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
April 6, 2010 ME LD 1830 Suspending Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
April 5, 2010 CO SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
April 5, 2010 CO SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 17)
April 1, 2010 GA HB 307 Hospital Medicaid Fee Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
April 1, 2010 GA HB 1023 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
April 1, 2010 AZ SCR 1060 State Debt Limit Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
March 30, 2010 IA HF 2531 Appropriations and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
March 30, 2010 AL SB 380 Authorization, Regulation, and Taxation of Bingo Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
March 30, 2010 SD SB 196 2010-2011 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
March 29, 2010 MN HF 1671 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 23)
March 29, 2010 IA SF 2389 Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
March 26, 2010 KY HB 368 Telephone and Online Gambling Tax Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
March 26, 2010 ME LD 1552 Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
March 26, 2010 CT SB 492 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
March 25, 2010 National HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
March 25, 2010 NE LB 1105 Death Penalty Cost Study Motion Rejected - Senate (22 - 22)
March 24, 2010 NE LB 952 Water and Natural Gas Infrastructure Replacement and Sewage Program Sales Tax Exemption Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (23 - 22)
March 24, 2010 MI SB 1163 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
March 24, 2010 ID S 1419 2010-2011 Higher Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
March 24, 2010 NH SB 489 Gambling Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 22, 2010 IA SF 2380 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
March 22, 2010 WA HB 2782 Limiting Disability Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 16)
March 22, 2010 ID S 1418 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
March 17, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
March 17, 2010 IA SF 2380 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
March 16, 2010 AZ HCR 2001 Repealing Early Childhood Development and Health Program Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
March 16, 2010 IA SF 2376 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
March 16, 2010 IA SF 2378 Increase in Fees for Traffic Violations Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17)
March 14, 2010 VA HB 30 2010-2012 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 6)
March 13, 2010 WV HB 4521 Sales Tax Holiday for Purchases of Guns Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
March 11, 2010 MN HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 17)
March 11, 2010 CA SBx8 32 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
March 10, 2010 WA SB 6364 2009 - 2011 Biennium Capital Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
March 4, 2010 AL HB 44 Tennessee Valley Authority Fund Allocation Modification Veto Override Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
March 4, 2010 CA ABx8 6 Fuel Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
March 4, 2010 CA ABx8 9 Tax and Transportation Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
March 3, 2010 FL SB 1158 Prohibiting Gun Licensing Trust Fund to Budget Stabilization Fund Transfers Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
March 2, 2010 NM SB 10 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
March 1, 2010 UT SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
March 1, 2010 UT SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
Feb. 27, 2010 WA SB 6444 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 19)
Feb. 26, 2010 WY HB 101 Wind-Generated Electricity Tax Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
Feb. 25, 2010 MN SF 2168 General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications Veto Override Passed - Senate (45 - 21)
Feb. 22, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 30)
Feb. 22, 2010 WA SB 6130 Initiative 960 (Tax Increase Restrictions) Suspension Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
Feb. 22, 2010 VA HB 756 Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
Feb. 18, 2010 WY SF 64 Increasing Seat Belt Violation Fine Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
Feb. 18, 2010 MS SB 2688 Restoring 2009-2010 Budget Cuts Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
Feb. 18, 2010 CA ABx8 8 Internet Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 18, 2010 CA ABx8 2 2010-2011 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 16, 2010 AL HB 44 Tennessee Valley Authority Payment Allocation Modification Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
Feb. 16, 2010 VA SB 660 Internet Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
Feb. 13, 2010 NM SB 10 Limiting Food Tax Deduction to Staple Foods Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19)
Feb. 12, 2010 NM SB 112 Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17)
Feb. 11, 2010 SD Jerstad Amdt Per Student Funding Increase Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 18)
Feb. 11, 2010 MN SF 2168 General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 20)
Feb. 10, 2010 SC H 3272 Property Tax Law Amendments Bill Failed - Senate (28 - 13)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1192 Repealing Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1194 Repealing Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1190 Suspending Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1199 Temporary Limit on Income Tax Reduction for Net Operating Loss Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1189 Repealing Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1195 Suspending Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1191 Repealing Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1193 Internet Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1196 Repealing Income Tax Credit Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Feb. 10, 2010 VA SB 102 Starting Biennial Budgets in Odd-Numbered Years Motion Agreed - Senate (21 - 19)
Feb. 10, 2010 VA SB 601 Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 9, 2010 WA SB 6382 Extending State Employee Salary Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
Feb. 9, 2010 MN SF 2360 Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14)
Feb. 9, 2010 WA SB 6843 Suspension of Tax Increase Vote Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
Feb. 8, 2010 VA SB 239 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Feb. 4, 2010 IA SF 2062 State Worker Retirement Incentive Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 6)
Feb. 2, 2010 AZ SB 1003 Lottery Revenue Bond Authorization and State Building Lease-Purchase Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
Feb. 2, 2010 AZ SCR 1001 Temporary Sales Tax Increase Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
Feb. 1, 2010 IA SF 2088 Government Reorganization Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
Jan. 28, 2010 National PN 959 Ben S. Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 30)
Jan. 28, 2010 National H J Res 45 Increasing the Public Debt Limit and Reinstating PAYGO Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
Jan. 28, 2010 DE HB 310 Legalizing Table Games Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
Jan. 26, 2010 OH HJR 12 "Third Frontier" Program Extension Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Jan. 26, 2010 OH Schiavoni Amdt Casino Location Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (20 - 13)
Jan. 26, 2010 National S Amdt 3302 Establishing a Federal Budget Deficit Commission Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46)
Jan. 21, 2010 National S Amdt 3301 Ending the Troubled Asset Relief Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 45)
Jan. 19, 2010 IA HF 2030 School District Budget Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
Jan. 14, 2010 MA S 2247 Education Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 12)
Jan. 13, 2010 IA SF 2033 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
Jan. 12, 2010 IN SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
Jan. 12, 2010 IN SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
Jan. 6, 2010 CA SBx5 4 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Jan. 6, 2010 CA SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
Jan. 5, 2010 PA SB 711 Legalizing Table Games Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 22)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/06 LD 1830 Suspending Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
4/05 SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
4/05 SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 17)
4/01 HB 307 Hospital Medicaid Fee Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
4/01 HB 1023 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
4/01 SCR 1060 State Debt Limit Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
3/30 HF 2531 Appropriations and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
3/30 SB 380 Authorization, Regulation, and Taxation of Bingo Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
3/30 SB 196 2010-2011 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
3/29 HF 1671 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 23)
3/29 SF 2389 Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
3/26 HB 368 Telephone and Online Gambling Tax Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
3/26 LD 1552 Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
3/26 SB 492 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
3/25 HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
3/25 LB 1105 Death Penalty Cost Study Motion Rejected - Senate (22 - 22)
3/24 LB 952 Water and Natural Gas Infrastructure Replacement and Sewage Program Sales Tax Exemption Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (23 - 22)
3/24 SB 1163 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
3/24 S 1419 2010-2011 Higher Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
3/24 SB 489 Gambling Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/22 SF 2380 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
3/22 HB 2782 Limiting Disability Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 16)
3/22 S 1418 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
3/17 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
3/17 SF 2380 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
3/16 HCR 2001 Repealing Early Childhood Development and Health Program Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
3/16 SF 2376 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
3/16 SF 2378 Increase in Fees for Traffic Violations Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17)
3/14 HB 30 2010-2012 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 6)
3/13 HB 4521 Sales Tax Holiday for Purchases of Guns Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
3/11 HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 17)
3/11 SBx8 32 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
3/10 SB 6364 2009 - 2011 Biennium Capital Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
3/04 HB 44 Tennessee Valley Authority Fund Allocation Modification Veto Override Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
3/04 ABx8 6 Fuel Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
3/04 ABx8 9 Tax and Transportation Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
3/03 SB 1158 Prohibiting Gun Licensing Trust Fund to Budget Stabilization Fund Transfers Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
3/02 SB 10 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
3/01 SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
3/01 SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
2/27 SB 6444 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 19)
2/26 HB 101 Wind-Generated Electricity Tax Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
2/25 SF 2168 General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications Veto Override Passed - Senate (45 - 21)
2/22 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 30)
2/22 SB 6130 Initiative 960 (Tax Increase Restrictions) Suspension Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
2/22 HB 756 Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
2/18 SF 64 Increasing Seat Belt Violation Fine Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
2/18 SB 2688 Restoring 2009-2010 Budget Cuts Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
2/18 ABx8 8 Internet Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/18 ABx8 2 2010-2011 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/16 HB 44 Tennessee Valley Authority Payment Allocation Modification Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
2/16 SB 660 Internet Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
2/13 SB 10 Limiting Food Tax Deduction to Staple Foods Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19)
2/12 SB 112 Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17)
2/11 Jerstad Amdt Per Student Funding Increase Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 18)
2/11 SF 2168 General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 20)
2/10 H 3272 Property Tax Law Amendments Bill Failed - Senate (28 - 13)
2/10 HB 1192 Repealing Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
2/10 HB 1194 Repealing Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
2/10 HB 1190 Suspending Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/10 HB 1199 Temporary Limit on Income Tax Reduction for Net Operating Loss Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
2/10 HB 1189 Repealing Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
2/10 HB 1195 Suspending Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
2/10 HB 1191 Repealing Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
2/10 HB 1193 Internet Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
2/10 HB 1196 Repealing Income Tax Credit Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
2/10 SB 102 Starting Biennial Budgets in Odd-Numbered Years Motion Agreed - Senate (21 - 19)
2/10 SB 601 Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/09 SB 6382 Extending State Employee Salary Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
2/09 SF 2360 Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14)
2/09 SB 6843 Suspension of Tax Increase Vote Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
2/08 SB 239 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
2/04 SF 2062 State Worker Retirement Incentive Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 6)
2/02 SB 1003 Lottery Revenue Bond Authorization and State Building Lease-Purchase Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
2/02 SCR 1001 Temporary Sales Tax Increase Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
2/01 SF 2088 Government Reorganization Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
1/28 PN 959 Ben S. Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 30)
1/28 H J Res 45 Increasing the Public Debt Limit and Reinstating PAYGO Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
1/28 HB 310 Legalizing Table Games Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
1/26 HJR 12 "Third Frontier" Program Extension Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
1/26 Schiavoni Amdt Casino Location Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (20 - 13)
1/26 S Amdt 3302 Establishing a Federal Budget Deficit Commission Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46)
1/21 S Amdt 3301 Ending the Troubled Asset Relief Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 45)
1/19 HF 2030 School District Budget Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
1/14 S 2247 Education Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 12)
1/13 SF 2033 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
1/12 SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
1/12 SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
1/06 SBx5 4 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
1/06 SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
1/05 SB 711 Legalizing Table Games Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 22)

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