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
March 28, 2008 GA HB 1244 State Income Tax Reductions Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 6)
March 28, 2008 GA HR 1246 Property Tax Assessment Freeze Resolution Passed - Senate (46 - 7)
March 28, 2008 NE LB 959 2007-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
March 26, 2008 KS Journey Amnd. 1 Penalties for Obstructing Immigration Enforcement Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 24)
March 26, 2008 KS Huelskamp Amnd. 2 Undocumented Immigrants Ineligible for Public Benefits Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 26)
March 26, 2008 KS Brownlee Amnd. Prohibits Union from collecting dues from Undocumented Workers Amendment Adopted - Senate (19 - 18)
March 26, 2008 KS Journey Amnd. 1 Penalties for Obstructing Immigration Enforcement Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 24)
March 26, 2008 MD SB 373 Tax Credit for Educational Donations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
March 25, 2008 NE LB 1063 Abolishing the Death Penalty Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 28)
March 25, 2008 MI SB 1094 2008-2009 Department of Community Health Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
March 25, 2008 WI AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
March 25, 2008 ID H 592 Film and Television Production Rebate Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
March 24, 2008 MS HB 859 Salary Adjustments for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3)
March 24, 2008 MS HB 859 Salary Adjustments for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3)
March 24, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
March 24, 2008 AK HB 310 2008-2009 Operating Budget Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
March 24, 2008 MS HB 859 Salary Adjustments for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3)
March 24, 2008 MD SB 597 Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
March 24, 2008 IA HF 2645 Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
March 20, 2008 ME LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 8)
March 20, 2008 AZ SB 1450 Theme Park Funding Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
March 20, 2008 AZ SB 1420 Public Highway Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
March 20, 2008 AZ SB 1465 Public-Private Transportation Projects Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 15)
March 20, 2008 NH SB 502 Expanding Unemployment Compensation Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
March 20, 2008 NH SB 539 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 19, 2008 KS SB 541 Expanding Children's Health Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
March 19, 2008 CO HB 1189 State Employee Strike Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 2)
March 19, 2008 IA SJR 2002 Natural Resources Trust Fund Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (47 - 2)
March 19, 2008 ID S 1447 Capping Medical Benefits for State Government Retirees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
March 19, 2008 KS SB 409 Three-Strikes Sentencing for Theft Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6)
March 19, 2008 ID S 1484 Disclosing Fiscal Impacts of Citizens Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
March 19, 2008 ID S 1484 Disclosing Fiscal Impacts of Citizens Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
March 18, 2008 KS Hensley Amnd. Premium Assistance Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27)
March 18, 2008 MN Scheid Amnd. Insurance Payouts Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (37 - 30)
March 18, 2008 KS Kelly Amnd. Premium Assistance Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27)
March 18, 2008 CO HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
March 18, 2008 CO HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
March 17, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 12)
March 17, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 12)
March 17, 2008 ID HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
March 17, 2008 ID HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
March 17, 2008 ID H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
March 17, 2008 ID H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
March 14, 2008 IN HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6)
March 14, 2008 IN SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 7)
March 14, 2008 MD SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
March 13, 2008 National S Amdt 4347 Earmark Moratorium Motion Rejected - Senate (29 - 71)
March 13, 2008 WA HB 2687 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 18)
March 13, 2008 VA HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
March 12, 2008 FL HB 7009 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 12)
March 12, 2008 KY HB 600 State Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
March 12, 2008 KY HB 600 State Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
March 12, 2008 MI SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
March 12, 2008 MI SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
March 12, 2008 IA SF 2355 Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
March 12, 2008 IA SF 2355 Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
March 12, 2008 MD SB 42 Temporary Confiscation of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
March 11, 2008 WA SB 6809 Working Family Tax Exemption Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
March 11, 2008 DE SB 195 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11)
March 10, 2008 IA HF 2359 Veterans Trust Fund Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
March 10, 2008 AZ SB 1476 Reducing Probation for Good Behavior Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
March 6, 2008 NH Amdt 0891 to SB 530 Fully Subsidized Kindergarten Construction Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 12)
March 6, 2008 AZ HB 2043 State Government Hiring Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
March 6, 2008 CO HB 1025 Governor's Energy Office Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
March 6, 2008 MN HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
March 6, 2008 AZ HB 2043 State Government Hiring Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
March 6, 2008 WI SB 523 Great Lakes Water Resources Compact Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
March 6, 2008 FL SB 1852 Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
March 6, 2008 GA SB 449 Limiting Agritourism Liability Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14)
March 6, 2008 AZ HB 2857 State Spending Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
March 5, 2008 WY HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
March 5, 2008 AK SB 256 2008-2009 Supplemental Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 2)
March 4, 2008 UT HB 359 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3)
March 4, 2008 HI SB 2423 Turtle Bay Acquisition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2)
March 4, 2008 UT SB 2 2007-2009 Biennium Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 4, 2008 HI SB 2423 Turtle Bay Acquisition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2)
March 4, 2008 WI SB 537 John Doe Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
March 3, 2008 UT SB 48 School Building Funding Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
March 3, 2008 NJ S 786 Extending Family Leave Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
March 3, 2008 CO SB 164 Increasing Caps on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 29, 2008 ID S 1436 Teacher Pay-for-Performance Plan Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 19)
Feb. 29, 2008 UT HB 75 State Inventory of Government Activities Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
Feb. 28, 2008 MN GN Molnau Confirmation of Carol Molnau as Department of Transportation Commissioner Nomination Rejected - Senate (22 - 44)
Feb. 28, 2008 WY HB 9 Limitations on Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
Feb. 27, 2008 VA HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO SB 128 Eliminating Sales and Use Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
Feb. 27, 2008 SD HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
Feb. 27, 2008 MS SB 2998 Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO SB 128 Eliminating Sales and Use Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
Feb. 27, 2008 WV SB 248 Non-Participation in the Real ID Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
Feb. 26, 2008 IN HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
Feb. 26, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Feb. 26, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Feb. 26, 2008 MS SB 2910 Changes to Election Law Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
Feb. 26, 2008 AL HB 73 Prohibiting Money Transfers Between Political Action Committees Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
Feb. 26, 2008 KY SB 14 Non-Partisan Public Officials Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 26, 2008 KY SB 14 Non-Partisan Public Officials Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 26, 2008 MS SB 2550 Covenant Marriage Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
Feb. 25, 2008 MN HF 2800 2009-2010 Transportation Budget Veto Override Passed - Senate (47 - 20)
Feb. 25, 2008 IN Amnd. 19 Referendum on Township Assessors Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 20)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/28 HB 1244 State Income Tax Reductions Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 6)
3/28 HR 1246 Property Tax Assessment Freeze Resolution Passed - Senate (46 - 7)
3/28 LB 959 2007-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
3/26 Journey Amnd. 1 Penalties for Obstructing Immigration Enforcement Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 24)
3/26 Huelskamp Amnd. 2 Undocumented Immigrants Ineligible for Public Benefits Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 26)
3/26 Brownlee Amnd. Prohibits Union from collecting dues from Undocumented Workers Amendment Adopted - Senate (19 - 18)
3/26 Journey Amnd. 1 Penalties for Obstructing Immigration Enforcement Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 24)
3/26 SB 373 Tax Credit for Educational Donations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
3/25 LB 1063 Abolishing the Death Penalty Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 28)
3/25 SB 1094 2008-2009 Department of Community Health Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
3/25 AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
3/25 H 592 Film and Television Production Rebate Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
3/24 HB 859 Salary Adjustments for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3)
3/24 HB 859 Salary Adjustments for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3)
3/24 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
3/24 HB 310 2008-2009 Operating Budget Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
3/24 HB 859 Salary Adjustments for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3)
3/24 SB 597 Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
3/24 HF 2645 Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
3/20 LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 8)
3/20 SB 1450 Theme Park Funding Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
3/20 SB 1420 Public Highway Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
3/20 SB 1465 Public-Private Transportation Projects Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 15)
3/20 SB 502 Expanding Unemployment Compensation Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
3/20 SB 539 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/19 SB 541 Expanding Children's Health Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
3/19 HB 1189 State Employee Strike Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 2)
3/19 SJR 2002 Natural Resources Trust Fund Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (47 - 2)
3/19 S 1447 Capping Medical Benefits for State Government Retirees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
3/19 SB 409 Three-Strikes Sentencing for Theft Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6)
3/19 S 1484 Disclosing Fiscal Impacts of Citizens Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
3/19 S 1484 Disclosing Fiscal Impacts of Citizens Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
3/18 Hensley Amnd. Premium Assistance Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27)
3/18 Scheid Amnd. Insurance Payouts Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (37 - 30)
3/18 Kelly Amnd. Premium Assistance Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27)
3/18 HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
3/18 HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
3/17 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 12)
3/17 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 12)
3/17 HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
3/17 HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
3/17 H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
3/17 H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
3/14 HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6)
3/14 SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 7)
3/14 SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
3/13 S Amdt 4347 Earmark Moratorium Motion Rejected - Senate (29 - 71)
3/13 HB 2687 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 18)
3/13 HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
3/12 HB 7009 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 12)
3/12 HB 600 State Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
3/12 HB 600 State Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
3/12 SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
3/12 SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
3/12 SF 2355 Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
3/12 SF 2355 Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
3/12 SB 42 Temporary Confiscation of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
3/11 SB 6809 Working Family Tax Exemption Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
3/11 SB 195 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11)
3/10 HF 2359 Veterans Trust Fund Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
3/10 SB 1476 Reducing Probation for Good Behavior Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
3/06 Amdt 0891 to SB 530 Fully Subsidized Kindergarten Construction Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 12)
3/06 HB 2043 State Government Hiring Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
3/06 HB 1025 Governor's Energy Office Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
3/06 HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
3/06 HB 2043 State Government Hiring Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
3/06 SB 523 Great Lakes Water Resources Compact Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
3/06 SB 1852 Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
3/06 SB 449 Limiting Agritourism Liability Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14)
3/06 HB 2857 State Spending Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
3/05 HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
3/05 SB 256 2008-2009 Supplemental Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 2)
3/04 HB 359 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3)
3/04 SB 2423 Turtle Bay Acquisition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2)
3/04 SB 2 2007-2009 Biennium Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/04 SB 2423 Turtle Bay Acquisition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2)
3/04 SB 537 John Doe Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
3/03 SB 48 School Building Funding Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
3/03 S 786 Extending Family Leave Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
3/03 SB 164 Increasing Caps on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/29 S 1436 Teacher Pay-for-Performance Plan Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 19)
2/29 HB 75 State Inventory of Government Activities Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
2/28 GN Molnau Confirmation of Carol Molnau as Department of Transportation Commissioner Nomination Rejected - Senate (22 - 44)
2/28 HB 9 Limitations on Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
2/27 HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/27 SB 128 Eliminating Sales and Use Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
2/27 HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
2/27 SB 2998 Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
2/27 SB 128 Eliminating Sales and Use Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
2/27 SB 248 Non-Participation in the Real ID Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
2/26 HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
2/26 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
2/26 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
2/26 SB 2910 Changes to Election Law Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
2/26 HB 73 Prohibiting Money Transfers Between Political Action Committees Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
2/26 SB 14 Non-Partisan Public Officials Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/26 SB 14 Non-Partisan Public Officials Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/26 SB 2550 Covenant Marriage Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
2/25 HF 2800 2009-2010 Transportation Budget Veto Override Passed - Senate (47 - 20)
2/25 Amnd. 19 Referendum on Township Assessors Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 20)

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