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
June 23, 2008 NJ A 2873 School Construction Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
June 19, 2008 NC HB 2436 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
June 18, 2008 National HR 6124 Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Veto Override Passed - Senate (80 - 14)
June 18, 2008 LA HB 734 Tuition Increase Bill Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
June 17, 2008 National HR 6049 Alternative Energy Tax Incentives Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 44)
June 17, 2008 LA HB 852 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 27)
June 17, 2008 RI S 2706 Red Light Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
June 17, 2008 NC SB 1686 Restrictions on Public Smoking Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
June 11, 2008 CT SB 1001 Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
June 11, 2008 LA HB 1347 Vouchers Bill Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
June 11, 2008 DE SB 263 Greenhouse Gas Caps Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
June 10, 2008 National S 3044 Increasing Taxes on Profits, Rescinding Certain Tax Deductions, and Increasing Tax Incentives for Alternative Energy Programs for Oil Companies Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 43)
June 10, 2008 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9)
June 6, 2008 National S Amdt 4825 Carbon Emissions Cap and Trade Plan Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 36)
June 4, 2008 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31)
June 4, 2008 NH SSHB 1 Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9)
June 4, 2008 AZ HB 2475 Bonds for School Computers Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 13)
June 4, 2008 NY S 6823 Long Island Affordable Housing Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 9)
May 29, 2008 CA SB 1499 Foil Balloon Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
May 29, 2008 CA SB 1096 Pharmacy Prescription Refill Mailings Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
May 29, 2008 CA CA SB 1665 Prison Health Care Facility Bonds Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 15)
May 29, 2008 AL SB 51 2008-2009 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
May 28, 2008 MS SB 2013 Hospital Tax for Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
May 28, 2008 LA SB 292 Public Fishing in Overflow Waters Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 19)
May 28, 2008 LA SB 292 Public Fishing in Overflow Waters Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 19)
May 27, 2008 IL HB 5288 Expand Use of Red Light Cameras Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 24)
May 27, 2008 CA SB 1440 Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
May 22, 2008 National HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Veto Override Passed - Senate (82 - 13)
May 22, 2008 National HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Veto Override Passed - Senate (82 - 13)
May 22, 2008 National S Amdt 4818 Funding for Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 26)
May 22, 2008 National S Amdt 4817 Funding for Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with Provisions Regarding Conduct and Congressional Oversight Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 63)
May 15, 2008 MN HF 3195 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 22)
May 15, 2008 National HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 15)
May 15, 2008 National HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 15)
May 15, 2008 NH HB 1509 Allocation of Gambling/Gaming Profits Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
May 15, 2008 NH HB 1434 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
May 15, 2008 CA SB 1713 Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
May 15, 2008 CA SB 1322 Communist Party Membership Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
May 13, 2008 MN HF 6 2008 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 10)
May 13, 2008 MN SF 2965 Surrogate Mother Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
May 13, 2008 MN HF 3807 Real ID Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 16)
May 13, 2008 WI AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
May 13, 2008 WI AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
May 12, 2008 MN HF 3391 Health Care Reform Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 13)
May 12, 2008 CA SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
May 12, 2008 CA SB 1301 Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
May 8, 2008 MI HB 4163 Workplace Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
May 7, 2008 SC S Amdt P-4A Cigarette Tax Rate Adjustment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (18 - 24)
May 7, 2008 National S Amdt 4719 Optional Wind Damage Insurance Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 74)
May 7, 2008 KS SB 586 Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 3)
May 7, 2008 MN SF 3001 Modifying State Education Policies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (45 - 20)
May 7, 2008 MN SF 3001 Modifying State Education Policies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (45 - 20)
May 7, 2008 SC H 3567 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11)
May 7, 2008 NY S 7594 Gasoline Tax Holiday Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 15)
May 7, 2008 OH SB 57 Disability Scholarship Fund Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
May 6, 2008 RI H 7040 Twenty-Four Hour Operation of Video Lottery Games Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
May 6, 2008 SC S Amdt P-1 Cigarette Tax Increase for Medicaid Amendment Tabled - Senate (31 - 13)
May 6, 2008 KS HB 2412 Coal Plant Incentives Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 10)
May 6, 2008 CO HB 1388 Increasing Education Funding Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13)
May 6, 2008 CO SB 217 Extended Health Care Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
May 6, 2008 LA SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
May 6, 2008 CT HB 5536 Health Insurance Pool Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
May 5, 2008 CO SB 200 Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 3, 2008 KS SB 81 Health Care Reform Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 1)
May 2, 2008 CO HB 1385 Health Insurance Website Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 2, 2008 CO HB 1325 Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 2, 2008 CO HB 1161 Mining Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
May 1, 2008 MI Sub HB 5282 Independent Health Benefit Plans Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
May 1, 2008 MI HB 5283 Health Insurance Package Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
May 1, 2008 RI H 7204 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
April 30, 2008 KS SB 148 Electricity Generation and Conservation Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
April 30, 2008 KS SB 389 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 14)
April 30, 2008 MN HF 3195 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 21)
April 29, 2008 AZ HB 2557 Fine Arts and Physical Education in School Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4)
April 29, 2008 AZ HB 2557 Fine Arts and Physical Education in School Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/23 A 2873 School Construction Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
6/19 HB 2436 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
6/18 HR 6124 Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Veto Override Passed - Senate (80 - 14)
6/18 HB 734 Tuition Increase Bill Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
6/17 HR 6049 Alternative Energy Tax Incentives Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 44)
6/17 HB 852 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 27)
6/17 S 2706 Red Light Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
6/17 SB 1686 Restrictions on Public Smoking Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
6/11 SB 1001 Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
6/11 HB 1347 Vouchers Bill Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
6/11 SB 263 Greenhouse Gas Caps Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
6/10 S 3044 Increasing Taxes on Profits, Rescinding Certain Tax Deductions, and Increasing Tax Incentives for Alternative Energy Programs for Oil Companies Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 43)
6/10 SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9)
6/06 S Amdt 4825 Carbon Emissions Cap and Trade Plan Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 36)
6/04 SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31)
6/04 SSHB 1 Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9)
6/04 HB 2475 Bonds for School Computers Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 13)
6/04 S 6823 Long Island Affordable Housing Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 9)
5/29 SB 1499 Foil Balloon Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
5/29 SB 1096 Pharmacy Prescription Refill Mailings Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
5/29 CA SB 1665 Prison Health Care Facility Bonds Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 15)
5/29 SB 51 2008-2009 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
5/28 SB 2013 Hospital Tax for Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
5/28 SB 292 Public Fishing in Overflow Waters Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 19)
5/28 SB 292 Public Fishing in Overflow Waters Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 19)
5/27 HB 5288 Expand Use of Red Light Cameras Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 24)
5/27 SB 1440 Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
5/22 HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Veto Override Passed - Senate (82 - 13)
5/22 HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Veto Override Passed - Senate (82 - 13)
5/22 S Amdt 4818 Funding for Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 26)
5/22 S Amdt 4817 Funding for Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with Provisions Regarding Conduct and Congressional Oversight Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 63)
5/15 HF 3195 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 22)
5/15 HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 15)
5/15 HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 15)
5/15 HB 1509 Allocation of Gambling/Gaming Profits Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
5/15 HB 1434 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
5/15 SB 1713 Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
5/15 SB 1322 Communist Party Membership Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
5/13 HF 6 2008 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 10)
5/13 SF 2965 Surrogate Mother Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
5/13 HF 3807 Real ID Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 16)
5/13 AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
5/13 AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
5/12 HF 3391 Health Care Reform Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 13)
5/12 SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
5/12 SB 1301 Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
5/08 HB 4163 Workplace Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
5/07 S Amdt P-4A Cigarette Tax Rate Adjustment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (18 - 24)
5/07 S Amdt 4719 Optional Wind Damage Insurance Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 74)
5/07 SB 586 Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 3)
5/07 SF 3001 Modifying State Education Policies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (45 - 20)
5/07 SF 3001 Modifying State Education Policies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (45 - 20)
5/07 H 3567 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11)
5/07 S 7594 Gasoline Tax Holiday Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 15)
5/07 SB 57 Disability Scholarship Fund Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
5/06 H 7040 Twenty-Four Hour Operation of Video Lottery Games Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
5/06 S Amdt P-1 Cigarette Tax Increase for Medicaid Amendment Tabled - Senate (31 - 13)
5/06 HB 2412 Coal Plant Incentives Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 10)
5/06 HB 1388 Increasing Education Funding Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13)
5/06 SB 217 Extended Health Care Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
5/06 SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
5/06 HB 5536 Health Insurance Pool Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
5/05 SB 200 Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/03 SB 81 Health Care Reform Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 1)
5/02 HB 1385 Health Insurance Website Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/02 HB 1325 Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/02 HB 1161 Mining Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
5/01 Sub HB 5282 Independent Health Benefit Plans Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
5/01 HB 5283 Health Insurance Package Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
5/01 H 7204 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
4/30 SB 148 Electricity Generation and Conservation Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
4/30 SB 389 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 14)
4/30 HF 3195 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 21)
4/29 HB 2557 Fine Arts and Physical Education in School Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4)
4/29 HB 2557 Fine Arts and Physical Education in School Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4)

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