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
June 25, 1997 National S 947 Budget Reconciliation bill Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 27)
July 11, 1996 National H Amdt 1278 Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (201 - 220)
March 13, 2009 WV SB 238 Ban on Sexual Orientation Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
March 16, 2009 NJ S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral Bill Passed - House (42 - 36)
March 16, 2009 NJ S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
March 16, 2009 NJ S 2577 Age-Restricted Housing Exemptions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
March 16, 2009 NJ S 2577 Age-Restricted Housing Exemptions Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
March 5, 2009 NM HB 616 State Employee Return-to-Work Restrictions Bill Passed - House (49 - 13)
May 1, 2009 FL HB 479 Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 23)
May 1, 2009 FL HB 479 Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
June 2, 2009 NC SB 703 Restrictions on the State Treasurer Regarding the State Pension Fund Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
May 28, 2009 NC SB 703 Restrictions on the State Treasurer Regarding the State Pension Fund Bill Passed - House (64 - 50)
May 28, 2009 LA SB 296 Retirement Debt Payment Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
June 8, 2009 LA HB 316 Property Tax Exemption Joint Resolution Failed - House (30 - 63)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 33)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
June 25, 2009 NJ A 4111 State Employee Wage Increases Bill Passed - House (47 - 29)
June 25, 2009 NJ A 4111 State Employee Wage Increases Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
Oct. 21, 2009 National S 1776 Eliminating Adjustments to Medicare Rates of Payment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53)
Nov. 19, 2009 National HR 3961 Revising Medicare Physician Fee Schedules and Reinstatement of PAYGO Bill Passed - House (243 - 183)
Feb. 16, 2010 CO SB 1 Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
Feb. 1, 2010 CO SB 1 Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
March 3, 2010 National S Amdt 3353 Payment to Social Security Recipients Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
Feb. 24, 2010 IL HB 4654 Limiting Free Mass Transit for Seniors Bill Passed - House (83 - 27)
March 1, 2010 UT SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
Feb. 26, 2010 UT SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (55 - 20)
March 1, 2010 UT SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
Feb. 26, 2010 UT SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (46 - 26)
Feb. 26, 2010 WY SF 72 Increasing State Employee Contribution to State Retirement System Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
Sept. 23, 2010 MI SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
Sept. 23, 2010 MI SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (60 - 45)
April 14, 2010 MI SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
April 20, 2010 MO SB 714 State Employee Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
April 14, 2010 GA HB 1055 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (107 - 63)
April 23, 2010 CO SB 190 Suspension of Tax Exemption for Seniors Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
May 25, 2010 IL SB 3514 Amending State Pension Laws and Limiting Pension Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 44)
April 28, 2010 MO HB 2010 2010-2011 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Serices Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 70)
April 28, 2010 MO HB 2010 2010-2011 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Serices Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 10)
June 9, 2010 NH Amdt 2408 Insurance Premium Amendments Amendment Rejected - House (130 - 220)
June 29, 2010 MO HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Bill Passed - House (92 - 54)
March 24, 2010 IL SB 3267 Elder Financial Exploitation Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
July 14, 2010 MO HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 53)
July 14, 2010 MO HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 5)
May 5, 2010 IL SB 3267 Elder Financial Exploitation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (47 - 9)
June 20, 2010 LA HB 519 Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19)
Dec. 8, 2010 National S 3985 Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45)
Dec. 8, 2010 National HR 5987 Seniors Protection Act Bill Failed - House (254 - 153)
Feb. 17, 2011 ND HB 1385 Senior Citizens Attending Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - House (65 - 29)
March 13, 2011 NM HB 644 Raises Retirement Age Bill Failed - House (28 - 38)
March 15, 2011 NM HB 644 Raises Retirement Age Bill Passed - House (37 - 32)
June 9, 2011 AL HB 414 Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12)
June 2, 2011 AL HB 414 Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 48)
April 12, 2011 AL HB 414 Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees Bill Passed - House (54 - 41)
April 12, 2011 HI SB 570 Taxation of Certain Pension Incomes Bill Passed - House (28 - 23)
April 18, 2011 AZ SB 1609 Public Workers' Pensions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
April 14, 2011 AZ SB 1609 Public Workers' Pensions Bill Passed - House (36 - 20)
April 1, 2011 TX H Amdt 6 Appropriations for the Department of Aging and Disability Services Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 61)
June 9, 2011 NJ S 805 Senior Tenants' Rent Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
June 16, 2011 TX HB 5 Interstate Health Care Compact Bill Passed - House (92 - 43)
May 31, 2011 IL SB 145 Nursing Home Infection Control Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 24)
May 30, 2011 IL SB 145 Nursing Home Infection Control Bill Passed - House (69 - 45)
June 7, 2011 LA HB 138 Parole Eligibility for Elderly Inmates Bill Passed - House (65 - 25)
Oct. 12, 2011 NH SB 198 Amends Eligibility Requirements for TANF Bill Passed - House (237 - 126)
Oct. 27, 2011 National HR 2576 Requires Inclusion of Social Security Benefits in Calculation of Modified Adjusted Gross Income Bill Passed - House (262 - 157)
Dec. 13, 2011 MI HB 4701 Amends the State Employee Retirement System Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Nov. 3, 2011 MI HB 4701 Amends the State Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - House (63 - 45)
Sept. 15, 2011 MA S 2018 Massachusetts Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
Nov. 17, 2011 RI H 6319 Amending the Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
Nov. 17, 2011 RI H 6319 Amending the Pension System Bill Passed - House (57 - 15)
Dec. 14, 2011 National S J Res 24 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Udall Bill) Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 79)
Feb. 1, 2012 National HR 1173 Repeals the CLASS Act Bill Passed - House (267 - 159)
Feb. 14, 2012 VA HB 1129 Reduces State Employee Retirement Benefits Bill Passed - House (74 - 26)
March 15, 2012 NY S 6735 Amends the Public Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - House (92 - 46)
March 14, 2012 NY S 6735 Amends the Public Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
March 21, 2012 SC HB 4967 Amends the South Carolina Retirement System Bill Passed - House (86 - 27)
April 10, 2012 AL SB 388 Amends State Employee Pensions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
April 10, 2012 WA SB 6378 Amends State Employee Pension System (56 - 42)
April 10, 2012 WA SB 6378 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
May 3, 2012 KS HB 2333 Amends State Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
May 10, 2012 IL SB 1313 Limits Health Care Coverage for Retired State Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 20)
May 9, 2012 IL SB 1313 Limits Health Care Coverage for Retired State Employees Bill Passed - House (74 - 43)
Aug. 31, 2012 CA SB 1234 Establishes Retirement Program for Private Sector Employees Bill Passed - House (48 - 29)
May 3, 2012 KS King Amendment Amends the State Retirement System for New Public Employees Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 20)
Nov. 15, 2010 PA HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31)
Oct. 14, 2010 PA HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
June 16, 2010 PA HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - House (192 - 6)
May 31, 2012 IL HB 1447 Pension Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 24)
Nov. 29, 2012 NJ S 2241 Prohibits Unauthorized Medical Provider Reimbursement Reductions Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
Dec. 20, 2012 National HR 6684 Spending Reduction Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (215 - 209)
Feb. 13, 2013 KY SB 9 Establishes Review Panels to Assess Nursing Home Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 27, 2013 NM HB 64 Amends Educational Employee Pension Funds and Policies Bill Passed - House (50 - 17)
Feb. 27, 2013 KY HB 416 Establishes the Kentucky Retirement Systems Sustainability Trust Fund Bill Passed - House (52 - 47)
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)
Feb. 27, 2013 KY SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
Dec. 3, 2013 IL SB 1 Amends State Employee Pension Plans Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 53)
Dec. 3, 2013 IL SB 1 Amends State Employee Pension Plans Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 24)
April 24, 2013 OR SB 822 Amends the Public Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - House (33 - 27)
April 11, 2013 OR SB 822 Amends the Public Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
April 23, 2013 MT HB 377 Appropriates Funds for the Teachers' Retirement System Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 44)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/25 S 947 Budget Reconciliation bill Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 27)
7/11 H Amdt 1278 Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (201 - 220)
3/13 SB 238 Ban on Sexual Orientation Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
3/16 S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral Bill Passed - House (42 - 36)
3/16 S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
3/16 S 2577 Age-Restricted Housing Exemptions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
3/16 S 2577 Age-Restricted Housing Exemptions Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
3/05 HB 616 State Employee Return-to-Work Restrictions Bill Passed - House (49 - 13)
5/01 HB 479 Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 23)
5/01 HB 479 Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
6/02 SB 703 Restrictions on the State Treasurer Regarding the State Pension Fund Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
5/28 SB 703 Restrictions on the State Treasurer Regarding the State Pension Fund Bill Passed - House (64 - 50)
5/28 SB 296 Retirement Debt Payment Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
6/08 HB 316 Property Tax Exemption Joint Resolution Failed - House (30 - 63)
7/24 ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 33)
7/24 ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
6/25 A 4111 State Employee Wage Increases Bill Passed - House (47 - 29)
6/25 A 4111 State Employee Wage Increases Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
10/21 S 1776 Eliminating Adjustments to Medicare Rates of Payment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53)
11/19 HR 3961 Revising Medicare Physician Fee Schedules and Reinstatement of PAYGO Bill Passed - House (243 - 183)
2/16 SB 1 Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
2/01 SB 1 Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
3/03 S Amdt 3353 Payment to Social Security Recipients Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
2/24 HB 4654 Limiting Free Mass Transit for Seniors Bill Passed - House (83 - 27)
3/01 SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
2/26 SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (55 - 20)
3/01 SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
2/26 SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (46 - 26)
2/26 SF 72 Increasing State Employee Contribution to State Retirement System Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
9/23 SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
9/23 SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (60 - 45)
4/14 SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
4/20 SB 714 State Employee Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
4/14 HB 1055 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (107 - 63)
4/23 SB 190 Suspension of Tax Exemption for Seniors Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
5/25 SB 3514 Amending State Pension Laws and Limiting Pension Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 44)
4/28 HB 2010 2010-2011 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Serices Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 70)
4/28 HB 2010 2010-2011 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Serices Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 10)
6/09 Amdt 2408 Insurance Premium Amendments Amendment Rejected - House (130 - 220)
6/29 HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Bill Passed - House (92 - 54)
3/24 SB 3267 Elder Financial Exploitation Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
7/14 HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 53)
7/14 HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 5)
5/05 SB 3267 Elder Financial Exploitation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (47 - 9)
6/20 HB 519 Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19)
12/08 S 3985 Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45)
12/08 HR 5987 Seniors Protection Act Bill Failed - House (254 - 153)
2/17 HB 1385 Senior Citizens Attending Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - House (65 - 29)
3/13 HB 644 Raises Retirement Age Bill Failed - House (28 - 38)
3/15 HB 644 Raises Retirement Age Bill Passed - House (37 - 32)
6/09 HB 414 Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12)
6/02 HB 414 Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 48)
4/12 HB 414 Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees Bill Passed - House (54 - 41)
4/12 SB 570 Taxation of Certain Pension Incomes Bill Passed - House (28 - 23)
4/18 SB 1609 Public Workers' Pensions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
4/14 SB 1609 Public Workers' Pensions Bill Passed - House (36 - 20)
4/01 H Amdt 6 Appropriations for the Department of Aging and Disability Services Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 61)
6/09 S 805 Senior Tenants' Rent Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
6/16 HB 5 Interstate Health Care Compact Bill Passed - House (92 - 43)
5/31 SB 145 Nursing Home Infection Control Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 24)
5/30 SB 145 Nursing Home Infection Control Bill Passed - House (69 - 45)
6/07 HB 138 Parole Eligibility for Elderly Inmates Bill Passed - House (65 - 25)
10/12 SB 198 Amends Eligibility Requirements for TANF Bill Passed - House (237 - 126)
10/27 HR 2576 Requires Inclusion of Social Security Benefits in Calculation of Modified Adjusted Gross Income Bill Passed - House (262 - 157)
12/13 HB 4701 Amends the State Employee Retirement System Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
11/03 HB 4701 Amends the State Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - House (63 - 45)
9/15 S 2018 Massachusetts Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
11/17 H 6319 Amending the Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
11/17 H 6319 Amending the Pension System Bill Passed - House (57 - 15)
12/14 S J Res 24 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Udall Bill) Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 79)
2/01 HR 1173 Repeals the CLASS Act Bill Passed - House (267 - 159)
2/14 HB 1129 Reduces State Employee Retirement Benefits Bill Passed - House (74 - 26)
3/15 S 6735 Amends the Public Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - House (92 - 46)
3/14 S 6735 Amends the Public Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
3/21 HB 4967 Amends the South Carolina Retirement System Bill Passed - House (86 - 27)
4/10 SB 388 Amends State Employee Pensions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
4/10 SB 6378 Amends State Employee Pension System (56 - 42)
4/10 SB 6378 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
5/03 HB 2333 Amends State Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
5/10 SB 1313 Limits Health Care Coverage for Retired State Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 20)
5/09 SB 1313 Limits Health Care Coverage for Retired State Employees Bill Passed - House (74 - 43)
8/31 SB 1234 Establishes Retirement Program for Private Sector Employees Bill Passed - House (48 - 29)
5/03 King Amendment Amends the State Retirement System for New Public Employees Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 20)
11/15 HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31)
10/14 HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
6/16 HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - House (192 - 6)
5/31 HB 1447 Pension Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 24)
11/29 S 2241 Prohibits Unauthorized Medical Provider Reimbursement Reductions Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
12/20 HR 6684 Spending Reduction Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (215 - 209)
2/13 SB 9 Establishes Review Panels to Assess Nursing Home Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/27 HB 64 Amends Educational Employee Pension Funds and Policies Bill Passed - House (50 - 17)
2/27 HB 416 Establishes the Kentucky Retirement Systems Sustainability Trust Fund Bill Passed - House (52 - 47)
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)
2/27 SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
12/03 SB 1 Amends State Employee Pension Plans Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 53)
12/03 SB 1 Amends State Employee Pension Plans Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 24)
4/24 SB 822 Amends the Public Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - House (33 - 27)
4/11 SB 822 Amends the Public Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
4/23 HB 377 Appropriates Funds for the Teachers' Retirement System Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 44)

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