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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 17, 2010 | PA | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - House (171 - 24) |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31) |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35) |
| Oct. 14, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
| Oct. 14, 2010 | PA | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| Oct. 5, 2010 | PA | HB 40 | Self Defense Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (159 - 38) |
| Sept. 29, 2010 | PA | SB 1155 | Establishing a Natural Gas Severance Tax | Bill Passed - House (104 - 94) |
| July 3, 2010 | PA | SB 1042 | 2010-2011 Budget Implementation and Fiscal Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| July 3, 2010 | PA | SB 1042 | 2010-2011 Budget Implementation and Fiscal Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (109 - 86) |
| July 2, 2010 | PA | HB 2601 | Environmentally Beneficial and Energy Efficient Technologies | Bill Passed - House (125 - 71) |
| July 1, 2010 | PA | HB 67 | Driving Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (71 - 126) |
| June 30, 2010 | PA | HB 2279 | 2010-2011 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (117 - 84) |
| June 30, 2010 | PA | HB 2279 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| June 30, 2010 | PA | HB 2572 | Establishing the Special Juvenile Victim Compensation Fund | Bill Passed - House (125 - 76) |
| June 29, 2010 | PA | SR 348 | Audit of Methadone Treatment Programs & Medical Assistance Transportation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| June 29, 2010 | PA | HB 2189 | Defining the Offense of Sexting | Bill Passed - House (163 - 36) |
| June 23, 2010 | PA | HB 704 | Special Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (173 - 25) |
| June 16, 2010 | PA | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Bill Passed - House (192 - 6) |
| June 15, 2010 | PA | HB 708 | Recycling Program for Electronic Materials | Bill Passed - House (169 - 30) |
| June 8, 2010 | PA | HB 1502 | Verification of Employee Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (188 - 6) |
| June 8, 2010 | PA | SB 1161 | Authorizing Qualified Inmate Transfer to Pre-Release Centers | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| Jan. 6, 2010 | PA | SB 711 | Legalizing Table Games | Conference Report Adopted - House (103 - 89) |
| Jan. 5, 2010 | PA | SB 711 | Legalizing Table Games | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 22) |
| Dec. 16, 2009 | PA | SB 711 | Legalizing Table Games | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Dec. 15, 2009 | PA | SB 711 | Legalizing Table Games | Bill Passed - House (103 - 92) |
| Oct. 9, 2009 | PA | HB 1416 | 2009-2010 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| Oct. 9, 2009 | PA | SB 1033 | Gaming Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| Oct. 9, 2009 | PA | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| Oct. 9, 2009 | PA | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 92) |
| Oct. 7, 2009 | PA | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 96) |
| Oct. 7, 2009 | PA | HB 1416 | 2009-2010 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (107 - 93) |
| Oct. 6, 2009 | PA | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| Oct. 2, 2009 | PA | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 98) |
| Sept. 11, 2009 | PA | HB 1828 | Municipal Pension System Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (113 - 76) |
| Aug. 26, 2009 | PA | HB 1828 | Municipal Pension System Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| Aug. 5, 2009 | PA | HB 1828 | Municipal Pension System Amendments | Bill Passed - House (112 - 85) |
| Aug. 5, 2009 | PA | HB 1663 | Appropriations from State Gaming Fund | Bill Passed - House (110 - 87) |
| July 20, 2009 | PA | HB 1416 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| July 17, 2009 | PA | HB 1416 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - House (104 - 95) |
| July 14, 2009 | PA | HB 264 | Expungement of Criminal Records and Juvenile Records | Bill Passed - House (104 - 91) |
| June 29, 2009 | PA | HB 746 | Children's Health Care Insurance | Bill Passed - House (106 - 94) |
| June 29, 2009 | PA | HB 1 | Expanding Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (104 - 96) |
| June 24, 2009 | PA | SB 81 | Liquor Tastings and Liquor Code Updates | Bill Passed - House (163 - 31) |
| June 3, 2009 | PA | SB 81 | Liquor Tastings and Liquor Code Updates | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| May 6, 2009 | PA | SB 850 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| April 22, 2009 | PA | A771 | Requiring Hands Free Devices for Cell Phones in Cars | Amendment Rejected - House (95 - 100) |
| March 25, 2009 | PA | SB 490 | Oil and Gas Lease Fund Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| July 4, 2008 | PA | SB 1389 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (170 - 32) |
| July 4, 2008 | PA | HB 1067 | Omnibus Education Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (191 - 11) |
| June 25, 2008 | PA | A 7738 | Real ID Biometric Data | Bill Failed - House (92 - 108) |
| June 16, 2008 | PA | SB 1385 | Increase Tax Credit for Business Net Losses | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| June 16, 2008 | PA | SB 1388 | Change Formula for Calculating Corporate Net Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| June 16, 2008 | PA | SB 1387 | Business Property Tax Deduction | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| June 10, 2008 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
| June 4, 2008 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31) |
| June 4, 2008 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (163 - 38) |
| June 2, 2008 | PA | SB 1386 | Poverty Income Tax Cut | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| May 13, 2008 | PA | SB 1278 | Child Support Fee | Bill Passed - House (116 - 84) |
| May 7, 2008 | PA | HB 2297 | Expansion of the Keystone Opportunity Zone | Bill Passed - House (126 - 72) |
| April 1, 2008 | PA | A 6178 to HB 1845 | Reporting Missing Firearms | Amendment Rejected - House (75 - 128) |
| March 17, 2008 | PA | SB 1137 | Expanding Subsidized Health Care | Bill Passed - House (118 - 81) |
| March 11, 2008 | PA | HB 1 | Clean Energy Program | Bill Passed - House (126 - 74) |
| July 17, 2007 | PA | HB 1590 | Public Transportation and Interstate 80 Toll Road | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (124 - 79) |
| July 16, 2007 | PA | HB 1286 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (140 - 63) |
| July 16, 2007 | PA | HB 1286 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 2) |
| July 16, 2007 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (13 - 36) |
| July 16, 2007 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (141 - 62) |
| July 16, 2007 | PA | HB 1590 | Public Transportation and Interstate 80 Toll Road | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| July 10, 2007 | PA | HB 289 | Presidential Primary Date Change | Bill Passed - House (117 - 85) |
| June 30, 2007 | PA | HB 1286 | 2007-2008 Budget | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (96 - 102) |
| June 28, 2007 | PA | HB 1631 | Funding for Local County Projects | Bill Passed - House (121 - 77) |
| June 27, 2007 | PA | HB 1590 | Public Transportation and Interstate 80 Toll Road | Bill Passed - House (105 - 96) |
| June 26, 2007 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| June 25, 2007 | PA | A 2062 | Exceptions to Clean Indoor Air Act | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 21) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/17 | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| 11/15 | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - House (171 - 24) |
| 11/15 | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31) |
| 11/15 | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35) |
| 10/14 | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
| 10/14 | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| 10/05 | HB 40 | Self Defense Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (159 - 38) |
| 9/29 | SB 1155 | Establishing a Natural Gas Severance Tax | Bill Passed - House (104 - 94) |
| 7/03 | SB 1042 | 2010-2011 Budget Implementation and Fiscal Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| 7/03 | SB 1042 | 2010-2011 Budget Implementation and Fiscal Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (109 - 86) |
| 7/02 | HB 2601 | Environmentally Beneficial and Energy Efficient Technologies | Bill Passed - House (125 - 71) |
| 7/01 | HB 67 | Driving Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (71 - 126) |
| 6/30 | HB 2279 | 2010-2011 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (117 - 84) |
| 6/30 | HB 2279 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| 6/30 | HB 2572 | Establishing the Special Juvenile Victim Compensation Fund | Bill Passed - House (125 - 76) |
| 6/29 | SR 348 | Audit of Methadone Treatment Programs & Medical Assistance Transportation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| 6/29 | HB 2189 | Defining the Offense of Sexting | Bill Passed - House (163 - 36) |
| 6/23 | HB 704 | Special Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (173 - 25) |
| 6/16 | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Bill Passed - House (192 - 6) |
| 6/15 | HB 708 | Recycling Program for Electronic Materials | Bill Passed - House (169 - 30) |
| 6/08 | HB 1502 | Verification of Employee Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (188 - 6) |
| 6/08 | SB 1161 | Authorizing Qualified Inmate Transfer to Pre-Release Centers | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| 1/06 | SB 711 | Legalizing Table Games | Conference Report Adopted - House (103 - 89) |
| 1/05 | SB 711 | Legalizing Table Games | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 12/16 | SB 711 | Legalizing Table Games | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| 12/15 | SB 711 | Legalizing Table Games | Bill Passed - House (103 - 92) |
| 10/09 | HB 1416 | 2009-2010 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| 10/09 | SB 1033 | Gaming Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| 10/09 | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| 10/09 | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 92) |
| 10/07 | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 96) |
| 10/07 | HB 1416 | 2009-2010 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (107 - 93) |
| 10/06 | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| 10/02 | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 98) |
| 9/11 | HB 1828 | Municipal Pension System Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (113 - 76) |
| 8/26 | HB 1828 | Municipal Pension System Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| 8/05 | HB 1828 | Municipal Pension System Amendments | Bill Passed - House (112 - 85) |
| 8/05 | HB 1663 | Appropriations from State Gaming Fund | Bill Passed - House (110 - 87) |
| 7/20 | HB 1416 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 7/17 | HB 1416 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - House (104 - 95) |
| 7/14 | HB 264 | Expungement of Criminal Records and Juvenile Records | Bill Passed - House (104 - 91) |
| 6/29 | HB 746 | Children's Health Care Insurance | Bill Passed - House (106 - 94) |
| 6/29 | HB 1 | Expanding Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (104 - 96) |
| 6/24 | SB 81 | Liquor Tastings and Liquor Code Updates | Bill Passed - House (163 - 31) |
| 6/03 | SB 81 | Liquor Tastings and Liquor Code Updates | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| 5/06 | SB 850 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| 4/22 | A771 | Requiring Hands Free Devices for Cell Phones in Cars | Amendment Rejected - House (95 - 100) |
| 3/25 | SB 490 | Oil and Gas Lease Fund Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| 7/04 | SB 1389 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (170 - 32) |
| 7/04 | HB 1067 | Omnibus Education Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (191 - 11) |
| 6/25 | A 7738 | Real ID Biometric Data | Bill Failed - House (92 - 108) |
| 6/16 | SB 1385 | Increase Tax Credit for Business Net Losses | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 6/16 | SB 1388 | Change Formula for Calculating Corporate Net Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 6/16 | SB 1387 | Business Property Tax Deduction | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| 6/10 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
| 6/04 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31) |
| 6/04 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (163 - 38) |
| 6/02 | SB 1386 | Poverty Income Tax Cut | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| 5/13 | SB 1278 | Child Support Fee | Bill Passed - House (116 - 84) |
| 5/07 | HB 2297 | Expansion of the Keystone Opportunity Zone | Bill Passed - House (126 - 72) |
| 4/01 | A 6178 to HB 1845 | Reporting Missing Firearms | Amendment Rejected - House (75 - 128) |
| 3/17 | SB 1137 | Expanding Subsidized Health Care | Bill Passed - House (118 - 81) |
| 3/11 | HB 1 | Clean Energy Program | Bill Passed - House (126 - 74) |
| 7/17 | HB 1590 | Public Transportation and Interstate 80 Toll Road | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (124 - 79) |
| 7/16 | HB 1286 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (140 - 63) |
| 7/16 | HB 1286 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 2) |
| 7/16 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (13 - 36) |
| 7/16 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (141 - 62) |
| 7/16 | HB 1590 | Public Transportation and Interstate 80 Toll Road | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| 7/10 | HB 289 | Presidential Primary Date Change | Bill Passed - House (117 - 85) |
| 6/30 | HB 1286 | 2007-2008 Budget | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (96 - 102) |
| 6/28 | HB 1631 | Funding for Local County Projects | Bill Passed - House (121 - 77) |
| 6/27 | HB 1590 | Public Transportation and Interstate 80 Toll Road | Bill Passed - House (105 - 96) |
| 6/26 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| 6/25 | A 2062 | Exceptions to Clean Indoor Air Act | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 21) |