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:
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.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 24, 2009 | National | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 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 | 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. 22, 2009 | National | S Amdt 3276 | Senate Health Care Bill Amendments | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39) |
| Dec. 15, 2009 | National | S Amdt 2793 | Authorizing Importation of Prescription Drugs | Amendment Rejected - Senate (51 - 48) |
| 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 | 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) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 7 | Statewide Water Conservation Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 6 | Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 1 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 3) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Nov. 2, 2009 | CA | SBx7 8 | Water Management Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Nov. 2, 2009 | CA | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| Oct. 29, 2009 | National | HR 2996 | Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (72 - 28) |
| 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 Failed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| Oct. 21, 2009 | National | S 1776 | Eliminating Adjustments to Medicare Rates of Payment | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53) |
| Oct. 8, 2009 | National | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| Sept. 12, 2009 | CA | SB 14 | Renewable Energy Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Sept. 9, 2009 | CA | AB 98 | Required Maternity Services Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Sept. 9, 2009 | CA | AB 98 | Required Maternity Services Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Sept. 8, 2009 | CA | AB 2 | Health Care Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| 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. 12, 2009 | AZ | HB 2013 | Budget Reconciliation (Health and Welfare) | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 23 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 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 6582 | Healthcare Partnership | Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| July 20, 2009 | CT | HB 6600 | SustiNet Health Insurance Plan | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| July 13, 2009 | CA | SB 670 | Ban on Suction and Dredge Mining | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| July 1, 2009 | AZ | SB 1175 | Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| July 1, 2009 | AZ | SB 1175 | Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| June 30, 2009 | OH | SCR 15 | Resolution Opposing Federal Cap and Trade Legislation | Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| June 29, 2009 | DE | SB 169 | Health Clinic Access | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
| June 29, 2009 | OR | HB 3369 | Water Development | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| June 25, 2009 | NJ | S 702 | Promoting Purchase of Energy-Efficient Homes | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| June 25, 2009 | NJ | A 3901 | Issuing Bonds for Conservation and Preservation Purposes | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| June 25, 2009 | OR | SB 528 | Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| June 25, 2009 | OR | SB 528 | Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| June 24, 2009 | MI | HB 4436 | 2009-2010 Department of Community Health Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| June 24, 2009 | OR | HB 2186 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| June 23, 2009 | OR | HB 3300 | Promoting Green Jobs | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/24 | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 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 | 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) |
| 12/22 | S Amdt 3276 | Senate Health Care Bill Amendments | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 12/15 | S Amdt 2793 | Authorizing Importation of Prescription Drugs | Amendment Rejected - Senate (51 - 48) |
| 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 | 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) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 7 | Statewide Water Conservation Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 6 | Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 1 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 3) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 11/02 | SBx7 8 | Water Management Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 11/02 | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| 10/29 | HR 2996 | Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (72 - 28) |
| 10/28 | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 10/28 | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 10/21 | S 1776 | Eliminating Adjustments to Medicare Rates of Payment | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53) |
| 10/08 | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| 9/12 | SB 14 | Renewable Energy Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 9/09 | AB 98 | Required Maternity Services Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 9/09 | AB 98 | Required Maternity Services Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 9/08 | AB 2 | Health Care Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| 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) |
| 8/12 | HB 2013 | Budget Reconciliation (Health and Welfare) | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 23 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| 7/20 | HB 6582 | Healthcare Partnership | Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 7/20 | HB 6600 | SustiNet Health Insurance Plan | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| 7/13 | SB 670 | Ban on Suction and Dredge Mining | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| 7/01 | SB 1175 | Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| 7/01 | SB 1175 | Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| 6/30 | SCR 15 | Resolution Opposing Federal Cap and Trade Legislation | Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| 6/29 | SB 169 | Health Clinic Access | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
| 6/29 | HB 3369 | Water Development | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| 6/25 | S 702 | Promoting Purchase of Energy-Efficient Homes | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| 6/25 | A 3901 | Issuing Bonds for Conservation and Preservation Purposes | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 6/25 | SB 528 | Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 6/25 | SB 528 | Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 6/24 | HB 4436 | 2009-2010 Department of Community Health Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| 6/24 | HB 2186 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 6/23 | HB 3300 | Promoting Green Jobs | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |