Key Votes
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About the Selection and Descriptions of Key Votes
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:
- The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
- The vote should be clear for any person to understand
- The vote has received media attention
- The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 13, 2014 | NM | HB 11 | Increases Compensation for Elected State Officers | Bill Failed - House (29 - 32) |
| Feb. 4, 2014 | IL | SB 1227 | Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget | Bill Passed - House (62 - 48) |
| Feb. 3, 2014 | VA | HB 706 | Authorizes Legislators to Hire Counsel to Represent Virginia in Court | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
| Oct. 30, 2013 | National | H J Res 99 | Disapproval of the President's Exercise of Authority to Suspend the Debt Limit | Joint Resolution Passed - House (222 - 191) |
| Aug. 2, 2013 | National | H Amdt 448 | Requires Congressional Approval Prior to Establishing a Tax on Carbon Emissions | Amendment Adopted - House (237 - 176) |
| Aug. 2, 2013 | National | H Amdt 450 | Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 185) |
| Aug. 2, 2013 | National | HR 367 | Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (232 - 183) |
| Aug. 2, 2013 | National | HR 2009 | Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (232 - 185) |
| June 13, 2013 | AZ | HB 2608 | Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 24) |
| June 6, 2013 | National | H Amdt 136 | Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 201) |
| May 22, 2013 | National | H Amdt 67 | Requires a Finding be Added Concerning Oil Sand Crudes | Amendment Rejected - House (146 - 269) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - House (69 - 62) |
| May 15, 2013 | TX | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Failed - House (61 - 80) |
| April 23, 2013 | ND | HCR 3047 | Establishes a Commission of Higher Education | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 34) |
| April 20, 2013 | MT | HB 13 | Appropriates Funds for State Employee Pay Raises | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 33) |
| April 11, 2013 | IL | HJRCA 18 | Repeals the Position of Lieutenant Governor | Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 28) |
| April 5, 2013 | KS | HB 2234 | Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 44) |
| March 19, 2013 | AR | HB 1819 | Prohibits Governor from Regulating Firearms in an Emergency | Bill Passed - House (78 - 9) |
| March 11, 2013 | KS | HB 2234 | Specifies Contract Powers of the Kansas Secretary of Transportation and the Kansas Turnpike Authority | Bill Passed - House (81 - 41) |
| March 6, 2013 | WI | SB 2 | Limits the Secretary of State's Role in Legislation | Bill Passed - House (59 - 37) |
| March 1, 2013 | KS | HB 2019 | Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals | Bill Passed - House (73 - 50) |
| Feb. 15, 2013 | National | HR 273 | Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees | Bill Passed - House (261 - 154) |
| Jan. 25, 2013 | WY | SF 104 | Establishes the Director Position in the Department of Education | Bill Passed - House (39 - 20) |
| Jan. 1, 2013 | National | HR 6726 | Congressional Pay Freeze and Fiscal Responsibility Act | Bill Passed - House (287 - 129) |
| Sept. 14, 2012 | National | HR 6213 | No More Solyndras Act | Bill Passed - House (245 - 161) |
| July 31, 2012 | National | S 679 | Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011 | Bill Passed - House (261 - 116) |
| July 31, 2012 | National | HR 828 | Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - House (263 - 114) |
| July 26, 2012 | National | HR 4078 | Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act | Bill Passed - House (245 - 172) |
| Feb. 24, 2012 | FL | HB 971 | Amends Process of Judiciary Appointment | Bill Passed - House (77 - 35) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | National | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - House (417 - 2) |
| Feb. 8, 2012 | National | HR 3521 | Authorizes the President to Line-Item Veto Certain Legislation | Bill Passed - House (254 - 173) |
| Jan. 18, 2012 | National | H J Res 98 | Disapproval of President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit | Joint Resolution Passed - House (239 - 176) |
| Dec. 2, 2011 | National | HR 3010 | Establishes Additional Requirements for Regulatory Agencies | Bill Passed - House (253 - 167) |
| Sept. 14, 2011 | National | H J Res 77 | Disapproval of the President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit | Joint Resolution Passed - House (232 - 186) |
| Sept. 7, 2011 | CA | SB 292 | Authorizes Governor to Expedite Environmental Review | Bill Passed - House (63 - 13) |
| June 21, 2011 | OR | SB 552 | Establishes the Governor as the Superintendent of Public Instruction | Bill Passed - House (38 - 22) |
| June 3, 2011 | National | H Res 292 | Ground Forces in Libya | Resolution Passed - House (268 - 145) |
| June 3, 2011 | National | H Con Res 51 | Removing Armed Forces from Libya | Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265) |
| April 15, 2011 | IN | SB 473 | Toll Way Projects | Bill Passed - House (73 - 19) |
| April 8, 2011 | MD | HB 302 | Parole Approval | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 65) |
| April 1, 2011 | National | HR 1255 | Government Shutdown Prevention Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 202) |
| March 15, 2011 | MI | HB 4214 | Fiscal Accountability for Local Governments and School Districts | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 48) |
| March 8, 2011 | MD | HB 302 | Parole Approval | Bill Passed - House (74 - 66) |
| Feb. 24, 2011 | MI | HB 4214 | Fiscal Accountability for Local Governments and School Districts | Bill Passed - House (62 - 47) |
| Feb. 23, 2011 | MI | HB 4216 | Local Governments Fiscal Accountability | Bill Passed - House (62 - 47) |
| July 8, 2010 | NC | HB 1035 | Performance and Payment Bond Modification | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 50) |
| July 6, 2010 | NC | Amdt 2 | Lobbying Restrictions | Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 48) |
| July 2, 2010 | PA | HB 2601 | Environmentally Beneficial and Energy Efficient Technologies | Bill Passed - House (125 - 71) |
| June 17, 2010 | MI | SJR V | Expanding Prohibitions Against Felons Holding Public Office | Joint Resolution Passed - House (91 - 13) |
| June 9, 2010 | LA | HCR 57 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for Presidential Line-Item Veto | Resolution Passed - House (77 - 12) |
| May 25, 2010 | IL | SB 3660 | Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 | Bill Passed - House (67 - 50) |
| May 20, 2010 | LA | HB 1443 | Establishing Requirements for Contracts entered into by the Department of Health and Hospitals | Bill Passed - House (64 - 27) |
| May 10, 2010 | NY | S 7777 | Emergency Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (83 - 56) |
| May 4, 2010 | LA | HCR 144 | Response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig | Motion Agreed - House (60 - 32) |
| April 28, 2010 | HI | HB 2377 | Board of Education Selection Advisory Council | Conference Report Adopted - House (40 - 11) |
| April 27, 2010 | HI | HB 2376 | Requiring Board of Education Members be Appointed | Conference Report Adopted - House (44 - 7) |
| April 27, 2010 | LA | HB 251 | Superintendent of Education Qualifications | Bill Passed - House (75 - 16) |
| April 22, 2010 | CA | Maldonado Nomination | Abel Maldonado, Lieutenant Governor | (53 - 21) |
| April 21, 2010 | AZ | SCR 1013 | Replacing Secretary of State with Lieutenant Governor | Bill Passed - House (51 - 9) |
| April 9, 2010 | MD | SB 279 | Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs | Bill Passed - House (105 - 33) |
| March 30, 2010 | AZ | HCR 2038 | Limiting Governor's Line Item Veto Authority | Joint Resolution Passed - House (34 - 24) |
| March 26, 2010 | IL | HB 5109 | Prohibiting Public Funding of Portraits of Governors Removed From Office | Bill Passed - House (85 - 23) |
| March 26, 2010 | GA | HB 236 | Review Process for the Operations of State Entities | Bill Failed - House (77 - 81) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | CO | SB 1 | Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| Feb. 11, 2010 | CA | Maldonado Nomination | Abel Maldonado, Lieutenant Governor | (37 - 36) |
| Feb. 3, 2010 | MS | HB 959 | Sale of State Plane | Bill Passed - House (65 - 55) |
| Jan. 19, 2010 | MS | HB 392 | Limiting Gubernatorial Budget Reductions | Bill Passed - House (70 - 49) |
| Jan. 13, 2010 | IL | HB 1188 | Increasing Cemetery Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 30) |
| Jan. 13, 2010 | SC | H 4219 | Censuring Governor Mark Sanford | Resolution Passed - House (102 - 11) |
| Jan. 7, 2010 | NJ | A 2139 | Tax Expenditure Report Requirement for Governor's Budget Message | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| Nov. 5, 2009 | WI | SB 223 | University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Geographic Composition Requirements | Bill Passed - House (59 - 34) |
| Oct. 9, 2009 | PA | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 92) |
| Oct. 8, 2009 | MA | SB 2028 | Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan | Bill Passed - House (114 - 36) |
| Sept. 22, 2009 | WI | AB 138 | Board Appointment of the Secretary of Natural Resources | Bill Passed - House (61 - 32) |
| Sept. 17, 2009 | MA | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
| Sept. 16, 2009 | MO | HB 544 | Increasing Legislative Oversight of Federal Funds | Veto Override Failed - House (86 - 71) |
| Sept. 15, 2009 | National | H Res 744 | Resolution of Disapproval of Representative Joe Wilson's Conduct | Resolution Passed - House (240 - 179) |
| June 22, 2009 | LA | Amendment # B-483 | Shortening the Period Before Budget Records are Public | Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 54) |
| June 22, 2009 | LA | Amendment # B-480 | Making Records of the Governor Public | Amendment Rejected - House (47 - 50) |
| June 22, 2009 | LA | SB 278 | Governor Records Disclosed | Bill Passed - House (62 - 41) |
| June 18, 2009 | AZ | HCR 2019 | Ends Affirmative Action | Amendment Adopted - House (32 - 18) |
| June 2, 2009 | CT | SB 913 | Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - House (107 - 37) |
| May 30, 2009 | IL | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 6) |
| May 21, 2009 | NJ | A 3902 | Election Requirements for Lieutenant Governor | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| May 1, 2009 | FL | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 23) |
| April 29, 2009 | ID | S 1166 | Workers' Compensation Dividend Amendments | Bill Passed - House (50 - 16) |
| April 2, 2009 | MO | HB 681 | Special Elections for Statewide Office Vacancies | Bill Passed - House (94 - 63) |
| April 1, 2009 | GA | SB 200 | Reorganization of the Department of Transportation | Bill Passed - House (90 - 84) |
| March 10, 2009 | UT | SB 53 | Prohibiting the Awarding of Legal Fees to Plaintiffs in Public Interest Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (42 - 30) |
| Feb. 17, 2009 | OK | HB 1410 | State Purchasing Authority Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 37) |
| Feb. 11, 2009 | WY | HB 32 | Gray Wolf Management Plan Amendments | Bill Failed - House (7 - 52) |
| Feb. 9, 2009 | WY | HB 240 | Pay Raise for Certain Elected Officials | Bill Passed - House (37 - 23) |
| Jan. 28, 2009 | MT | HB 13 | State Employee Compensation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
| Jan. 27, 2009 | WI | AB 2 | Mandatory State Contracting with Domestic Companies | Bill Passed - House (69 - 30) |
| Jan. 27, 2009 | WI | AB 1 | Wisconsin-Based Products and Services Purchasing Goals | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| Jan. 27, 2009 | AR | HB 1050 | Freedom of Information Act Exemption Specifications | Bill Passed - House (57 - 31) |
| Jan. 22, 2009 | MS | HB 1090 | Increasing Public Utilities Staff Oversight | Bill Passed - House (64 - 53) |
| Jan. 14, 2009 | IL | HR 5 | Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich | Resolution Passed - House (117 - 1) |
| 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) |