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
March 15, 2006 MD Amendment 503528 to SB 110 Funding to Family Planning Programs Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 29)
June 14, 2006 SC H 4810 2006-2007 Budget Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 7)
May 4, 2006 NH HB 76 Charter School Aid Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 8)
May 31, 2006 SC H 4449 Sales and Property Taxes Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 11)
March 14, 2006 IN HB 1008 Indiana Toll Road Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19)
May 2, 2006 IA SF 2408 Elderly Income Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 4)
May 23, 2006 OH Sub SB 321 Limits on Local and State Spending/Tobacco Budget Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
June 6, 2006 AK HCS CS SB 2001 Oil and Gas Tax (Special Session) Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (8 - 12)
June 8, 2006 AK CCS SB 2001 Oil and Gas Tax (Special Session) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 6)
May 7, 2006 AK SCS CS HB 334 Additional Religious Property Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
March 21, 2006 SD SB 210 2006-2007 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
July 1, 2006 PA HB 2499 2006-2007 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 21)
July 8, 2006 CO HB 1020 Business Deductions for Employees Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
May 2, 2006 PA HB 39 Property Taxes (Special Session) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9)
May 24, 2006 UT 2SHB 3001 2006-2007 Transportation Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 10)
Jan. 22, 2007 CO SB 26 Funding Full-Day Kindergarten Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Nov. 15, 2001 National HR 2330 Agriculture FY2002 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7)
Nov. 8, 1997 National HR 2264 Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 4)
Oct. 1, 1997 National HR 2378 Appropriations bill FY98, Treasury, Postal Service Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 45)
Dec. 21, 2005 National S 1932 Budget Reconciliation Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (51 - 50)
April 11, 2003 National H Con Res 95 Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2004 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 50)
Sept. 25, 1997 National HR 2266 Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5)
Dec. 4, 2001 National HR 2299 Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (97 - 2)
Sept. 16, 1999 National HR 2587 District of Columbia FY2000 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 39)
Nov. 19, 1999 National HR 3194 District of Columbia FY2000 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 24)
Aug. 5, 1999 National HR 2488 Financial Freedom Act of 1999 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (50 - 49)
Nov. 8, 2001 National HR 2620 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 7)
Feb. 5, 2007 NJ A 1 Property Tax Relief and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
Feb. 14, 2007 IA SF 162 Stem Cell Research and Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
Feb. 14, 2007 ND SB 2347 In-State Tuition Grants Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 7)
Nov. 3, 2005 National S Amdt 2351 Pay As You Go Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 49)
Nov. 17, 2005 National S Amdt 2602 Hurricane Victims Tax Benefit Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 55)
Feb. 14, 2007 VA S Sub Funding for Statewide Transportation Projects Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
March 7, 2007 IA SF 128 Tobacco Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
April 29, 2007 IN HB 1835 Slot Machines at Race Tracks Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 17)
March 29, 2007 IN HB 1835 Slot Machines at Race Tracks Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
Feb. 26, 2007 SD HB 1139 Tobacco Tax Funds Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 15, 2007 OR HB 2707 Oregon Rainy Day Fund Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
April 18, 2007 IA HF 877 Statewide Preschool Program Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
March 27, 2007 KS SB 385 State Employee Pay Increase Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
Feb. 14, 2007 ND SB 2032 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 22)
April 6, 2007 ND HB 1051 Property Tax Relief Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27)
April 29, 2007 IN HB 1001 Operating Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9)
April 11, 2007 IN HB 1001 Operating Budget Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
March 22, 2007 AR SB 1004 Beer Tax Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
March 23, 2007 MN SF 1986 Transportation Taxes and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 24)
May 4, 2007 MN SF 1997 2008-2009 State Government Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (42 - 23)
March 24, 2007 MN SF 1997 2008-2009 State Government Budget Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 20)
Feb. 9, 2007 UT HB 148 Parent Choice in Education Act Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
March 31, 2007 MN SF 1611 Income Tax Increase and Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 29)
Feb. 15, 2007 ND SB 2397 Oil Well Tax Cut Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
April 27, 2007 MN SF 100 Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 26)
May 14, 2007 MN HF 946 Transportation Funding and Gas Tax Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 17)
March 26, 2007 MN HF 946 Transportation Funding and Gas Tax Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 24)
April 19, 2007 IA SF 599 Iowa Power Fund Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
May 8, 2007 MN SF 1989 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 21)
March 22, 2007 MN SF 1989 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 2)
Feb. 27, 2007 IN SB 401 Legislator Salary Adjustment Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
April 25, 2007 IA SF 604 Commercial Residential Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
April 12, 2007 NH CACR 18 Adequate Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9)
May 7, 2007 MN SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 19)
March 29, 2007 MN SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23)
May 1, 2007 VT SA. 520 Energy Tax Amendment to H. 520 Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
April 11, 2007 IN HB 1478 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
May 1, 2007 CO SB 199 Education Funding and Property Tax Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
April 11, 2007 IN HB 1510 Charity Gambling and Illegal Gambling Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
March 29, 2007 ID S 1245 Highway Bonding Bill Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
March 22, 2007 MI SB 307 Service Providers Excise Tax Act Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 22)
April 12, 2007 TX CSHB 1 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
April 19, 2007 IA SF 277 Teacher Pay and Incentive Programs Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 14)
May 31, 2007 TN SB 2326 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
April 30, 2007 KS Sub HB 2237 Maintenance for State Colleges and Universities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 8)
March 13, 2007 OK SB 861 Sales Tax Holiday Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
May 15, 2007 MT HB 2 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
June 12, 2007 MI Sub HB 4850 Tobacco Fund Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
June 3, 2007 NV AB 595 Highway Funding Act Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 3)
April 16, 2007 IA SF 277 Teacher Pay and Incentive Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
May 7, 2008 SC H 3567 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11)
June 2, 2007 CT HB 7432 Energy and Electricity Efficiency Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3)
May 3, 2007 MI Sub for SB 96 Industrial Personal Property Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
May 16, 2007 NE LB 367 Tax Credits and Reductions Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 2)
May 3, 2007 MI Sub for SB 94 Business and Economic Stimulus Tax Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
May 3, 2007 MI Sub for SB 95 Business Income Tax Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
June 14, 2007 NH CACR 19 Constitutional Amendment Regarding Education Resolution Failed - Senate (14 - 10)
April 24, 2007 SC Amendment No. 45 Competitive Grants Program Amendment Tabled - Senate (31 - 9)
May 30, 2007 NE LB 551 Sports Arena and Convention Center Funding Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
June 14, 2007 FL SJR 4B Property Tax Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
June 21, 2007 ME LD 1925 Tax Cuts Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (7 - 28)
May 30, 2007 CT SB 1483 Tax Code Modification Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17)
May 31, 2007 CT HB 7400 Tax Code Modification Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17)
April 29, 2007 IN HB 1678 Employer Health Insurance Plans Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 13)
June 19, 2007 SC S 99 Presidential Primaries Conducted by the State Election Commission Veto Override Passed - Senate (36 - 7)
June 26, 2007 WI SS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
March 20, 2007 AL HJR 29 State Legislature Pay Increase Veto Override Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
June 25, 2007 LA HB 489 Salary Increase for Statewide Elected Officials Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
July 16, 2007 PA HB 1590 Public Transportation and Interstate 80 Toll Road Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
June 25, 2007 LA HB 678 Insurance Funds Program Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
June 18, 2007 AZ HB 2781 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
July 16, 2007 PA HB 1286 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 2)
April 27, 2007 IA HF 920 Univeristy Capital Improvement Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/15 Amendment 503528 to SB 110 Funding to Family Planning Programs Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 29)
6/14 H 4810 2006-2007 Budget Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 7)
5/04 HB 76 Charter School Aid Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 8)
5/31 H 4449 Sales and Property Taxes Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 11)
3/14 HB 1008 Indiana Toll Road Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19)
5/02 SF 2408 Elderly Income Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 4)
5/23 Sub SB 321 Limits on Local and State Spending/Tobacco Budget Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
6/06 HCS CS SB 2001 Oil and Gas Tax (Special Session) Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (8 - 12)
6/08 CCS SB 2001 Oil and Gas Tax (Special Session) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 6)
5/07 SCS CS HB 334 Additional Religious Property Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
3/21 SB 210 2006-2007 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
7/01 HB 2499 2006-2007 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 21)
7/08 HB 1020 Business Deductions for Employees Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
5/02 HB 39 Property Taxes (Special Session) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9)
5/24 2SHB 3001 2006-2007 Transportation Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 10)
1/22 SB 26 Funding Full-Day Kindergarten Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
11/15 HR 2330 Agriculture FY2002 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7)
11/08 HR 2264 Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 4)
10/01 HR 2378 Appropriations bill FY98, Treasury, Postal Service Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 45)
12/21 S 1932 Budget Reconciliation Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (51 - 50)
4/11 H Con Res 95 Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2004 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 50)
9/25 HR 2266 Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5)
12/04 HR 2299 Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (97 - 2)
9/16 HR 2587 District of Columbia FY2000 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 39)
11/19 HR 3194 District of Columbia FY2000 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 24)
8/05 HR 2488 Financial Freedom Act of 1999 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (50 - 49)
11/08 HR 2620 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 7)
2/05 A 1 Property Tax Relief and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
2/14 SF 162 Stem Cell Research and Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
2/14 SB 2347 In-State Tuition Grants Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 7)
11/03 S Amdt 2351 Pay As You Go Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 49)
11/17 S Amdt 2602 Hurricane Victims Tax Benefit Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 55)
2/14 S Sub Funding for Statewide Transportation Projects Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
3/07 SF 128 Tobacco Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
4/29 HB 1835 Slot Machines at Race Tracks Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 17)
3/29 HB 1835 Slot Machines at Race Tracks Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
2/26 HB 1139 Tobacco Tax Funds Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/15 HB 2707 Oregon Rainy Day Fund Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
4/18 HF 877 Statewide Preschool Program Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
3/27 SB 385 State Employee Pay Increase Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
2/14 SB 2032 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 22)
4/06 HB 1051 Property Tax Relief Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27)
4/29 HB 1001 Operating Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9)
4/11 HB 1001 Operating Budget Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
3/22 SB 1004 Beer Tax Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
3/23 SF 1986 Transportation Taxes and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 24)
5/04 SF 1997 2008-2009 State Government Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (42 - 23)
3/24 SF 1997 2008-2009 State Government Budget Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 20)
2/09 HB 148 Parent Choice in Education Act Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
3/31 SF 1611 Income Tax Increase and Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 29)
2/15 SB 2397 Oil Well Tax Cut Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
4/27 SF 100 Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 26)
5/14 HF 946 Transportation Funding and Gas Tax Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 17)
3/26 HF 946 Transportation Funding and Gas Tax Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 24)
4/19 SF 599 Iowa Power Fund Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
5/08 SF 1989 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 21)
3/22 SF 1989 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 2)
2/27 SB 401 Legislator Salary Adjustment Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
4/25 SF 604 Commercial Residential Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
4/12 CACR 18 Adequate Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9)
5/07 SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 19)
3/29 SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23)
5/01 SA. 520 Energy Tax Amendment to H. 520 Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
4/11 HB 1478 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
5/01 SB 199 Education Funding and Property Tax Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
4/11 HB 1510 Charity Gambling and Illegal Gambling Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
3/29 S 1245 Highway Bonding Bill Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
3/22 SB 307 Service Providers Excise Tax Act Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 22)
4/12 CSHB 1 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
4/19 SF 277 Teacher Pay and Incentive Programs Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 14)
5/31 SB 2326 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
4/30 Sub HB 2237 Maintenance for State Colleges and Universities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 8)
3/13 SB 861 Sales Tax Holiday Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
5/15 HB 2 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
6/12 Sub HB 4850 Tobacco Fund Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
6/03 AB 595 Highway Funding Act Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 3)
4/16 SF 277 Teacher Pay and Incentive Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
5/07 H 3567 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11)
6/02 HB 7432 Energy and Electricity Efficiency Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3)
5/03 Sub for SB 96 Industrial Personal Property Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
5/16 LB 367 Tax Credits and Reductions Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 2)
5/03 Sub for SB 94 Business and Economic Stimulus Tax Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
5/03 Sub for SB 95 Business Income Tax Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
6/14 CACR 19 Constitutional Amendment Regarding Education Resolution Failed - Senate (14 - 10)
4/24 Amendment No. 45 Competitive Grants Program Amendment Tabled - Senate (31 - 9)
5/30 LB 551 Sports Arena and Convention Center Funding Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
6/14 SJR 4B Property Tax Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
6/21 LD 1925 Tax Cuts Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (7 - 28)
5/30 SB 1483 Tax Code Modification Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17)
5/31 HB 7400 Tax Code Modification Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17)
4/29 HB 1678 Employer Health Insurance Plans Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 13)
6/19 S 99 Presidential Primaries Conducted by the State Election Commission Veto Override Passed - Senate (36 - 7)
6/26 SS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
3/20 HJR 29 State Legislature Pay Increase Veto Override Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
6/25 HB 489 Salary Increase for Statewide Elected Officials Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
7/16 HB 1590 Public Transportation and Interstate 80 Toll Road Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
6/25 HB 678 Insurance Funds Program Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
6/18 HB 2781 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
7/16 HB 1286 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 2)
4/27 HF 920 Univeristy Capital Improvement Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10)

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