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. 21, 2010 | National | HR 3082 | Continuing Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (79 - 16) |
| Dec. 15, 2010 | National | HR 4853 | Temporary Extension of Tax Relief | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (81 - 19) |
| Dec. 4, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4727 | Extension of Tax Cuts for Those Making Under $250,000 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 36) |
| Dec. 4, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4728 | Extension of Tax Cuts for Those Making Under $1 Million | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 37) |
| Nov. 30, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4697 | Prohibiting Earmarks | Motion Rejected - Senate (39 - 56) |
| Nov. 17, 2010 | PA | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| Sept. 29, 2010 | National | HR 3081 | Continuing Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 30) |
| Sept. 29, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4676 | Reducing "Continuing Appropriation" Amounts by 5 Percent | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| Sept. 28, 2010 | National | S 3816 | Tax Law Amendments | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45) |
| Sept. 23, 2010 | MI | SB 1226 | State Retirement Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| Sept. 22, 2010 | MI | SB 884 | Tax Amnesty Period | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| Sept. 21, 2010 | MI | SB 1152 | 2010-2011 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 10) |
| Sept. 20, 2010 | NJ | S 2139 | 2010-2011 Supplemental Health Services Budget | Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Sept. 16, 2010 | National | HR 5297 | Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38) |
| Sept. 15, 2010 | MI | SB 1151 | Community College Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 5) |
| Sept. 8, 2010 | MI | HB 6086 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | SB 1391 | Business Tax Incentive Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 17) |
| Aug. 25, 2010 | CA | SB 1272 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| Aug. 23, 2010 | CA | AB 2666 | Establishing Public Database of Companies and Their Tax Credits in the State | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| Aug. 3, 2010 | NY | A 9710D | 2010-2011 Budget Financing | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 28) |
| July 29, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4519 | Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42) |
| July 21, 2010 | National | HR 4213 | Unemployment Benefits Extension | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (59 - 39) |
| July 20, 2010 | National | HR 4213 | Unemployment Benefits Extension | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 40) |
| July 13, 2010 | MO | HB 2 | Manufacturing Jobs Act | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
| July 9, 2010 | NC | HB 1973 | Keep North Carolina Competitive Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 17) |
| July 8, 2010 | NJ | S 29 | Reducing the property tax levy cap | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 3) |
| July 3, 2010 | PA | SB 1042 | 2010-2011 Budget Implementation and Fiscal Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| June 30, 2010 | NC | SB 897 | 2010-2011Operations and Capital Improvement Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 15) |
| June 30, 2010 | PA | HB 2279 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| June 29, 2010 | PA | SR 348 | Audit of Methadone Treatment Programs & Medical Assistance Transportation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| June 28, 2010 | NY | A 9703 | 2010-2011 Education, Labor, and Family Assistance Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | A 3009 | Professional Sports Team Specialty License Plates | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | S 3000 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | S 2139 | 2010-2011 Supplemental Health Services Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | S 29 | Reducing the property tax levy cap | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| June 21, 2010 | NY | A 9705 | 2010-2011 Transportation, Economic Development, and Environmental Conservation Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| June 21, 2010 | NY | A 9709 | Omnibus Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| June 18, 2010 | LA | HB 1171 | Performance Agreements for Colleges and Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| June 16, 2010 | NY | S 2165B | Allows Mixed Martial Arts Performances and Ultimate Fighting | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| June 14, 2010 | NY | S 8167 | Emergency Appropriation Extension | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 27) |
| June 10, 2010 | RI | H 8094 | Education Funding Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| June 9, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4326 | Requiring Reports on Foreign Holdings of U.S. Debt | Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 41) |
| June 9, 2010 | NH | SSHB 1 | Budget Financing | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| June 9, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4302 | Requiring Reports on Foreign Holdings of U.S. Debt | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (38 - 61) |
| June 8, 2010 | LA | SB 432 | Oil and Gas Processing Tax | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (6 - 31) |
| June 7, 2010 | NY | S 8089 | Emergency Appropriation Extension | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| June 3, 2010 | SC | H 4657 | 2010-2011 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16) |
| June 3, 2010 | CA | SB 974 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| June 3, 2010 | CA | SB 1113 | Income Tax Appeal Modifications | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 20) |
| June 2, 2010 | LA | SB 1 | Deposits and Transfers Regarding the Budget Stabilization Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/21 | HR 3082 | Continuing Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (79 - 16) |
| 12/15 | HR 4853 | Temporary Extension of Tax Relief | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (81 - 19) |
| 12/04 | S Amdt 4727 | Extension of Tax Cuts for Those Making Under $250,000 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 36) |
| 12/04 | S Amdt 4728 | Extension of Tax Cuts for Those Making Under $1 Million | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 37) |
| 11/30 | S Amdt 4697 | Prohibiting Earmarks | Motion Rejected - Senate (39 - 56) |
| 11/17 | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| 9/29 | HR 3081 | Continuing Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 30) |
| 9/29 | S Amdt 4676 | Reducing "Continuing Appropriation" Amounts by 5 Percent | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| 9/28 | S 3816 | Tax Law Amendments | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45) |
| 9/23 | SB 1226 | State Retirement Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| 9/22 | SB 884 | Tax Amnesty Period | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| 9/21 | SB 1152 | 2010-2011 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 9/20 | S 2139 | 2010-2011 Supplemental Health Services Budget | Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| 9/16 | HR 5297 | Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 9/15 | SB 1151 | Community College Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 5) |
| 9/08 | HB 6086 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 8/31 | SB 1391 | Business Tax Incentive Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 17) |
| 8/25 | SB 1272 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 8/23 | AB 2666 | Establishing Public Database of Companies and Their Tax Credits in the State | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| 8/03 | A 9710D | 2010-2011 Budget Financing | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 28) |
| 7/29 | S Amdt 4519 | Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42) |
| 7/21 | HR 4213 | Unemployment Benefits Extension | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (59 - 39) |
| 7/20 | HR 4213 | Unemployment Benefits Extension | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 40) |
| 7/13 | HB 2 | Manufacturing Jobs Act | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
| 7/09 | HB 1973 | Keep North Carolina Competitive Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 17) |
| 7/08 | S 29 | Reducing the property tax levy cap | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 3) |
| 7/03 | SB 1042 | 2010-2011 Budget Implementation and Fiscal Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| 6/30 | SB 897 | 2010-2011Operations and Capital Improvement Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 15) |
| 6/30 | HB 2279 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| 6/29 | SR 348 | Audit of Methadone Treatment Programs & Medical Assistance Transportation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| 6/28 | A 9703 | 2010-2011 Education, Labor, and Family Assistance Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| 6/28 | A 3009 | Professional Sports Team Specialty License Plates | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 6/28 | S 3000 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 6/28 | S 2139 | 2010-2011 Supplemental Health Services Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| 6/28 | S 29 | Reducing the property tax levy cap | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| 6/21 | A 9705 | 2010-2011 Transportation, Economic Development, and Environmental Conservation Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| 6/21 | A 9709 | Omnibus Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| 6/18 | HB 1171 | Performance Agreements for Colleges and Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| 6/16 | S 2165B | Allows Mixed Martial Arts Performances and Ultimate Fighting | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| 6/14 | S 8167 | Emergency Appropriation Extension | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 27) |
| 6/10 | H 8094 | Education Funding Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| 6/09 | S Amdt 4326 | Requiring Reports on Foreign Holdings of U.S. Debt | Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 41) |
| 6/09 | SSHB 1 | Budget Financing | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 6/09 | S Amdt 4302 | Requiring Reports on Foreign Holdings of U.S. Debt | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (38 - 61) |
| 6/08 | SB 432 | Oil and Gas Processing Tax | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (6 - 31) |
| 6/07 | S 8089 | Emergency Appropriation Extension | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| 6/03 | H 4657 | 2010-2011 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 6/03 | SB 974 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 6/03 | SB 1113 | Income Tax Appeal Modifications | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 20) |
| 6/02 | SB 1 | Deposits and Transfers Regarding the Budget Stabilization Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |