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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 13, 2007 | MI | SB 981 | Mackinac Bridge Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| Dec. 11, 2007 | WI | SJR 5 | Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
| Dec. 11, 2007 | WI | SJR 5 | Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
| Dec. 11, 2007 | WI | SB 176 | Compensation for Discharged Police Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3) |
| Dec. 11, 2007 | WI | SB 176 | Compensation for Discharged Police Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3) |
| Dec. 10, 2007 | NJ | S 171 | Eliminating the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| Dec. 1, 2007 | MI | HB 5408 | Michigan Business Tax Surcharge | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| 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 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 5 | Sales Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| Nov. 16, 2007 | AK | SCS CSHB 2001 | Oil and Gas Production Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| Nov. 15, 2007 | MA | S 2414 | Presidential Primary Date Change | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
| Nov. 8, 2007 | WI | SB 299 | School Tax Credit Formula | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| Nov. 7, 2007 | MI | Sub SB 838 | Amending the Use Tax Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Oct. 31, 2007 | MI | SB 229 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8) |
| Oct. 31, 2007 | MI | SB 232 | 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16) |
| Oct. 31, 2007 | MI | SB 229 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8) |
| Oct. 31, 2007 | MI | SB 229 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8) |
| Oct. 30, 2007 | MI | S Sub for Sub HB 4358 | 2007-2008 Department of Environmental Quality Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 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 | 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 4354 | 2007-2008 Department of Natural Resources Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6) |
| Oct. 30, 2007 | MI | S Sub for Sub HB 4348 | 2007-2008 Department of Corrections Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3) |
| Oct. 30, 2007 | WI | SB 15 | Secretary of Natural Resources Appointment | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 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 | H Sub for Sub SB 234 | 2007-2008 Department of Labor and Economic Growth Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 1) |
| Oct. 29, 2007 | MI | SB 238 | 2007-2008 Department of State Police Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2) |
| Oct. 23, 2007 | WI | AS SB 40 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15) |
| Oct. 15, 2007 | WI | SB 2 | Transportation Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
| Oct. 15, 2007 | WI | SB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
| Oct. 12, 2007 | IL | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1) |
| Oct. 1, 2007 | MI | S Sub for Sub HB 5194 | Income Tax Increase | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 19) |
| Oct. 1, 2007 | MI | S Sub for Sub HB 5198 | Consumption Tax on Services | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 19) |
| 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) |
| Sept. 23, 2007 | MI | Sub SB 237 | 2007-2008 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Sept. 23, 2007 | MI | Sub SB 511 | 2007-2008 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| Sept. 18, 2007 | National | S 1257 | District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 42) |
| Sept. 18, 2007 | National | S 1257 | District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 42) |
| Sept. 18, 2007 | IL | HB 2035 | Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| Sept. 17, 2007 | MI | Sub SB 772 | 2006-2007 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17) |
| Aug. 30, 2007 | MI | Sub SB 689 | State Employees' Retirement Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| Aug. 29, 2007 | MO | SCS HCS HB 1 | Economic Development | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7) |
| Aug. 24, 2007 | KY | HCS HB 1 | Renewable Energy Tax Incentives | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1) |
| Aug. 22, 2007 | MI | SB 624 | Presidential Primary Date Change | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Aug. 21, 2007 | CA | SB 77 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 12) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/13 | SB 981 | Mackinac Bridge Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 12/11 | SJR 5 | Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
| 12/11 | SJR 5 | Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
| 12/11 | SB 176 | Compensation for Discharged Police Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3) |
| 12/11 | SB 176 | Compensation for Discharged Police Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3) |
| 12/10 | S 171 | Eliminating the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 12/01 | HB 5408 | Michigan Business Tax Surcharge | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| 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 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 5 | Sales Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| 11/16 | SCS CSHB 2001 | Oil and Gas Production Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| 11/15 | S 2414 | Presidential Primary Date Change | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
| 11/08 | SB 299 | School Tax Credit Formula | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 11/07 | Sub SB 838 | Amending the Use Tax Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 10/31 | SB 229 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8) |
| 10/31 | SB 232 | 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16) |
| 10/31 | SB 229 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8) |
| 10/31 | SB 229 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8) |
| 10/30 | S Sub for Sub HB 4358 | 2007-2008 Department of Environmental Quality Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 10/30 | S Sub for Sub HB 4360 | 2007-2008 Community College and Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2) |
| 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 4354 | 2007-2008 Department of Natural Resources Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6) |
| 10/30 | S Sub for Sub HB 4348 | 2007-2008 Department of Corrections Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3) |
| 10/30 | SB 15 | Secretary of Natural Resources Appointment | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 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 | H Sub for Sub SB 234 | 2007-2008 Department of Labor and Economic Growth Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 1) |
| 10/29 | SB 238 | 2007-2008 Department of State Police Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2) |
| 10/23 | AS SB 40 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15) |
| 10/15 | SB 2 | Transportation Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
| 10/15 | SB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
| 10/12 | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1) |
| 10/01 | S Sub for Sub HB 5194 | Income Tax Increase | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 19) |
| 10/01 | S Sub for Sub HB 5198 | Consumption Tax on Services | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 19) |
| 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) |
| 9/23 | Sub SB 237 | 2007-2008 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 9/23 | Sub SB 511 | 2007-2008 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| 9/18 | S 1257 | District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 42) |
| 9/18 | S 1257 | District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 42) |
| 9/18 | HB 2035 | Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| 9/17 | Sub SB 772 | 2006-2007 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17) |
| 8/30 | Sub SB 689 | State Employees' Retirement Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 8/29 | SCS HCS HB 1 | Economic Development | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7) |
| 8/24 | HCS HB 1 | Renewable Energy Tax Incentives | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1) |
| 8/22 | SB 624 | Presidential Primary Date Change | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 8/21 | SB 77 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 12) |