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 1, 2014 | PA | HB 2354 | Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Plans from the Department of Environmental Protection | Bill Passed - House (144 - 59) |
| Jan. 13, 2014 | PA | HB 1411 | Requires Schools To Make Their Expenses Public | Bill Passed - House (119 - 81) |
| Jan. 13, 2014 | PA | HB 1411 | Requires Schools To Make Their Expenses Public | Bill Passed - House (119 - 81) |
| Dec. 17, 2013 | PA | HB 1234 | Reduces Size of General Assembly | Joint Resolution Passed - House (148 - 50) |
| Dec. 17, 2013 | PA | HB 1234 | Reduces Size of General Assembly | Joint Resolution Passed - House (148 - 50) |
| June 30, 2012 | PA | HB 254 | Expands Use of Red-Light Cameras | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (113 - 72) |
| June 30, 2012 | PA | SB 1263 | Prohibits Gas Drilling in Certain Areas | Bill Passed - House (123 - 74) |
| June 29, 2012 | PA | HB 254 | Expands Use of Red-Light Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| June 28, 2012 | PA | HB 1307 | Authorizes State Control of Financially Distressed Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 95) |
| June 19, 2012 | PA | HB 1307 | Authorizes State Control of Financially Distressed Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
| June 6, 2012 | PA | SB 1310 | Authorizes Repayment of Unemployment Debt to the Federal Government | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (129 - 67) |
| June 5, 2012 | PA | SB 1310 | Authorizes Repayment of Unemployment Debt to the Federal Government | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| April 4, 2012 | PA | HB 153 | Reduces the Number of Members in the General Assembly | Bill Passed - House (140 - 49) |
| April 4, 2012 | PA | HB 153 | Reduces the Number of Members in the General Assembly | Bill Passed - House (140 - 49) |
| March 14, 2012 | PA | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (104 - 88) |
| March 7, 2012 | PA | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| Dec. 20, 2011 | PA | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (136 - 61) |
| Dec. 20, 2011 | PA | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (136 - 61) |
| Dec. 14, 2011 | PA | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| Dec. 14, 2011 | PA | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| Oct. 18, 2011 | PA | SB 1151 | Fiscal Emergency Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| June 23, 2011 | PA | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Bill Passed - House (108 - 88) |
| March 4, 2011 | PA | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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 29, 2010 | PA | SR 348 | Audit of Methadone Treatment Programs & Medical Assistance Transportation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| June 23, 2010 | PA | HB 704 | Special Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (173 - 25) |
| 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 | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| 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. 9, 2009 | PA | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 92) |
| 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 1663 | Appropriations from State Gaming Fund | Bill Passed - House (110 - 87) |
| Aug. 5, 2009 | PA | HB 1828 | Municipal Pension System Amendments | Bill Passed - House (112 - 85) |
| 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) |
| June 29, 2009 | PA | HB 1 | Expanding Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (104 - 96) |
| June 29, 2009 | PA | HB 746 | Children's Health Care Insurance | Bill Passed - House (106 - 94) |
| May 6, 2009 | PA | SB 850 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| 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 1387 | Business Property Tax Deduction | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| June 16, 2008 | PA | SB 1388 | Change Formula for Calculating Corporate Net Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| June 16, 2008 | PA | SB 1385 | Increase Tax Credit for Business Net Losses | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| June 10, 2008 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
| June 4, 2008 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (163 - 38) |
| June 4, 2008 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31) |
| June 2, 2008 | PA | SB 1386 | Poverty Income Tax Cut | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| May 7, 2008 | PA | HB 2297 | Expansion of the Keystone Opportunity Zone | Bill Passed - House (126 - 72) |
| 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) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/01 | HB 2354 | Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Plans from the Department of Environmental Protection | Bill Passed - House (144 - 59) |
| 1/13 | HB 1411 | Requires Schools To Make Their Expenses Public | Bill Passed - House (119 - 81) |
| 1/13 | HB 1411 | Requires Schools To Make Their Expenses Public | Bill Passed - House (119 - 81) |
| 12/17 | HB 1234 | Reduces Size of General Assembly | Joint Resolution Passed - House (148 - 50) |
| 12/17 | HB 1234 | Reduces Size of General Assembly | Joint Resolution Passed - House (148 - 50) |
| 6/30 | HB 254 | Expands Use of Red-Light Cameras | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (113 - 72) |
| 6/30 | SB 1263 | Prohibits Gas Drilling in Certain Areas | Bill Passed - House (123 - 74) |
| 6/29 | HB 254 | Expands Use of Red-Light Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| 6/28 | HB 1307 | Authorizes State Control of Financially Distressed Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 95) |
| 6/19 | HB 1307 | Authorizes State Control of Financially Distressed Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
| 6/06 | SB 1310 | Authorizes Repayment of Unemployment Debt to the Federal Government | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (129 - 67) |
| 6/05 | SB 1310 | Authorizes Repayment of Unemployment Debt to the Federal Government | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| 4/04 | HB 153 | Reduces the Number of Members in the General Assembly | Bill Passed - House (140 - 49) |
| 4/04 | HB 153 | Reduces the Number of Members in the General Assembly | Bill Passed - House (140 - 49) |
| 3/14 | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (104 - 88) |
| 3/07 | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| 12/20 | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (136 - 61) |
| 12/20 | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (136 - 61) |
| 12/14 | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| 12/14 | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| 10/18 | SB 1151 | Fiscal Emergency Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| 6/23 | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Bill Passed - House (108 - 88) |
| 3/04 | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 6/29 | SR 348 | Audit of Methadone Treatment Programs & Medical Assistance Transportation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| 6/23 | HB 704 | Special Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (173 - 25) |
| 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 | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| 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) |
| 10/09 | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 92) |
| 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 1663 | Appropriations from State Gaming Fund | Bill Passed - House (110 - 87) |
| 8/05 | HB 1828 | Municipal Pension System Amendments | Bill Passed - House (112 - 85) |
| 7/20 | HB 1416 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 7/17 | HB 1416 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - House (104 - 95) |
| 6/29 | HB 1 | Expanding Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (104 - 96) |
| 6/29 | HB 746 | Children's Health Care Insurance | Bill Passed - House (106 - 94) |
| 5/06 | SB 850 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| 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 1387 | Business Property Tax Deduction | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| 6/16 | SB 1388 | Change Formula for Calculating Corporate Net Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 6/16 | SB 1385 | Increase Tax Credit for Business Net Losses | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 6/10 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
| 6/04 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (163 - 38) |
| 6/04 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31) |
| 6/02 | SB 1386 | Poverty Income Tax Cut | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| 5/07 | HB 2297 | Expansion of the Keystone Opportunity Zone | Bill Passed - House (126 - 72) |
| 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) |