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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
April 16, 2013 MT HB 13 Appropriates Funds for State Employee Pay Raises Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
April 16, 2013 AR HB 1219 Appropriates Funds for Private Health Insurance Purchases Bill Passed - House (77 - 23)
April 16, 2013 MN SF 1589 Increases Legislator Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32)
April 16, 2013 MO SB 112 Extends the New Markets Tax Credit Program Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
April 16, 2013 IA SF 440 Appropriates Funds for Mental Health Services Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
April 16, 2013 IA SF 439 Establishes a Tax Credit for Farmers Who Donate to Food Banks Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
April 16, 2013 IA SF 439 Establishes a Tax Credit for Farmers Who Donate to Food Banks Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
April 16, 2013 NV AB 60 Requires Certain Information From Donation-Seeking Charities Bill Passed - House (25 - 15)
April 15, 2013 IN SB 487 Establishes Regulations for Hunting Preserves Bill Passed - House (52 - 39)
April 15, 2013 National HR 249 Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2013 Bill Failed - House (250 - 159)
April 14, 2013 AK SB 21 Amends the Oil Industry Tax Rate Structure Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 8)
April 13, 2013 AK SB 21 Amends the Oil Industry Tax Rate Structure Bill Passed - House (27 - 12)
April 13, 2013 AK SB 21 Amends the Oil Industry Tax Rate Structure Bill Passed - House (24 - 15)
April 11, 2013 OR SB 822 Amends the Public Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
April 10, 2013 IN HB 1003 Expands School Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
April 10, 2013 TX SB 1467 Requires Facilitation of Expansion of Firearms Manufacturers Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
April 9, 2013 IN HB 1001 2013-2015 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
April 9, 2013 IN HB 1001 2013-2015 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
April 9, 2013 WI AB 15 Authorizes Work-Share Programs Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
April 8, 2013 AR HB 1870 Appropriates Funds for Certain Steel Mills Bill Passed - House (78 - 17)
April 8, 2013 AR HB 1870 Appropriates Funds for Certain Steel Mills Bill Passed - House (78 - 17)
April 8, 2013 MA H 3382 Expands Retail Tax to Include Computer System Design Services Bill Passed - House (97 - 55)
April 8, 2013 MA H 3382 Expands Retail Tax to Include Computer System Design Services Bill Passed - House (97 - 55)
April 8, 2013 AR SB 875 Reduces Maximum Weekly Unemployment Benefit Amounts Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
April 5, 2013 KS SB 199 Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 8)
April 5, 2013 KS SB 199 Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 30)
April 5, 2013 KS HB 2253 Amends Abortion Clinic Tax Credits and Procedure Requirements Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 30)
April 5, 2013 KS HB 2253 Amends Abortion Clinic Tax Credits and Procedure Requirements Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 10)
April 4, 2013 OR HB 2870 Authorizes Counties to Tax Cigarette Sales Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
April 3, 2013 KS SB 181 Reduces Property Taxes for Motor Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
April 3, 2013 NH HB 1 2013-2015 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (194 - 172)
April 3, 2013 WV HB 2805 Establishes a Public Campaign Financing Program for Supreme Court of Appeals Candidates Bill Passed - House (70 - 29)
April 3, 2013 IA SF 430 2013-2014 Economic Development Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
April 3, 2013 NH HB 2 2013-2015 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (193 - 166)
April 3, 2013 NH HB 2 2013-2015 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (193 - 166)
April 2, 2013 MD SB 183 Authorizes Tax Credits for Certain Film Production Activities Bill Passed - House (108 - 31)
April 1, 2013 IA SF 429 2013-14 Community Colleges Budget Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
April 1, 2013 NV SJR 15 Removes the Separate Tax Rate on Mining Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
April 1, 2013 NV SJR 15 Removes the Separate Tax Rate on Mining Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
March 29, 2013 MD HB 1515 Increases the Gas Tax Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
March 29, 2013 VT H 530 2014 Budget Bill Passed - House (91 - 49)
March 27, 2013 NH HB 617 Increases Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Tax Bill Passed - House (206 - 158)
March 27, 2013 MD SB 274 Expands Medicaid Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
March 27, 2013 NH HB 617 Increases Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Tax Bill Passed - House (206 - 158)
March 26, 2013 KY SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 28)
March 26, 2013 KY SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6)
March 26, 2013 KS SB 199 Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center Bill Passed - House (90 - 32)
March 26, 2013 KS SB 72 Exempts Health Clubs From Property Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
March 26, 2013 IA SF 423 Amends Education Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
March 25, 2013 WA SB 5802 Authorizes a Carbon Emissions Reduction Study Bill Passed - House (61 - 32)
March 25, 2013 MD HB 228 Amends the State Health Benefits Exchange and Medicaid Program Bill Passed - House (93 - 43)
March 23, 2013 National S Con Res 8 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2014, Revising the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Year 2013, and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2015 Through 2023 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (50 - 49)
March 23, 2013 National S Con Res 8 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2014, Revising the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Year 2013, and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2015 Through 2023 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (50 - 49)
March 22, 2013 MD HB 1515 Increases the Gas Tax Bill Passed - House (76 - 63)
March 22, 2013 MD HB 860 Authorizes Construction and Renovation of Public Schools Bill Passed - House (107 - 30)
March 21, 2013 OH HB 51 Establishes Transportation Appropriations and Highway Speed Limit Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 28)
March 21, 2013 OH HB 51 Establishes Transportation Appropriations and Highway Speed Limit Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 28)
March 21, 2013 National HR 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (318 - 109)
March 21, 2013 KS HB 2143 2013-2018 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
March 21, 2013 KS SB 84 Reduces State Income Tax Rates Bill Passed - House (82 - 39)
March 21, 2013 AK SB 21 Amends the Oil Industry Tax Rate Structure Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
March 21, 2013 National H Con Res 25 Establishing the Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2014 and Setting Forth Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2015 Through 2023 Joint Resolution Passed - House (221 - 207)
March 21, 2013 National H Con Res 25 Establishing the Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2014 and Setting Forth Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2015 Through 2023 Joint Resolution Passed - House (221 - 207)
March 21, 2013 IL HB 1165 Establishes Cost of Living Adjustments in Pensions Bill Passed - House (66 - 50)
March 20, 2013 OH HB 51 Establishes Transportation Appropriations and Highway Speed Limit Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 6)
March 20, 2013 OH HB 51 Establishes Transportation Appropriations and Highway Speed Limit Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 6)
March 20, 2013 National HR 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 26)
March 20, 2013 IA SF 422 Increases Earned Income Tax Credit Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
March 20, 2013 KS HB 2231 2014-2016 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (68 - 55)
March 20, 2013 IL SB 1 Amends State Employee Pension Plans Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 22)
March 18, 2013 MN HF 5 Establishes the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 28)
March 16, 2013 NM HB 641 Reduces Corporate Income Tax Rates Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8)
March 16, 2013 NM HB 641 Reduces Corporate Income Tax Rates Bill Passed - House (35 - 28)
March 15, 2013 MD HB 100 2013-2014 Budget Bill Passed - House (101 - 36)
March 15, 2013 National HR 803 Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act (SKILLS Act) Bill Passed - House (215 - 202)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/16 HB 13 Appropriates Funds for State Employee Pay Raises Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
4/16 HB 1219 Appropriates Funds for Private Health Insurance Purchases Bill Passed - House (77 - 23)
4/16 SF 1589 Increases Legislator Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32)
4/16 SB 112 Extends the New Markets Tax Credit Program Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
4/16 SF 440 Appropriates Funds for Mental Health Services Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
4/16 SF 439 Establishes a Tax Credit for Farmers Who Donate to Food Banks Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
4/16 SF 439 Establishes a Tax Credit for Farmers Who Donate to Food Banks Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
4/16 AB 60 Requires Certain Information From Donation-Seeking Charities Bill Passed - House (25 - 15)
4/15 SB 487 Establishes Regulations for Hunting Preserves Bill Passed - House (52 - 39)
4/15 HR 249 Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2013 Bill Failed - House (250 - 159)
4/14 SB 21 Amends the Oil Industry Tax Rate Structure Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 8)
4/13 SB 21 Amends the Oil Industry Tax Rate Structure Bill Passed - House (27 - 12)
4/13 SB 21 Amends the Oil Industry Tax Rate Structure Bill Passed - House (24 - 15)
4/11 SB 822 Amends the Public Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
4/10 HB 1003 Expands School Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
4/10 SB 1467 Requires Facilitation of Expansion of Firearms Manufacturers Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
4/09 HB 1001 2013-2015 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
4/09 HB 1001 2013-2015 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
4/09 AB 15 Authorizes Work-Share Programs Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
4/08 HB 1870 Appropriates Funds for Certain Steel Mills Bill Passed - House (78 - 17)
4/08 HB 1870 Appropriates Funds for Certain Steel Mills Bill Passed - House (78 - 17)
4/08 H 3382 Expands Retail Tax to Include Computer System Design Services Bill Passed - House (97 - 55)
4/08 H 3382 Expands Retail Tax to Include Computer System Design Services Bill Passed - House (97 - 55)
4/08 SB 875 Reduces Maximum Weekly Unemployment Benefit Amounts Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
4/05 SB 199 Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 8)
4/05 SB 199 Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 30)
4/05 HB 2253 Amends Abortion Clinic Tax Credits and Procedure Requirements Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 30)
4/05 HB 2253 Amends Abortion Clinic Tax Credits and Procedure Requirements Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 10)
4/04 HB 2870 Authorizes Counties to Tax Cigarette Sales Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
4/03 SB 181 Reduces Property Taxes for Motor Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
4/03 HB 1 2013-2015 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (194 - 172)
4/03 HB 2805 Establishes a Public Campaign Financing Program for Supreme Court of Appeals Candidates Bill Passed - House (70 - 29)
4/03 SF 430 2013-2014 Economic Development Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
4/03 HB 2 2013-2015 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (193 - 166)
4/03 HB 2 2013-2015 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (193 - 166)
4/02 SB 183 Authorizes Tax Credits for Certain Film Production Activities Bill Passed - House (108 - 31)
4/01 SF 429 2013-14 Community Colleges Budget Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
4/01 SJR 15 Removes the Separate Tax Rate on Mining Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
4/01 SJR 15 Removes the Separate Tax Rate on Mining Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
3/29 HB 1515 Increases the Gas Tax Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
3/29 H 530 2014 Budget Bill Passed - House (91 - 49)
3/27 HB 617 Increases Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Tax Bill Passed - House (206 - 158)
3/27 SB 274 Expands Medicaid Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
3/27 HB 617 Increases Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Tax Bill Passed - House (206 - 158)
3/26 SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 28)
3/26 SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6)
3/26 SB 199 Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center Bill Passed - House (90 - 32)
3/26 SB 72 Exempts Health Clubs From Property Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
3/26 SF 423 Amends Education Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
3/25 SB 5802 Authorizes a Carbon Emissions Reduction Study Bill Passed - House (61 - 32)
3/25 HB 228 Amends the State Health Benefits Exchange and Medicaid Program Bill Passed - House (93 - 43)
3/23 S Con Res 8 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2014, Revising the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Year 2013, and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2015 Through 2023 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (50 - 49)
3/23 S Con Res 8 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2014, Revising the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Year 2013, and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2015 Through 2023 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (50 - 49)
3/22 HB 1515 Increases the Gas Tax Bill Passed - House (76 - 63)
3/22 HB 860 Authorizes Construction and Renovation of Public Schools Bill Passed - House (107 - 30)
3/21 HB 51 Establishes Transportation Appropriations and Highway Speed Limit Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 28)
3/21 HB 51 Establishes Transportation Appropriations and Highway Speed Limit Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 28)
3/21 HR 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (318 - 109)
3/21 HB 2143 2013-2018 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
3/21 SB 84 Reduces State Income Tax Rates Bill Passed - House (82 - 39)
3/21 SB 21 Amends the Oil Industry Tax Rate Structure Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
3/21 H Con Res 25 Establishing the Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2014 and Setting Forth Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2015 Through 2023 Joint Resolution Passed - House (221 - 207)
3/21 H Con Res 25 Establishing the Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2014 and Setting Forth Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2015 Through 2023 Joint Resolution Passed - House (221 - 207)
3/21 HB 1165 Establishes Cost of Living Adjustments in Pensions Bill Passed - House (66 - 50)
3/20 HB 51 Establishes Transportation Appropriations and Highway Speed Limit Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 6)
3/20 HB 51 Establishes Transportation Appropriations and Highway Speed Limit Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 6)
3/20 HR 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 26)
3/20 SF 422 Increases Earned Income Tax Credit Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
3/20 HB 2231 2014-2016 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (68 - 55)
3/20 SB 1 Amends State Employee Pension Plans Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 22)
3/18 HF 5 Establishes the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 28)
3/16 HB 641 Reduces Corporate Income Tax Rates Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8)
3/16 HB 641 Reduces Corporate Income Tax Rates Bill Passed - House (35 - 28)
3/15 HB 100 2013-2014 Budget Bill Passed - House (101 - 36)
3/15 HR 803 Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act (SKILLS Act) Bill Passed - House (215 - 202)

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