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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 13, 2011 | MI | HB 4409 | Amending the Social Welfare Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| July 13, 2011 | MI | HB 4410 | Amending the Jet Program of the Social Welfare Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| June 30, 2011 | PA | HB 960 | Public Assistance Program Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (130 - 66) |
| June 30, 2011 | PA | HB 960 | Public Assistance Program Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| June 29, 2011 | OH | HB 153 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 40) |
| June 29, 2011 | PA | HB 1485 | 2011-2012 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (109 - 92) |
| June 29, 2011 | NJ | S 4000 | 2011-2012 Budget | Bill Passed - House (46 - 32) |
| June 29, 2011 | NJ | S 4000 | 2011-2012 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| June 28, 2011 | OH | HB 153 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 11) |
| June 28, 2011 | PA | HB 1485 | 2011-2012 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| June 23, 2011 | LA | SB 259 | Establishes a Commission to Repeal Income Taxes | Motion Rejected - House (46 - 32) |
| June 22, 2011 | NH | HB 2 | Recertification of Employer Retirement Contribution Rates | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 119) |
| June 22, 2011 | NH | HB 2 | Recertification of Employer Retirement Contribution Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 5) |
| June 21, 2011 | National | S 782 | Economic Development Revitalization Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 51) |
| June 20, 2011 | OR | SB 909 | Appropriates Education Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| June 16, 2011 | WI | AB 40 | 2011-2013 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| June 16, 2011 | TX | HB 5 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Bill Passed - House (92 - 43) |
| June 15, 2011 | NC | HB 200 | 2011-2013 Budget | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| June 15, 2011 | NC | HB 200 | 2011-2013 Budget | Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 46) |
| June 15, 2011 | NY | S 5596 | Revising The Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
| June 14, 2011 | WI | AB 40 | 2011-2013 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
| June 10, 2011 | TX | SB 1 | 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (83 - 62) |
| June 9, 2011 | AL | HB 414 | Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
| June 9, 2011 | TX | SB 7 | Health Care | Bill Passed - House (89 - 41) |
| June 8, 2011 | CT | SB 1152 | Funding for Construction at the University of Connecticut Health Center | Bill Passed - House (97 - 45) |
| June 8, 2011 | IA | HF 697 | State Budget for 2011-2012 | Bill Passed - House (54 - 38) |
| June 7, 2011 | OR | SB 99 | Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - House (48 - 12) |
| June 5, 2011 | NV | AB 580 | 2011-2013 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| June 5, 2011 | NV | AB 580 | 2011-2013 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (36 - 6) |
| June 3, 2011 | TX | SB 1 | 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| June 2, 2011 | AL | HB 414 | Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 48) |
| June 1, 2011 | CT | SB 1152 | Funding for Construction at the University of Connecticut Health Center | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| May 31, 2011 | National | HR 1954 | Increasing the Debt Limit | Motion Rejected - House (97 - 318) |
| May 29, 2011 | TX | SB 1811 | Reduces Funding for State Agencies | Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 63) |
| May 28, 2011 | TX | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 53) |
| May 28, 2011 | TX | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 53) |
| May 28, 2011 | TX | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 11) |
| May 28, 2011 | TX | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 11) |
| May 27, 2011 | CT | HB 6650 | Appropriations for Judicial Branch and Other Agencies | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| May 26, 2011 | MI | HB 4325 | Education Appropriations for 2011-2013 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
| May 26, 2011 | MI | HB 4325 | Education Appropriations for 2011-2013 | Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 50) |
| May 26, 2011 | MI | HB 4526 | 2011-2012 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 15) |
| May 26, 2011 | MI | HB 4526 | 2011-2012 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 47) |
| May 25, 2011 | National | H Con Res 34 | 2011-2012 Budget | Motion Rejected - Senate (40 - 57) |
| May 25, 2011 | National | S Con Res 21 | 2012 Budget | Motion Rejected - Senate (42 - 55) |
| May 23, 2011 | NJ | S 2899 | Medicaid Coverage for Family Planning Services | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| May 19, 2011 | MN | SF 760 | 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 63) |
| May 18, 2011 | MN | SF 760 | 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 28) |
| May 18, 2011 | NV | SB 75 | Investment in Private Equity Firms | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| May 17, 2011 | TX | SB 420 | Eligibility for Indigent Health Care | Bill Passed - House (102 - 40) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/13 | HB 4409 | Amending the Social Welfare Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| 7/13 | HB 4410 | Amending the Jet Program of the Social Welfare Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| 6/30 | HB 960 | Public Assistance Program Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (130 - 66) |
| 6/30 | HB 960 | Public Assistance Program Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| 6/29 | HB 153 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 40) |
| 6/29 | HB 1485 | 2011-2012 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (109 - 92) |
| 6/29 | S 4000 | 2011-2012 Budget | Bill Passed - House (46 - 32) |
| 6/29 | S 4000 | 2011-2012 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 6/28 | HB 153 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 11) |
| 6/28 | HB 1485 | 2011-2012 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| 6/23 | SB 259 | Establishes a Commission to Repeal Income Taxes | Motion Rejected - House (46 - 32) |
| 6/22 | HB 2 | Recertification of Employer Retirement Contribution Rates | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 119) |
| 6/22 | HB 2 | Recertification of Employer Retirement Contribution Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 5) |
| 6/21 | S 782 | Economic Development Revitalization Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 51) |
| 6/20 | SB 909 | Appropriates Education Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| 6/16 | AB 40 | 2011-2013 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 6/16 | HB 5 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Bill Passed - House (92 - 43) |
| 6/15 | HB 200 | 2011-2013 Budget | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 6/15 | HB 200 | 2011-2013 Budget | Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 46) |
| 6/15 | S 5596 | Revising The Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
| 6/14 | AB 40 | 2011-2013 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
| 6/10 | SB 1 | 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (83 - 62) |
| 6/09 | HB 414 | Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 6/09 | SB 7 | Health Care | Bill Passed - House (89 - 41) |
| 6/08 | SB 1152 | Funding for Construction at the University of Connecticut Health Center | Bill Passed - House (97 - 45) |
| 6/08 | HF 697 | State Budget for 2011-2012 | Bill Passed - House (54 - 38) |
| 6/07 | SB 99 | Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - House (48 - 12) |
| 6/05 | AB 580 | 2011-2013 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| 6/05 | AB 580 | 2011-2013 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (36 - 6) |
| 6/03 | SB 1 | 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 6/02 | HB 414 | Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 48) |
| 6/01 | SB 1152 | Funding for Construction at the University of Connecticut Health Center | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 5/31 | HR 1954 | Increasing the Debt Limit | Motion Rejected - House (97 - 318) |
| 5/29 | SB 1811 | Reduces Funding for State Agencies | Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 63) |
| 5/28 | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 53) |
| 5/28 | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 53) |
| 5/28 | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 11) |
| 5/28 | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 11) |
| 5/27 | HB 6650 | Appropriations for Judicial Branch and Other Agencies | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 5/26 | HB 4325 | Education Appropriations for 2011-2013 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 5/26 | HB 4325 | Education Appropriations for 2011-2013 | Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 50) |
| 5/26 | HB 4526 | 2011-2012 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 5/26 | HB 4526 | 2011-2012 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 47) |
| 5/25 | H Con Res 34 | 2011-2012 Budget | Motion Rejected - Senate (40 - 57) |
| 5/25 | S Con Res 21 | 2012 Budget | Motion Rejected - Senate (42 - 55) |
| 5/23 | S 2899 | Medicaid Coverage for Family Planning Services | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| 5/19 | SF 760 | 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 63) |
| 5/18 | SF 760 | 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 28) |
| 5/18 | SB 75 | Investment in Private Equity Firms | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| 5/17 | SB 420 | Eligibility for Indigent Health Care | Bill Passed - House (102 - 40) |