26)
June 3, 2010 CA SB 1475 Penalties for Using a Cell Phone While Driving or Riding a Bicycle Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 16)
June 3, 2010 CA SB 1264 Airline Passenger Rights Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 16)
June 3, 2010 CA SB 933 Prohibiting Debit Card Fees Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
June 3, 2010 CA SB 1163 Denials of Health Care Coverage Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 12)
June 3, 2010 CA SB 1121 Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
June 2, 2010 CA SB 1088 Young Adults Health insurance Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
June 2, 2010 CA SB 1399 Expanding Medical Parole Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
June 1, 2010 CA SB 880 Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
June 1, 2010 CA SB 880 Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
June 1, 2010 CA SB 900 Health Benefits Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
May 28, 2010 NY A 11310 Education Law Amendments Concerning Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 14)
May 27, 2010 National S Amdt 4204 Requiring Afghanistan Troop Redeployment Plan and Timetable Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 80)
May 27, 2010 National HR 4899 Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Supplemental Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 28)
May 27, 2010 NC SB 704 School Change Models Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
May 27, 2010 CA SB 1255 Restrictions on Beverages Sold In Schools Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
May 27, 2010 CA SB 1255 Restrictions on Beverages Sold In Schools Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
May 26, 2010 LA HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
May 26, 2010 LA Amdt 4002 Requires Department of Education Employees Evaluation Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
Date No. Title Outcome
8/23 A 2740 Requiring Review of New Drivers' Program Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
8/05 HR 1586 Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39)
8/03 S 8129B Suspending Hydraulic Fracturing for the Extraction of Natural Gas Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 9)
7/31 H 5000 Gambling Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15)
7/29 S Amdt 4519 Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42)
7/15 HR 4173 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 39)
7/15 HR 4173 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 39)
7/08 S 29 Reducing the property tax levy cap Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 3)
7/07 SB 1015 Homeowner and Homebuyer Protection Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
7/07 HB 1726 Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13)
7/01 H 4619 Gambling Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
6/29 SR 348 Audit of Methadone Treatment Programs & Medical Assistance Transportation Program Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
6/28 A 3009 Professional Sports Team Specialty License Plates Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
6/28 S 2036 Offshore Wind Economic Development Act Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
6/28 S 2105 Delaying the Effective Date of the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
6/28 S 2090 Car Inspection Waiver Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
6/28 S 2094 Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
6/28 S 29 Reducing the property tax levy cap Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
6/21 A 9705 2010-2011 Transportation, Economic Development, and Environmental Conservation Budget Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
6/21 HB 5455 Changes to State Transportation Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
6/21 HB 5236 Concerning Off-Track Betting Branch Facilities Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
6/21 A 9709 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
6/21 SCR 108 Appeal to Governor Against Joining Federal Health Care Lawsuit Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
6/18 HB 1171 Performance Agreements for Colleges and Universities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
6/16 HB 1339 Increasing Driving Restrictions on Class E License Holders Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
6/16 S 2165B Allows Mixed Martial Arts Performances and Ultimate Fighting Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
6/16 SR 158 Oil Spill Prevention Plans for Dairy Farmers Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
6/15 S 5620 Reducing Drug Penalties for Offenders with Hypodermic Syringes Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18)
6/14 HB 303 Authorizing Home School Student Athletic Participation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
6/10 H 8094 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
6/08 SB 432 Oil and Gas Processing Tax Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (6 - 31)
6/07 S 8089 Emergency Appropriation Extension Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 26)
6/03 SB 1475 Penalties for Using a Cell Phone While Driving or Riding a Bicycle Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 16)
6/03 SB 1264 Airline Passenger Rights Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 16)
6/03 SB 933 Prohibiting Debit Card Fees Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
6/03 SB 1163 Denials of Health Care Coverage Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 12)
6/03 SB 1121 Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
6/02 SB 1088 Young Adults Health insurance Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
6/02 SB 1399 Expanding Medical Parole Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
6/01 SB 880 Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
6/01 SB 880 Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
6/01 SB 900 Health Benefits Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
5/28 A 11310 Education Law Amendments Concerning Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 14)
5/27 S Amdt 4204 Requiring Afghanistan Troop Redeployment Plan and Timetable Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 80)
5/27 HR 4899 Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Supplemental Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 28)
5/27 SB 704 School Change Models Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
5/27 SB 1255 Restrictions on Beverages Sold In Schools Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
5/27 SB 1255 Restrictions on Beverages Sold In Schools Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
5/26 HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
5/26 Amdt 4002 Requires Department of Education Employees Evaluation Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)

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