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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Dec. 24, 2009 National HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
Dec. 23, 2009 National HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39)
Dec. 23, 2009 National S Amdt 2786 Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39)
Dec. 22, 2009 National S Amdt 2786 Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39)
Dec. 22, 2009 National S Amdt 3276 Senate Health Care Bill Amendments Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39)
Dec. 17, 2009 OH HB 318 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 42)
Dec. 17, 2009 OH HB 318 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Dec. 16, 2009 OH HB 60 Restrictions on Snack and Beverage Sales in Schools Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
Dec. 16, 2009 OH HB 60 Restrictions on Snack and Beverage Sales in Schools Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
Dec. 15, 2009 National S Amdt 2793 Authorizing Importation of Prescription Drugs Amendment Rejected - Senate (51 - 48)
Dec. 10, 2009 CA ABx5 8 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (48 - 25)
Dec. 10, 2009 NJ A 2762 Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Dec. 10, 2009 NJ S 2905 Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
Dec. 8, 2009 National S Amdt 2962 Prohibiting Federally Funded Abortion Services Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 45)
Dec. 3, 2009 National HR 4154 Estate Tax Law Amendments and Reinstatement of PAYGO Bill Passed - House (225 - 200)
Dec. 3, 2009 MI SB 638 "Consistent Ineffectiveness" as Grounds for Discharging or Demoting Tenured Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
Nov. 19, 2009 National HR 3961 Revising Medicare Physician Fee Schedules and Reinstatement of PAYGO Bill Passed - House (243 - 183)
Nov. 18, 2009 MA S 2210 Sentencing Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Nov. 17, 2009 MA S 2205 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
Nov. 7, 2009 National H Amdt 510 Substitute Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 258)
Nov. 7, 2009 National HR 3962 Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (220 - 215)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 223 University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Geographic Composition Requirements Bill Passed - House (59 - 34)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 371 Higher Education Student Data System Bill Passed - House (73 - 20)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 371 Higher Education Student Data System Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
Nov. 5, 2009 National HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits and Providing Business and Homebuyer Tax Credits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (403 - 12)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 372 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - House (47 - 46)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - House (48 - 43)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - House (48 - 43)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 372 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
Nov. 3, 2009 CA SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Oct. 29, 2009 RI HB 5044 Prostitution Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 9)
Oct. 29, 2009 RI HB 5044 Prostitution Ban Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
Oct. 28, 2009 NH HB 648 Medical Marijuana Legalization Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 10)
Oct. 28, 2009 NH HB 648 Medical Marijuana Legalization Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 115)
Oct. 8, 2009 MI HB 4447 2009-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 13)
Oct. 8, 2009 MI HB 4447 2009-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 42)
Oct. 8, 2009 MA SB 2028 Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan Bill Passed - House (114 - 36)
Oct. 6, 2009 National S Amdt 2588 Prohibiting Federal Funding of Mandatory Arbitration Contracts Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 30)
Oct. 6, 2009 MI HB 5386 Physician Services Tax Bill Passed - House (56 - 52)
Sept. 30, 2009 MI HB 4437 2009-2010 Department of Corrections Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 14)
Sept. 29, 2009 MI HB 4437 2009-2010 Department of Corrections Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 23)
Sept. 22, 2009 WI AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Sept. 17, 2009 MI SB 253 2009-2010 Department of State Police Budget Bill Passed - House (68 - 39)
Sept. 16, 2009 WI AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
Sept. 11, 2009 CA SBx3 18 Correctional Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
Sept. 11, 2009 CA SB 19 Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Sept. 11, 2009 CA SB 19 Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers Bill Passed - House (53 - 20)
Sept. 10, 2009 CA AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27)
Sept. 10, 2009 CA AB 2 Health Care Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 26)
Sept. 9, 2009 CA AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/24 HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
12/23 HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39)
12/23 S Amdt 2786 Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39)
12/22 S Amdt 2786 Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39)
12/22 S Amdt 3276 Senate Health Care Bill Amendments Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39)
12/17 HB 318 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 42)
12/17 HB 318 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
12/16 HB 60 Restrictions on Snack and Beverage Sales in Schools Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
12/16 HB 60 Restrictions on Snack and Beverage Sales in Schools Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
12/15 S Amdt 2793 Authorizing Importation of Prescription Drugs Amendment Rejected - Senate (51 - 48)
12/10 ABx5 8 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (48 - 25)
12/10 A 2762 Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
12/10 S 2905 Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
12/08 S Amdt 2962 Prohibiting Federally Funded Abortion Services Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 45)
12/03 HR 4154 Estate Tax Law Amendments and Reinstatement of PAYGO Bill Passed - House (225 - 200)
12/03 SB 638 "Consistent Ineffectiveness" as Grounds for Discharging or Demoting Tenured Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
11/19 HR 3961 Revising Medicare Physician Fee Schedules and Reinstatement of PAYGO Bill Passed - House (243 - 183)
11/18 S 2210 Sentencing Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
11/17 S 2205 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
11/07 H Amdt 510 Substitute Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 258)
11/07 HR 3962 Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (220 - 215)
11/05 SB 223 University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Geographic Composition Requirements Bill Passed - House (59 - 34)
11/05 SB 371 Higher Education Student Data System Bill Passed - House (73 - 20)
11/05 SB 371 Higher Education Student Data System Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
11/05 HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits and Providing Business and Homebuyer Tax Credits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (403 - 12)
11/05 SB 372 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - House (47 - 46)
11/05 AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - House (48 - 43)
11/05 AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - House (48 - 43)
11/05 SB 372 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
11/03 SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
10/29 HB 5044 Prostitution Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 9)
10/29 HB 5044 Prostitution Ban Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
10/28 HB 648 Medical Marijuana Legalization Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 10)
10/28 HB 648 Medical Marijuana Legalization Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 115)
10/08 HB 4447 2009-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 13)
10/08 HB 4447 2009-2010 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 42)
10/08 SB 2028 Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan Bill Passed - House (114 - 36)
10/06 S Amdt 2588 Prohibiting Federal Funding of Mandatory Arbitration Contracts Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 30)
10/06 HB 5386 Physician Services Tax Bill Passed - House (56 - 52)
9/30 HB 4437 2009-2010 Department of Corrections Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 14)
9/29 HB 4437 2009-2010 Department of Corrections Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 23)
9/22 AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
9/17 SB 253 2009-2010 Department of State Police Budget Bill Passed - House (68 - 39)
9/16 AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
9/11 SBx3 18 Correctional Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
9/11 SB 19 Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
9/11 SB 19 Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers Bill Passed - House (53 - 20)
9/10 AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27)
9/10 AB 2 Health Care Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 26)
9/09 AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)

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