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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Feb. 27, 2013 | NC | SB 76 | Amends Hydraulic Fracturing Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 7) |
Feb. 26, 2013 | ND | SB 2336 | Restructures Oil and Gas Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
Feb. 23, 2013 | VA | HB 2313 | Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15) |
Feb. 13, 2013 | VA | HB 2313 | Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
Nov. 28, 2012 | National | S Amdt 3095 | Repeals the Prohibition on Biofuel Refinery Construction | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 41) |
July 2, 2012 | NC | SB 820 | Authorizes Hydraulic Fracturing | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 13) |
June 6, 2012 | NC | SB 820 | Authorizes Hydraulic Fracturing | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
May 30, 2012 | CA | SB 1054 | Requires Notifying Property Owners Prior to Hydraulic Fracturing | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18) |
May 15, 2012 | OH | SB 315 | Regulates Practice of Hydraulic Fracturing | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
April 11, 2012 | NE | LB 1161 | Authorizes Land Study in Nebraska for Keystone XL Pipeline Route | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
March 29, 2012 | National | S 2204 | Amends Energy-Related Tax Credits | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 47) |
March 14, 2012 | ID | H 464 | Prohibits Local Ordinances from Limiting Oil and Gas Extraction | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
March 8, 2012 | National | S Amdt 1537 | Approving the Keystone XL Pipeline Project | Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 42) |
March 8, 2012 | FL | HB 4001 | Repeals Provisions for Cap and Trade Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5) |
Feb. 17, 2012 | National | HR 3630 | Extends Payroll Tax Cut | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 36) |
Feb. 7, 2012 | PA | HB 1950 | Amends Statutes Concerning Oil and Gas Resources | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19) |
Dec. 17, 2011 | National | S Amdt 1465 | Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension | Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 10) |
Nov. 15, 2011 | PA | SB 1100 | Regulation of Oil and Natural Gas Resources | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
June 15, 2011 | OH | HB 133 | Establishes the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
June 14, 2011 | National | S Amdt 436 | Repeals the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (40 - 59) |
May 18, 2011 | National | S 953 | Offshore Production and Safety Act | Motion Rejected - Senate (42 - 57) |
May 17, 2011 | National | S 940 | Amending Oil Company Tax Laws | Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 48) |
April 28, 2011 | MT | SB 329 | Oil and Natural Gas Revenue for Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19) |
Feb. 28, 2011 | UT | SB 270 | Modifications to Sales and Use Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
Feb. 22, 2011 | AR | SB 275 | Reduction of Excise Tax on Electricity and Natural Gas | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
Jan. 21, 2011 | ND | SB 2131 | Surface Access Fee for Oil and Gas Exploration and Production | Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 40) |
Sept. 14, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4595 | Business Transaction Reporting Requirement Amendments | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42) |
Aug. 23, 2010 | CA | AB 234 | Marine Oil Shipping Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
Sept. 27, 2008 | National | HR 2638 | Continuing Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (78 - 12) |
June 10, 2008 | National | S 3044 | Increasing Taxes on Profits, Rescinding Certain Tax Deductions, and Increasing Tax Incentives for Alternative Energy Programs for Oil Companies | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 43) |
March 13, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4329 | Amendment on Certain Energy-Related Programs, Including the Development of Oil and Natural Gas in Coastal Areas Not Covered by a Moratorium | Amendment Adopted - Senate (56 - 43) |
March 13, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4207 | Amendment on Certain Energy-Related Programs, Including the Development of Oil Shale and Offshore Natural Gas | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
Dec. 18, 2007 | National | HR 2764 | Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17) |
Dec. 13, 2007 | National | HR 6 | Energy Act of 2007 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (86 - 8) |
June 21, 2007 | National | HR 6 | Energy Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27) |
June 19, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1519 | Preventing Petroleum Export Organizations (NOPEC Act of 2007) | Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 23) |
June 14, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1566 | Offshore Drilling in Virginia | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 44) |
Aug. 1, 2006 | National | S 3711 | Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (71 - 25) |
May 11, 2006 | National | HR 4297 | Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |
Feb. 2, 2006 | National | HR 4297 | Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 31) |
Nov. 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2626 | Temporary Tax on Crude Oil Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 48) |
Nov. 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2612 | Price-Gouging During Emergencies Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (57 - 42) |
Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2358 | ANWR Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2400 | Alaska Judicial Review of Oil Revenue Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
June 16, 2005 | National | S Amdt 784 | Reduction in Dependence on Foreign Oil | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53) |
June 14, 2005 | National | S Amdt 781 | Environmental Effects Caused by Ethanol Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 38) |
July 31, 2003 | National | HR 6 | Energy Omnibus bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14) |
June 10, 2003 | National | S Amdt 871 | Reduction of Foreign Oil Dependence Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (99 - 1) |
April 6, 2000 | National | S Amdt 2955 | Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 49) |
Aug. 3, 1994 | National | S Amdt 2446 | Ethanol Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 50) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
2/27 | SB 76 | Amends Hydraulic Fracturing Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 7) |
2/26 | SB 2336 | Restructures Oil and Gas Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
2/23 | HB 2313 | Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15) |
2/13 | HB 2313 | Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
11/28 | S Amdt 3095 | Repeals the Prohibition on Biofuel Refinery Construction | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 41) |
7/02 | SB 820 | Authorizes Hydraulic Fracturing | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 13) |
6/06 | SB 820 | Authorizes Hydraulic Fracturing | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
5/30 | SB 1054 | Requires Notifying Property Owners Prior to Hydraulic Fracturing | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18) |
5/15 | SB 315 | Regulates Practice of Hydraulic Fracturing | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
4/11 | LB 1161 | Authorizes Land Study in Nebraska for Keystone XL Pipeline Route | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
3/29 | S 2204 | Amends Energy-Related Tax Credits | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 47) |
3/14 | H 464 | Prohibits Local Ordinances from Limiting Oil and Gas Extraction | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
3/08 | S Amdt 1537 | Approving the Keystone XL Pipeline Project | Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 42) |
3/08 | HB 4001 | Repeals Provisions for Cap and Trade Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5) |
2/17 | HR 3630 | Extends Payroll Tax Cut | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 36) |
2/07 | HB 1950 | Amends Statutes Concerning Oil and Gas Resources | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19) |
12/17 | S Amdt 1465 | Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension | Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 10) |
11/15 | SB 1100 | Regulation of Oil and Natural Gas Resources | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
6/15 | HB 133 | Establishes the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
6/14 | S Amdt 436 | Repeals the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (40 - 59) |
5/18 | S 953 | Offshore Production and Safety Act | Motion Rejected - Senate (42 - 57) |
5/17 | S 940 | Amending Oil Company Tax Laws | Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 48) |
4/28 | SB 329 | Oil and Natural Gas Revenue for Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19) |
2/28 | SB 270 | Modifications to Sales and Use Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
2/22 | SB 275 | Reduction of Excise Tax on Electricity and Natural Gas | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
1/21 | SB 2131 | Surface Access Fee for Oil and Gas Exploration and Production | Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 40) |
9/14 | S Amdt 4595 | Business Transaction Reporting Requirement Amendments | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42) |
8/23 | AB 234 | Marine Oil Shipping Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
9/27 | HR 2638 | Continuing Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (78 - 12) |
6/10 | S 3044 | Increasing Taxes on Profits, Rescinding Certain Tax Deductions, and Increasing Tax Incentives for Alternative Energy Programs for Oil Companies | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 43) |
3/13 | S Amdt 4329 | Amendment on Certain Energy-Related Programs, Including the Development of Oil and Natural Gas in Coastal Areas Not Covered by a Moratorium | Amendment Adopted - Senate (56 - 43) |
3/13 | S Amdt 4207 | Amendment on Certain Energy-Related Programs, Including the Development of Oil Shale and Offshore Natural Gas | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
12/18 | HR 2764 | Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17) |
12/13 | HR 6 | Energy Act of 2007 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (86 - 8) |
6/21 | HR 6 | Energy Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27) |
6/19 | S Amdt 1519 | Preventing Petroleum Export Organizations (NOPEC Act of 2007) | Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 23) |
6/14 | S Amdt 1566 | Offshore Drilling in Virginia | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 44) |
8/01 | S 3711 | Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (71 - 25) |
5/11 | HR 4297 | Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |
2/02 | HR 4297 | Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 31) |
11/17 | S Amdt 2626 | Temporary Tax on Crude Oil Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 48) |
11/17 | S Amdt 2612 | Price-Gouging During Emergencies Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (57 - 42) |
11/03 | S Amdt 2358 | ANWR Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
11/03 | S Amdt 2400 | Alaska Judicial Review of Oil Revenue Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
6/16 | S Amdt 784 | Reduction in Dependence on Foreign Oil | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53) |
6/14 | S Amdt 781 | Environmental Effects Caused by Ethanol Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 38) |
7/31 | HR 6 | Energy Omnibus bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14) |
6/10 | S Amdt 871 | Reduction of Foreign Oil Dependence Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (99 - 1) |
4/06 | S Amdt 2955 | Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 49) |
8/03 | S Amdt 2446 | Ethanol Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 50) |