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. 22, 2009 National S Amdt 3276 Senate Health Care Bill Amendments Amendment Adopted - 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 Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Dec. 17, 2009 OH HB 318 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Dec. 10, 2009 NJ A 2762 Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Dec. 3, 2009 National S Amdt 2791 Preventive Services Coverage Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39)
Dec. 3, 2009 National S Amdt 2791 Preventive Services Coverage Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39)
Dec. 3, 2009 MI SB 638 "Consistent Ineffectiveness" as Grounds for Discharging or Demoting Tenured Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
Dec. 2, 2009 NY A 40003 Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 38)
Nov. 19, 2009 National PN 187 David F. Hamilton, Seventh Circuit Judge Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 39)
Nov. 18, 2009 MA S 2210 Sentencing Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Nov. 3, 2009 CA SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Oct. 27, 2009 National HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits Cloture Invoked - Senate (87 - 13)
Oct. 22, 2009 National HR 2647 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (68 - 29)
Oct. 22, 2009 National HR 2647 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (68 - 29)
Oct. 21, 2009 National S 1776 Eliminating Adjustments to Medicare Rates of Payment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53)
Oct. 15, 2009 IL HJRCA 31 Authorizing Governor Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 1)
Oct. 9, 2009 PA HB 1614 Fiscal Code Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
Oct. 6, 2009 National S Amdt 2588 Prohibiting Federal Funding of Mandatory Arbitration Contracts Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 30)
Sept. 30, 2009 National HR 2918 Continuing Appropriations Resolution and 2009-2010 Legislative Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 38)
Sept. 23, 2009 OH SJR 5 Redistricting Commission Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Sept. 22, 2009 MA H 4246 Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Sept. 11, 2009 CA SBx3 18 Correctional Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
Sept. 9, 2009 CA SB 54 Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Sept. 9, 2009 CA SB 54 Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Sept. 9, 2009 CA AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Sept. 8, 2009 CA SB 572 Harvey Milk Day Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Sept. 8, 2009 CA AB 2 Health Care Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Sept. 4, 2009 CA AB 793 Clarifying Statute of Limitations for Wage Discrimination Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Sept. 4, 2009 CA AB 793 Clarifying Statute of Limitations for Wage Discrimination Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Sept. 2, 2009 CA AB 1422 Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Program Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Sept. 1, 2009 CA AB 119 Prohibiting Gender-Based Health Insurance Pricing Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Aug. 26, 2009 PA HB 1828 Municipal Pension System Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
Aug. 14, 2009 AL HB 13 Authorizes an Occupational Tax for Jefferson County Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
Aug. 12, 2009 AZ HB 2013 Budget Reconciliation (Health and Welfare) Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
Aug. 6, 2009 National PN 506 Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 31)
Aug. 6, 2009 National PN 506 Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 31)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
July 20, 2009 CT HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
July 8, 2009 National S Amdt 1399 Requiring Completion of Reinforced Border Fencing Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 44)
July 1, 2009 DE HB 290 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
June 25, 2009 NJ A 3372 Wages in Board of Public Utilities Construction Projects Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
June 25, 2009 NJ A 4111 State Employee Wage Increases Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
June 25, 2009 NJ A 4111 State Employee Wage Increases Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
June 24, 2009 LA SB 278 Governor Records Disclosed Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
June 24, 2009 MI HB 4436 2009-2010 Department of Community Health Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
June 24, 2009 NC HB 442 Regulating the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25)
June 24, 2009 DE SB 121 Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
June 23, 2009 MI HB 4441 2009-2010 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/22 S Amdt 3276 Senate Health Care Bill Amendments Amendment Adopted - 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 Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
12/17 HB 318 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
12/10 A 2762 Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
12/03 S Amdt 2791 Preventive Services Coverage Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39)
12/03 S Amdt 2791 Preventive Services Coverage Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39)
12/03 SB 638 "Consistent Ineffectiveness" as Grounds for Discharging or Demoting Tenured Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
12/02 A 40003 Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 38)
11/19 PN 187 David F. Hamilton, Seventh Circuit Judge Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 39)
11/18 S 2210 Sentencing Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
11/03 SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
10/27 HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits Cloture Invoked - Senate (87 - 13)
10/22 HR 2647 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (68 - 29)
10/22 HR 2647 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (68 - 29)
10/21 S 1776 Eliminating Adjustments to Medicare Rates of Payment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53)
10/15 HJRCA 31 Authorizing Governor Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 1)
10/09 HB 1614 Fiscal Code Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
10/06 S Amdt 2588 Prohibiting Federal Funding of Mandatory Arbitration Contracts Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 30)
9/30 HR 2918 Continuing Appropriations Resolution and 2009-2010 Legislative Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 38)
9/23 SJR 5 Redistricting Commission Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
9/22 H 4246 Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
9/11 SBx3 18 Correctional Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
9/09 SB 54 Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
9/09 SB 54 Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
9/09 AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
9/08 SB 572 Harvey Milk Day Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
9/08 AB 2 Health Care Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
9/04 AB 793 Clarifying Statute of Limitations for Wage Discrimination Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
9/04 AB 793 Clarifying Statute of Limitations for Wage Discrimination Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
9/02 AB 1422 Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Program Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
9/01 AB 119 Prohibiting Gender-Based Health Insurance Pricing Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
8/26 HB 1828 Municipal Pension System Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
8/14 HB 13 Authorizes an Occupational Tax for Jefferson County Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
8/12 HB 2013 Budget Reconciliation (Health and Welfare) Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
8/06 PN 506 Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 31)
8/06 PN 506 Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 31)
7/24 ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
7/24 ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
7/20 HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
7/08 S Amdt 1399 Requiring Completion of Reinforced Border Fencing Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 44)
7/01 HB 290 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
6/25 A 3372 Wages in Board of Public Utilities Construction Projects Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
6/25 A 4111 State Employee Wage Increases Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
6/25 A 4111 State Employee Wage Increases Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
6/24 SB 278 Governor Records Disclosed Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
6/24 HB 4436 2009-2010 Department of Community Health Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
6/24 HB 442 Regulating the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25)
6/24 SB 121 Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
6/23 HB 4441 2009-2010 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17)

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