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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
June 23, 2006 RI H 6885 International Trade Agreements Veto Override Passed - House (49 - 15)
Feb. 5, 1998 National HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Veto Override Passed - House (347 - 69)
March 17, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Passed - House (61 - 8)
Sept. 30, 1992 National HR 5318 Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China Veto Override Passed - House (345 - 74)
March 27, 2007 SC Amendment No. 23 Remove the Transportation Commission Amendment Tabled - House (71 - 36)
April 16, 2008 NH HR 24 Impeachment Petition Resolution Tabled - House (227 - 95)
March 7, 2006 VA Amendment LeBlanc Nomination Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 42)
Feb. 10, 1994 National H Amdt 436 Bryant Amendment to Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act of 1993 Amendment Adopted - House (230 - 188)
June 9, 1994 National H Amdt 611 Lifting Arms Embargo on Bosnia Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (244 - 178)
Nov. 15, 1995 National HR 2020 Appropriations bill FY96, Treasury, Postal Service Conference Report Adopted - House (374 - 52)
Oct. 31, 2007 MI SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 25)
March 29, 1996 National HR 956 Product Liability bill Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 158)
May 1, 2009 FL HB 479 Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 23)
March 9, 2006 AZ HB 2701 National Guard Mobilization; Border; Appropriation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 21)
May 12, 2008 AZ HB 2017 Legislative Approval for Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 22)
March 7, 2008 CO HB 1025 Governor's Energy Office Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 7)
June 21, 2008 LA HB 906 Anonymity of Ethics Board Complaints Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 21)
April 4, 2008 KS SB 148 Electricity Generation and Conservation Bill Passed - House (83 - 41)
June 22, 2009 LA SB 278 Governor Records Disclosed Bill Passed - House (62 - 41)
March 26, 2008 MS SB 2188 Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions Bill Passed - House (95 - 25)
June 20, 2008 LA SB 718 State Board Member and Commissioner Financial Disclosures Bill Passed - House (92 - 8)
June 27, 2008 MS HB 17 Medicaid Funds Bill Bill Passed - House (68 - 44)
Feb. 15, 2008 UT HB 75 State Inventory of Government Activities Bill Passed - House (54 - 17)
March 11, 2008 WI AB 862 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
March 5, 2008 ID HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise Resolution Passed - House (51 - 19)
March 5, 2008 SC H 4620 Expanding Governor's Appointment Power Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 24)
Jan. 30, 2008 CO HB 1025 Governor's Energy Office Bill Passed - House (59 - 5)
April 1, 2008 IL HB 4232 State Board of Education Selection Process Bill Passed - House (86 - 21)
April 8, 2008 IL HJRCA 28 Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33)
April 9, 2008 SC H 4673 Cost-of-Living Pension Increases for Retired Legislators and State Workers Bill Passed - House (58 - 51)
June 23, 2008 NJ S 1962 State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits Bill Passed - House (52 - 13)
June 18, 2009 AZ HCR 2019 Ends Affirmative Action Amendment Adopted - House (32 - 18)
March 21, 2007 TX HJR 59 Extending Veto Override Time Frame Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 29)
Feb. 9, 2006 MS HB 638 Executive Branch Salaries Bill Passed - House (64 - 55)
March 8, 2006 MS SB 2400 Salary Fixes for Certain Elected State and District Officials Bill Passed - House (78 - 40)
Feb. 15, 2007 KY HB 3 Restrictions on Governor Pardons Amendment Adopted - House (71 - 26)
Feb. 6, 1995 National HR 2 Line Item Veto Act Bill Passed - House (294 - 134)
Feb. 20, 2007 IN HB 1009 Review of State Privatization Contracts Bill Passed - House (52 - 45)
June 3, 2011 National H Res 292 Ground Forces in Libya Resolution Passed - House (268 - 145)
May 22, 2007 National S 214 United States Attorneys Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (306 - 114)
Nov. 8, 1997 National HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Bill Passed - House (352 - 64)
Sept. 9, 1999 National H Con Res 180 Puerto Rican Nationals resolution Resolution Passed - House (311 - 41)
Dec. 19, 1998 National H Res 611 Impeachment Resolution: Article One Resolution Passed - House (228 - 206)
Dec. 19, 1998 National H Res 611 Impeachment Resolution: Article One Resolution Passed - House (221 - 212)
Feb. 7, 2007 IN HB 1262 BMV Commission Elimination Bill Passed - House (51 - 49)
April 9, 2010 MD SB 279 Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs Bill Passed - House (105 - 33)
June 22, 2006 National HR 4890 Line Item Veto Bill Bill Passed - House (247 - 172)
Feb. 1, 2007 WI AJR 1 Partial Veto by Alteration Ban Joint Resolution Passed - House (70 - 25)
Oct. 11, 2007 MA H 4282 Supplemental Budget Bill Passed - House (126 - 18)
July 9, 2008 National HR 5811 Electronic Communications Preservation Act Bill Passed - House (286 - 137)
Jan. 15, 2008 WI SJR 5 Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 1)
Feb. 6, 2008 MA H 4488 Education Reorganization Bill Passed - House (135 - 19)
Feb. 20, 2008 AZ HB 2043 State Government Hiring Freeze Bill Passed - House (40 - 15)
March 4, 2008 MD HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - House (105 - 31)
Dec. 10, 2008 OH HB 648 Increasing Restrictions on Access to Confidential Personal Information Bill Passed - House (69 - 26)
Jan. 13, 2009 ND HB 1036 Workforce Safety and Insurance Premium Rate Regulation Bill Passed - House (62 - 32)
Jan. 9, 2009 IL HR 1671 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Resolution Passed - House (114 - 1)
Jan. 22, 2009 MS HB 1090 Increasing Public Utilities Staff Oversight Bill Passed - House (64 - 53)
Jan. 28, 2009 MT HB 13 State Employee Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
Feb. 9, 2009 WY HB 240 Pay Raise for Certain Elected Officials Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
Jan. 14, 2009 IL HR 5 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Resolution Passed - House (117 - 1)
Jan. 27, 2009 WI AB 1 Wisconsin-Based Products and Services Purchasing Goals Bill Passed - House (77 - 22)
Jan. 27, 2009 WI AB 2 Mandatory State Contracting with Domestic Companies Bill Passed - House (69 - 30)
Feb. 17, 2009 OK HB 1410 State Purchasing Authority Amendments Bill Passed - House (61 - 37)
March 10, 2009 UT SB 53 Prohibiting the Awarding of Legal Fees to Plaintiffs in Public Interest Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (42 - 30)
July 21, 1992 National HR 5318 Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China Bill Passed - House (339 - 62)
April 2, 2009 MO HB 681 Special Elections for Statewide Office Vacancies Bill Passed - House (94 - 63)
June 2, 2009 CT SB 913 Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies Bill Passed - House (107 - 37)
Sept. 15, 2009 National H Res 744 Resolution of Disapproval of Representative Joe Wilson's Conduct Resolution Passed - House (240 - 179)
May 21, 2009 NJ A 3902 Election Requirements for Lieutenant Governor Bill Passed - House (45 - 29)
Feb. 24, 2011 MI HB 4214 Fiscal Accountability for Local Governments and School Districts Bill Passed - House (62 - 47)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 223 University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Geographic Composition Requirements Bill Passed - House (59 - 34)
July 19, 1995 National HR 2020 Appropriations bill FY96, Treasury, Postal Service Bill Passed - House (216 - 211)
July 26, 2002 National HR 5005 Establishing the Department of Homeland Security Bill Passed - House (295 - 132)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/23 H 6885 International Trade Agreements Veto Override Passed - House (49 - 15)
2/05 HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Veto Override Passed - House (347 - 69)
3/17 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Passed - House (61 - 8)
9/30 HR 5318 Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China Veto Override Passed - House (345 - 74)
3/27 Amendment No. 23 Remove the Transportation Commission Amendment Tabled - House (71 - 36)
4/16 HR 24 Impeachment Petition Resolution Tabled - House (227 - 95)
3/07 Amendment LeBlanc Nomination Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 42)
2/10 H Amdt 436 Bryant Amendment to Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act of 1993 Amendment Adopted - House (230 - 188)
6/09 H Amdt 611 Lifting Arms Embargo on Bosnia Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (244 - 178)
11/15 HR 2020 Appropriations bill FY96, Treasury, Postal Service Conference Report Adopted - House (374 - 52)
10/31 SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 25)
3/29 HR 956 Product Liability bill Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 158)
5/01 HB 479 Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 23)
3/09 HB 2701 National Guard Mobilization; Border; Appropriation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 21)
5/12 HB 2017 Legislative Approval for Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 22)
3/07 HB 1025 Governor's Energy Office Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 7)
6/21 HB 906 Anonymity of Ethics Board Complaints Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 21)
4/04 SB 148 Electricity Generation and Conservation Bill Passed - House (83 - 41)
6/22 SB 278 Governor Records Disclosed Bill Passed - House (62 - 41)
3/26 SB 2188 Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions Bill Passed - House (95 - 25)
6/20 SB 718 State Board Member and Commissioner Financial Disclosures Bill Passed - House (92 - 8)
6/27 HB 17 Medicaid Funds Bill Bill Passed - House (68 - 44)
2/15 HB 75 State Inventory of Government Activities Bill Passed - House (54 - 17)
3/11 AB 862 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
2/13 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
3/05 HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise Resolution Passed - House (51 - 19)
3/05 H 4620 Expanding Governor's Appointment Power Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 24)
1/30 HB 1025 Governor's Energy Office Bill Passed - House (59 - 5)
4/01 HB 4232 State Board of Education Selection Process Bill Passed - House (86 - 21)
4/08 HJRCA 28 Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33)
4/09 H 4673 Cost-of-Living Pension Increases for Retired Legislators and State Workers Bill Passed - House (58 - 51)
6/23 S 1962 State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits Bill Passed - House (52 - 13)
6/18 HCR 2019 Ends Affirmative Action Amendment Adopted - House (32 - 18)
3/21 HJR 59 Extending Veto Override Time Frame Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 29)
2/09 HB 638 Executive Branch Salaries Bill Passed - House (64 - 55)
3/08 SB 2400 Salary Fixes for Certain Elected State and District Officials Bill Passed - House (78 - 40)
2/15 HB 3 Restrictions on Governor Pardons Amendment Adopted - House (71 - 26)
2/06 HR 2 Line Item Veto Act Bill Passed - House (294 - 134)
2/20 HB 1009 Review of State Privatization Contracts Bill Passed - House (52 - 45)
6/03 H Res 292 Ground Forces in Libya Resolution Passed - House (268 - 145)
5/22 S 214 United States Attorneys Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (306 - 114)
11/08 HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Bill Passed - House (352 - 64)
9/09 H Con Res 180 Puerto Rican Nationals resolution Resolution Passed - House (311 - 41)
12/19 H Res 611 Impeachment Resolution: Article One Resolution Passed - House (228 - 206)
12/19 H Res 611 Impeachment Resolution: Article One Resolution Passed - House (221 - 212)
2/07 HB 1262 BMV Commission Elimination Bill Passed - House (51 - 49)
4/09 SB 279 Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs Bill Passed - House (105 - 33)
6/22 HR 4890 Line Item Veto Bill Bill Passed - House (247 - 172)
2/01 AJR 1 Partial Veto by Alteration Ban Joint Resolution Passed - House (70 - 25)
10/11 H 4282 Supplemental Budget Bill Passed - House (126 - 18)
7/09 HR 5811 Electronic Communications Preservation Act Bill Passed - House (286 - 137)
1/15 SJR 5 Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 1)
2/06 H 4488 Education Reorganization Bill Passed - House (135 - 19)
2/20 HB 2043 State Government Hiring Freeze Bill Passed - House (40 - 15)
3/04 HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - House (105 - 31)
12/10 HB 648 Increasing Restrictions on Access to Confidential Personal Information Bill Passed - House (69 - 26)
1/13 HB 1036 Workforce Safety and Insurance Premium Rate Regulation Bill Passed - House (62 - 32)
1/09 HR 1671 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Resolution Passed - House (114 - 1)
1/22 HB 1090 Increasing Public Utilities Staff Oversight Bill Passed - House (64 - 53)
1/28 HB 13 State Employee Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
2/09 HB 240 Pay Raise for Certain Elected Officials Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
1/14 HR 5 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Resolution Passed - House (117 - 1)
1/27 AB 1 Wisconsin-Based Products and Services Purchasing Goals Bill Passed - House (77 - 22)
1/27 AB 2 Mandatory State Contracting with Domestic Companies Bill Passed - House (69 - 30)
2/17 HB 1410 State Purchasing Authority Amendments Bill Passed - House (61 - 37)
3/10 SB 53 Prohibiting the Awarding of Legal Fees to Plaintiffs in Public Interest Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (42 - 30)
7/21 HR 5318 Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China Bill Passed - House (339 - 62)
4/02 HB 681 Special Elections for Statewide Office Vacancies Bill Passed - House (94 - 63)
6/02 SB 913 Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies Bill Passed - House (107 - 37)
9/15 H Res 744 Resolution of Disapproval of Representative Joe Wilson's Conduct Resolution Passed - House (240 - 179)
5/21 A 3902 Election Requirements for Lieutenant Governor Bill Passed - House (45 - 29)
2/24 HB 4214 Fiscal Accountability for Local Governments and School Districts Bill Passed - House (62 - 47)
11/05 SB 223 University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Geographic Composition Requirements Bill Passed - House (59 - 34)
7/19 HR 2020 Appropriations bill FY96, Treasury, Postal Service Bill Passed - House (216 - 211)
7/26 HR 5005 Establishing the Department of Homeland Security Bill Passed - House (295 - 132)

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