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
April 15, 2008 MS SB 2497 Increasing Unemployment Compensation Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 10)
April 15, 2008 KY HB 683 DNA Collection, Parole Board, and Felony Review Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 42)
April 15, 2008 CO HB 1270 Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 10)
April 15, 2008 ME LD 2247 Alcohol and Soda Tax for Health Care Funding Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 64)
April 15, 2008 AL HB 274 Food Sales Tax Repeal Bill Passed - House (63 - 38)
April 15, 2008 National HR 5036 Federal Funding for Voting System Changes Bill Passed - House (239 - 178)
April 14, 2008 MN HF 1351 Transportation Policy Reform Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 44)
April 14, 2008 MN SF 2822 "Good Faith" Requirement for Insurance Companies Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 39)
April 14, 2008 IA SF 2216 State-Mandated Curriculum for Schools Bill Passed - House (97 - 3)
April 14, 2008 MO HJR 49 Appellate Judicial Commissioners Joint Resolution Failed - House (69 - 83)
April 14, 2008 MO HJR 49 Appellate Judicial Commissioners Joint Resolution Failed - House (69 - 83)
April 14, 2008 ME LD 2304 Driver's License Residency Requirement Bill Passed - House (108 - 29)
April 12, 2008 AK SB 221 2008-2009 Capital Budget Bill Passed - House (33 - 6)
April 10, 2008 CO HB 1375 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 23)
April 10, 2008 MO HJR 70 State Spending Limit Joint Resolution Passed - House (84 - 65)
April 10, 2008 MA Garry and D'Amico Amendment: Removal of Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Failed - House (49 - 105)
April 10, 2008 IA SJR 2002 Natural Resources Trust Fund Joint Resolution Passed - House (88 - 10)
April 10, 2008 National H Res 1092 Postponing the Consideration of the Trade Agreement with Colombia Resolution Passed - House (224 - 195)
April 10, 2008 MA H 4645 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (131 - 23)
April 10, 2008 MN HF 3569 Workers' Lung Health Study Bill Passed - House (88 - 45)
April 10, 2008 FL HB 5001 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (72 - 41)
April 9, 2008 AZ SB 1096 English Language Education Funding Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
April 9, 2008 IA HF 2663 Statewide Sales Tax Increase for School Infrastructure Funding Bill Passed - House (59 - 41)
April 9, 2008 IA HF 2663 Statewide Sales Tax Increase for School Infrastructure Funding Bill Passed - House (59 - 41)
April 9, 2008 SC H 4673 Cost-of-Living Pension Increases for Retired Legislators and State Workers Bill Passed - House (58 - 51)
April 9, 2008 SC H 4673 Cost-of-Living Pension Increases for Retired Legislators and State Workers Bill Passed - House (58 - 51)
April 9, 2008 NY S 6807 Budget Financing Bill Passed - House (107 - 41)
April 9, 2008 SC H 4549 Funding Road Repair and Maintenance Bill Passed - House (91 - 9)
April 9, 2008 NY S 6801 2008-2009 Legislative and Judiciary Budget Bill Passed - House (110 - 37)
April 8, 2008 IL HJRCA 28 Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33)
April 8, 2008 IL HJRCA 28 Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33)
April 8, 2008 CO SB 128 Eliminating Sales and Use Tax Cap Bill Passed - House (38 - 26)
April 8, 2008 CO SB 128 Eliminating Sales and Use Tax Cap Bill Passed - House (38 - 26)
April 8, 2008 MI SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - House (87 - 19)
April 8, 2008 MI SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - House (87 - 19)
April 7, 2008 MN Emmer Amnd. Voter Identification Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 70)
April 7, 2008 MN Brod Amendment: Voter Registration Training Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 82)
April 7, 2008 MD SB 268 Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program Bill Passed - House (113 - 25)
April 5, 2008 MD SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (109 - 31)
April 5, 2008 MD SB 46 Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments Bill Passed - House (93 - 44)
April 4, 2008 GA SR 845 Regional Transportation Sales Tax Conference Report Adopted - House (134 - 34)
April 4, 2008 GA SR 845 Regional Transportation Sales Tax Conference Report Adopted - House (134 - 34)
April 4, 2008 ME LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 47)
April 4, 2008 KS SB 148 Electricity Generation and Conservation Bill Passed - House (83 - 41)
April 4, 2008 MD SB 597 Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - House (86 - 47)
April 3, 2008 AZ SB 1167 Off-Highway Vehicle Regulations Bill Passed - House (42 - 13)
April 3, 2008 MO HJR 41 Prohibiting Judges from Imposing Taxes Joint Resolution Passed - House (82 - 68)
April 3, 2008 MO HJR 41 Prohibiting Judges from Imposing Taxes Joint Resolution Passed - House (82 - 68)
April 2, 2008 SC AM 1 Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 73)
April 2, 2008 ME LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Rejected - House (97 - 46)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/15 SB 2497 Increasing Unemployment Compensation Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 10)
4/15 HB 683 DNA Collection, Parole Board, and Felony Review Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 42)
4/15 HB 1270 Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 10)
4/15 LD 2247 Alcohol and Soda Tax for Health Care Funding Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 64)
4/15 HB 274 Food Sales Tax Repeal Bill Passed - House (63 - 38)
4/15 HR 5036 Federal Funding for Voting System Changes Bill Passed - House (239 - 178)
4/14 HF 1351 Transportation Policy Reform Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 44)
4/14 SF 2822 "Good Faith" Requirement for Insurance Companies Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 39)
4/14 SF 2216 State-Mandated Curriculum for Schools Bill Passed - House (97 - 3)
4/14 HJR 49 Appellate Judicial Commissioners Joint Resolution Failed - House (69 - 83)
4/14 HJR 49 Appellate Judicial Commissioners Joint Resolution Failed - House (69 - 83)
4/14 LD 2304 Driver's License Residency Requirement Bill Passed - House (108 - 29)
4/12 SB 221 2008-2009 Capital Budget Bill Passed - House (33 - 6)
4/10 HB 1375 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 23)
4/10 HJR 70 State Spending Limit Joint Resolution Passed - House (84 - 65)
4/10 Garry and D'Amico Amendment: Removal of Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Failed - House (49 - 105)
4/10 SJR 2002 Natural Resources Trust Fund Joint Resolution Passed - House (88 - 10)
4/10 H Res 1092 Postponing the Consideration of the Trade Agreement with Colombia Resolution Passed - House (224 - 195)
4/10 H 4645 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (131 - 23)
4/10 HF 3569 Workers' Lung Health Study Bill Passed - House (88 - 45)
4/10 HB 5001 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (72 - 41)
4/09 SB 1096 English Language Education Funding Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
4/09 HF 2663 Statewide Sales Tax Increase for School Infrastructure Funding Bill Passed - House (59 - 41)
4/09 HF 2663 Statewide Sales Tax Increase for School Infrastructure Funding Bill Passed - House (59 - 41)
4/09 H 4673 Cost-of-Living Pension Increases for Retired Legislators and State Workers Bill Passed - House (58 - 51)
4/09 H 4673 Cost-of-Living Pension Increases for Retired Legislators and State Workers Bill Passed - House (58 - 51)
4/09 S 6807 Budget Financing Bill Passed - House (107 - 41)
4/09 H 4549 Funding Road Repair and Maintenance Bill Passed - House (91 - 9)
4/09 S 6801 2008-2009 Legislative and Judiciary Budget Bill Passed - House (110 - 37)
4/08 HJRCA 28 Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33)
4/08 HJRCA 28 Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33)
4/08 SB 128 Eliminating Sales and Use Tax Cap Bill Passed - House (38 - 26)
4/08 SB 128 Eliminating Sales and Use Tax Cap Bill Passed - House (38 - 26)
4/08 SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - House (87 - 19)
4/08 SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - House (87 - 19)
4/07 Emmer Amnd. Voter Identification Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 70)
4/07 Brod Amendment: Voter Registration Training Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 82)
4/07 SB 268 Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program Bill Passed - House (113 - 25)
4/05 SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (109 - 31)
4/05 SB 46 Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments Bill Passed - House (93 - 44)
4/04 SR 845 Regional Transportation Sales Tax Conference Report Adopted - House (134 - 34)
4/04 SR 845 Regional Transportation Sales Tax Conference Report Adopted - House (134 - 34)
4/04 LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 47)
4/04 SB 148 Electricity Generation and Conservation Bill Passed - House (83 - 41)
4/04 SB 597 Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - House (86 - 47)
4/03 SB 1167 Off-Highway Vehicle Regulations Bill Passed - House (42 - 13)
4/03 HJR 41 Prohibiting Judges from Imposing Taxes Joint Resolution Passed - House (82 - 68)
4/03 HJR 41 Prohibiting Judges from Imposing Taxes Joint Resolution Passed - House (82 - 68)
4/02 AM 1 Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 73)
4/02 LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Rejected - House (97 - 46)

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