Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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
Aug. 4, 2007 National HR 3221 Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (241 - 172)
Aug. 4, 2007 National HR 3221 Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (241 - 172)
Aug. 4, 2007 National HR 3221 Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (241 - 172)
Aug. 2, 2007 National S 1 Lobbying and Donation Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (83 - 14)
Aug. 2, 2007 National HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31)
Aug. 2, 2007 National HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31)
Aug. 2, 2007 National HR 3159 Mandatory Troop Rest Periods Between Deployments to Iraq Bill Passed - House (229 - 194)
Aug. 1, 2007 National HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
Aug. 1, 2007 National HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
Aug. 1, 2007 National HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
July 31, 2007 National S 1 Lobbying and Donation Regulations Bill Passed - House (411 - 8)
July 31, 2007 National HR 2831 Equal Pay Bill Bill Passed - House (225 - 199)
July 27, 2007 National HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Bill Passed - House (231 - 191)
July 26, 2007 National S Amdt 2405 REAL ID Funding Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 44)
July 26, 2007 National S Amdt 2480 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 1)
July 17, 2007 NC CS HB 1016 County Medicaid Cost Assumption Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
July 17, 2007 National HR 980 Collective Bargaining for Public Safety Officers Bill Passed - House (314 - 97)
July 16, 2007 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (13 - 36)
July 16, 2007 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (141 - 62)
July 12, 2007 CA SB 180 Collective Bargaining Representation for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - House (46 - 33)
July 12, 2007 National HR 1851 Section 8 Voucher Adjustments Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (333 - 83)
July 11, 2007 National S 1701 Extension of Funding for Transitional Medical Assistance and Abstinence Education Bill Passed - House (291 - 126)
July 9, 2007 KY SCS SB 5 Public Employee Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
July 6, 2007 IL HB 2055 State Lottery Privatization Bill Failed - House (6 - 78)
July 3, 2007 NC SCS HB 973 Mental Health Insurance Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
June 29, 2007 DE SB 36 State Employee Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - House (26 - 10)
June 28, 2007 National S 1639 Second Immigration Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (46 - 53)
June 28, 2007 DE HA 1 Employee Paycheck Consent Amendment Rejected - House (15 - 23)
June 27, 2007 OH SB 7 Eminent Domain Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
June 27, 2007 OH SB 7 Eminent Domain Bill Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
June 27, 2007 OH SJR 1 Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment Ballot Bill Bill Failed - House (56 - 42)
June 26, 2007 National HR 800 Union Organization Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
June 26, 2007 LA HB 489 Salary Increase for Statewide Elected Officials Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 28)
June 26, 2007 MI Sub for SB 547 Public School Employee Retirement Plan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
June 26, 2007 AK HCS CS SB 4 Senior Benefits Payment Program Bill Passed - House (34 - 3)
June 26, 2007 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
June 25, 2007 LA HB 489 Salary Increase for Statewide Elected Officials Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
June 20, 2007 AZ HB 2779 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 4)
June 20, 2007 AZ HB 2779 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 11)
June 20, 2007 AZ HB 2779 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 11)
June 20, 2007 AZ HB 2779 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 4)
June 20, 2007 AZ HB 2641 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 6)
June 20, 2007 AZ HB 2641 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 6)
June 19, 2007 RI LCO # 2572/2 to H5300A Privatization of State Services Repeal Amendment Rejected - Senate (9 - 24)
June 19, 2007 RI LCO # 2552/4 to H5300Aaa Repeal of Provision Requiring the Trying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 30)
June 19, 2007 RI LCO # 2552/4 to H5300Aaa Repeal of Provision Requiring the Trying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 30)
June 19, 2007 OH HB 119 2008-2009 Budget Concurrence Vote Failed - House (46 - 53)
June 19, 2007 RI H 5127 Mandatory Minimum Drug Possession Sentence Repeal Bill Passed - House (54 - 6)
June 19, 2007 DE HA 4 Amdt HA 4: Amendment to "Child's Victim Act" Regarding State Immunity Bill Failed - House (17 - 24)
June 19, 2007 NY A 8590 Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (85 - 61)
June 18, 2007 OR SB 571 Smoking Ban Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
June 15, 2007 RI LCO # 1305/22 to H5300A Privatization of State Services Amendment Adopted - House (61 - 13)
June 15, 2007 RI Article 22 of H5300A Classifying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 19)
June 15, 2007 RI Article 22 of H5300A Classifying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 19)
June 15, 2007 ME LD 701 Slot Machine Authorization Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
June 15, 2007 OR SB 571 Smoking Ban Expansion Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
June 15, 2007 ME LD 701 Slot Machine Authorization Bill Passed - House (101 - 38)
June 14, 2007 MA S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - House (40 - 117)
June 14, 2007 OR HB 2637 Cyberbullying Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
June 14, 2007 MA S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34)
June 14, 2007 MA S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34)
June 14, 2007 MA S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - House (40 - 117)
June 14, 2007 DE SB 36 State Employee Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
June 13, 2007 LA HB 747 Restrictions on All-Terrain Vehicle Use Bill Failed - House (50 - 50)
June 12, 2007 OR HB 2967 Tobacco Tax Increase for Children’s Health Care Bill Failed - House (35 - 22)
June 11, 2007 OR SB 392 Mandatory School Age Bill Failed - House (22 - 33)
June 7, 2007 National S 1348 Immigration Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (34 - 61)
June 7, 2007 NH SB 223 Funeral Protest Ban Bill Passed - House (299 - 22)
June 7, 2007 NH HB 143 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 11)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 32 Children's Health Care Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
June 7, 2007 CA AB 8 Expanding Subsidized Health Care Eligibility Bill Passed - House (47 - 32)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 32 Children's Health Care Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 7 Marco Firebaugh Memorial Children’s Health and Safety Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 456 Diacetyl Toxic Substance Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
June 7, 2007 NH HB 184 Abortion Parental Notification Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9)
June 7, 2007 LA HB 786 Teenage Driver Passenger Limit Bill Failed - House (38 - 60)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 48 Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 48 Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
June 7, 2007 IL HR 25 State Constitutional Convention Awareness Resolution Passed - House (48 - 47)
June 7, 2007 CA AB 8 Expanding Subsidized Health Care Eligibility Bill Passed - House (47 - 32)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1333 Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1316 Five Year Expiration for Guest Worker Program Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 48)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1151 Declaring English the National Language Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1250 Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1202 Point Based Immigration Expiration Date Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 55)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1184 Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 51)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1384 English as the Common Language Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39)
June 6, 2007 LA HB 489 Salary Increase for Statewide Elected Officials Bill Passed - House (57 - 42)
June 6, 2007 NH SB 18 Raising the Compulsory School Age Bill Passed - House (201 - 156)
June 6, 2007 CA SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
June 5, 2007 CA AB 1108 Phthalates in Children Products Bill Passed - House (41 - 34)
June 5, 2007 CT Sub SB 938 Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms Bill Passed - House (94 - 56)
June 5, 2007 CA AB 43 Same Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (42 - 34)
June 5, 2007 LA HB 313 Extended Period for Indictments Bill Passed - House (79 - 25)
June 5, 2007 CA AB 43 Same Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (42 - 34)
June 4, 2007 NC CS HB 1473 2007-2008 Operating Budget Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 47)
June 4, 2007 OR HB 2760 Annexation of Unincorporated Land Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
June 4, 2007 CA SB 60 Expanding Driver's License Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
June 4, 2007 CA SB 1019 Access to Police Misconduct Investigations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
June 4, 2007 CA AB 514 Diacetyl Toxic Substance Ban Bill Passed - House (43 - 33)
Date No. Title Outcome
8/04 HR 3221 Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (241 - 172)
8/04 HR 3221 Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (241 - 172)
8/04 HR 3221 Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (241 - 172)
8/02 S 1 Lobbying and Donation Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (83 - 14)
8/02 HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31)
8/02 HR 976 State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31)
8/02 HR 3159 Mandatory Troop Rest Periods Between Deployments to Iraq Bill Passed - House (229 - 194)
8/01 HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
8/01 HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
8/01 HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
7/31 S 1 Lobbying and Donation Regulations Bill Passed - House (411 - 8)
7/31 HR 2831 Equal Pay Bill Bill Passed - House (225 - 199)
7/27 HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Bill Passed - House (231 - 191)
7/26 S Amdt 2405 REAL ID Funding Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 44)
7/26 S Amdt 2480 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 1)
7/17 CS HB 1016 County Medicaid Cost Assumption Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
7/17 HR 980 Collective Bargaining for Public Safety Officers Bill Passed - House (314 - 97)
7/16 SB 246 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (13 - 36)
7/16 SB 246 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (141 - 62)
7/12 SB 180 Collective Bargaining Representation for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - House (46 - 33)
7/12 HR 1851 Section 8 Voucher Adjustments Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (333 - 83)
7/11 S 1701 Extension of Funding for Transitional Medical Assistance and Abstinence Education Bill Passed - House (291 - 126)
7/09 SCS SB 5 Public Employee Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
7/06 HB 2055 State Lottery Privatization Bill Failed - House (6 - 78)
7/03 SCS HB 973 Mental Health Insurance Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
6/29 SB 36 State Employee Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - House (26 - 10)
6/28 S 1639 Second Immigration Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (46 - 53)
6/28 HA 1 Employee Paycheck Consent Amendment Rejected - House (15 - 23)
6/27 SB 7 Eminent Domain Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
6/27 SB 7 Eminent Domain Bill Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
6/27 SJR 1 Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment Ballot Bill Bill Failed - House (56 - 42)
6/26 HR 800 Union Organization Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
6/26 HB 489 Salary Increase for Statewide Elected Officials Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 28)
6/26 Sub for SB 547 Public School Employee Retirement Plan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
6/26 HCS CS SB 4 Senior Benefits Payment Program Bill Passed - House (34 - 3)
6/26 SB 246 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
6/25 HB 489 Salary Increase for Statewide Elected Officials Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
6/20 HB 2779 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 4)
6/20 HB 2779 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 11)
6/20 HB 2779 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 11)
6/20 HB 2779 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 4)
6/20 HB 2641 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 6)
6/20 HB 2641 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 6)
6/19 LCO # 2572/2 to H5300A Privatization of State Services Repeal Amendment Rejected - Senate (9 - 24)
6/19 LCO # 2552/4 to H5300Aaa Repeal of Provision Requiring the Trying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 30)
6/19 LCO # 2552/4 to H5300Aaa Repeal of Provision Requiring the Trying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 30)
6/19 HB 119 2008-2009 Budget Concurrence Vote Failed - House (46 - 53)
6/19 H 5127 Mandatory Minimum Drug Possession Sentence Repeal Bill Passed - House (54 - 6)
6/19 HA 4 Amdt HA 4: Amendment to "Child's Victim Act" Regarding State Immunity Bill Failed - House (17 - 24)
6/19 A 8590 Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (85 - 61)
6/18 SB 571 Smoking Ban Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
6/15 LCO # 1305/22 to H5300A Privatization of State Services Amendment Adopted - House (61 - 13)
6/15 Article 22 of H5300A Classifying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 19)
6/15 Article 22 of H5300A Classifying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 19)
6/15 LD 701 Slot Machine Authorization Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
6/15 SB 571 Smoking Ban Expansion Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
6/15 LD 701 Slot Machine Authorization Bill Passed - House (101 - 38)
6/14 S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - House (40 - 117)
6/14 HB 2637 Cyberbullying Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
6/14 S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34)
6/14 S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34)
6/14 S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - House (40 - 117)
6/14 SB 36 State Employee Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
6/13 HB 747 Restrictions on All-Terrain Vehicle Use Bill Failed - House (50 - 50)
6/12 HB 2967 Tobacco Tax Increase for Children’s Health Care Bill Failed - House (35 - 22)
6/11 SB 392 Mandatory School Age Bill Failed - House (22 - 33)
6/07 S 1348 Immigration Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (34 - 61)
6/07 SB 223 Funeral Protest Ban Bill Passed - House (299 - 22)
6/07 HB 143 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 11)
6/07 SB 32 Children's Health Care Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
6/07 AB 8 Expanding Subsidized Health Care Eligibility Bill Passed - House (47 - 32)
6/07 SB 32 Children's Health Care Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
6/07 SB 7 Marco Firebaugh Memorial Children’s Health and Safety Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
6/07 SB 456 Diacetyl Toxic Substance Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
6/07 HB 184 Abortion Parental Notification Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9)
6/07 HB 786 Teenage Driver Passenger Limit Bill Failed - House (38 - 60)
6/07 SB 48 Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
6/07 SB 48 Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
6/07 HR 25 State Constitutional Convention Awareness Resolution Passed - House (48 - 47)
6/07 AB 8 Expanding Subsidized Health Care Eligibility Bill Passed - House (47 - 32)
6/06 S Amdt 1333 Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32)
6/06 S Amdt 1316 Five Year Expiration for Guest Worker Program Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 48)
6/06 S Amdt 1151 Declaring English the National Language Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33)
6/06 S Amdt 1250 Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39)
6/06 S Amdt 1202 Point Based Immigration Expiration Date Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 55)
6/06 S Amdt 1184 Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 51)
6/06 S Amdt 1384 English as the Common Language Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39)
6/06 HB 489 Salary Increase for Statewide Elected Officials Bill Passed - House (57 - 42)
6/06 SB 18 Raising the Compulsory School Age Bill Passed - House (201 - 156)
6/06 SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
6/05 AB 1108 Phthalates in Children Products Bill Passed - House (41 - 34)
6/05 Sub SB 938 Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms Bill Passed - House (94 - 56)
6/05 AB 43 Same Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (42 - 34)
6/05 HB 313 Extended Period for Indictments Bill Passed - House (79 - 25)
6/05 AB 43 Same Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (42 - 34)
6/04 CS HB 1473 2007-2008 Operating Budget Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 47)
6/04 HB 2760 Annexation of Unincorporated Land Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
6/04 SB 60 Expanding Driver's License Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
6/04 SB 1019 Access to Police Misconduct Investigations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
6/04 AB 514 Diacetyl Toxic Substance Ban Bill Passed - House (43 - 33)

arrow_upward