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 28, 2008 MD HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
March 28, 2008 MD HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
March 24, 2008 MD SB 597 Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
April 1, 2008 MD SB 268 Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25)
March 14, 2008 MD SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
April 3, 2008 MD SB 46 Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
March 26, 2008 MD SB 373 Tax Credit for Educational Donations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
March 12, 2008 MD SB 42 Temporary Confiscation of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
April 7, 2008 ME LD 1932 School Consolidation Veto Override Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
March 20, 2008 ME LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 8)
April 7, 2008 ME LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14)
March 31, 2008 ME LD 2289 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 15, 2008 ME LD 2247 Alcohol and Soda Tax for Health Care Funding Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
May 28, 2008 MI Anderson Amendment: Increase Revenue Sharing Grants Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 18)
May 28, 2008 MI Anderson Amendment: Increase Revenue Sharing Grants Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 18)
March 12, 2008 MI SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
March 25, 2008 MI SB 1094 2008-2009 Department of Community Health Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
April 22, 2008 MI SB 1078 Township Annexation Requirements Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20)
Jan. 22, 2008 MI SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
March 12, 2008 MI SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
Dec. 10, 2008 MI SB 861 Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
April 22, 2008 MI SB 1198 Changes to Michigan Business Tax Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 25, 2008 MN HF 2800 2009-2010 Transportation Budget Veto Override Passed - Senate (47 - 20)
Feb. 28, 2008 MN GN Molnau Confirmation of Carol Molnau as Department of Transportation Commissioner Nomination Rejected - Senate (22 - 44)
April 2, 2008 MN Hann Amnd. Prohibiting Funding for Cities that Prevent Immigration Status Checks Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 33)
March 18, 2008 MN Scheid Amnd. Insurance Payouts Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (37 - 30)
April 2, 2008 MN Marty Amnd. Removing Funding for Stadium Study Amendment Adopted - Senate (41 - 22)
April 14, 2008 MN SF 2822 "Good Faith" Requirement for Insurance Companies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 15)
Feb. 14, 2008 MN HF 2285 Funding for Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 17)
April 21, 2008 MN HF 1351 Transportation Policy Reform Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 11)
May 15, 2008 MN HF 3195 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 22)
May 13, 2008 MN HF 6 2008 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 10)
May 12, 2008 MN HF 3391 Health Care Reform Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 13)
May 13, 2008 MN SF 2965 Surrogate Mother Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
April 30, 2008 MN HF 3195 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 21)
March 6, 2008 MN HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
May 13, 2008 MN HF 3807 Real ID Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 16)
April 3, 2008 MN SF 960 Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22)
April 3, 2008 MN SF 960 Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22)
Feb. 21, 2008 MN HF 2800 2009-2010 Transportation Budget Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 20)
April 16, 2008 MO SA 1 to HB 2007 Mega-Project Fund Appropriation Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 22)
May 16, 2008 MO HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 7)
May 1, 2008 MO HB 2393 Mega-Project Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
Feb. 21, 2008 MO SB 1038 Repealing Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
March 24, 2008 MS HB 859 Salary Adjustments for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3)
March 24, 2008 MS HB 859 Salary Adjustments for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3)
March 24, 2008 MS HB 859 Salary Adjustments for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3)
Feb. 26, 2008 MS SB 2550 Covenant Marriage Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
Feb. 27, 2008 MS SB 2998 Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
Feb. 26, 2008 MS SB 2910 Changes to Election Law Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
Feb. 21, 2008 MS SB 2468 Voter Identification Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
May 22, 2008 MS SB 2004 Voter Identification Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
May 22, 2008 MS SB 2011 Increasing Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 3)
May 28, 2008 MS SB 2013 Hospital Tax for Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
Jan. 25, 2008 MS SB 2188 Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
Jan. 25, 2008 MS SB 2188 Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
Jan. 25, 2008 MS SB 2188 Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
March 13, 2008 National S Amdt 4347 Earmark Moratorium Motion Rejected - Senate (29 - 71)
July 26, 2008 National HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 13)
July 17, 2008 NC HB 2690 Durham County Meals Tax Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
July 2, 2008 NC SB 1988 Outlaws Burning Crosses and Hanging Nooses Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 3)
July 17, 2008 NC HB 2690 Durham County Meals Tax Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
July 8, 2008 NC HB 2436 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 14)
June 19, 2008 NC HB 2436 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
April 7, 2008 NE LB 959 Gas Tax Veto Override Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
April 10, 2008 NE LB 1082 Expanding Workers' Compensation Benefits Motion Rejected - Senate (22 - 18)
Nov. 18, 2008 NE Amdt 4 Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 26)
Nov. 18, 2008 NE Amdt 4 Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 26)
Feb. 14, 2008 NE AM 1736 Eliminating Opt-Out Provision of Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 13)
March 25, 2008 NE LB 1063 Abolishing the Death Penalty Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 28)
April 7, 2008 NE LB 1157 Uniform School Testing Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
Feb. 6, 2008 NE LB 39 Restricting Petition Circulation Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
March 28, 2008 NE LB 959 2007-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
March 6, 2008 NH Amdt 0891 to SB 530 Fully Subsidized Kindergarten Construction Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 12)
June 4, 2008 NH SB 321 Cigarette Tax Increase and Wine Discount Reduction Conference Report Adopted - Senate (12 - 11)
June 4, 2008 NH SSHB 1 Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9)
May 15, 2008 NH HB 1509 Allocation of Gambling/Gaming Profits Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
Feb. 7, 2008 NH SB 436 Reducing the Voting Age for Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6)
Feb. 21, 2008 NH CACR 34 Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 5)
March 20, 2008 NH SB 539 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 20, 2008 NH SB 502 Expanding Unemployment Compensation Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
Dec. 15, 2008 NJ S 1599 Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Jan. 3, 2008 NJ A 4225 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
June 23, 2008 NJ A 2873 School Construction Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Nov. 24, 2008 NJ A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ S 176 Expanding Damages for Wrongful Death Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
March 3, 2008 NJ S 786 Extending Family Leave Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
June 23, 2008 NJ S 1962 State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
June 23, 2008 NJ S 1962 State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ A 500 Education Funding Reform Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Dec. 15, 2008 NJ A 3373 Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
Nov. 24, 2008 NJ A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7)
June 23, 2008 NJ S 1962 State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
Aug. 18, 2008 NM HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Feb. 13, 2008 NM HB 237 Mandatory Election Recounts Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
Feb. 6, 2008 NM HB 2 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4)
Feb. 13, 2008 NM HB 237 Mandatory Election Recounts Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
Feb. 10, 2008 NM HB 661 Affordable Housing Tax Relief Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
Feb. 4, 2008 NM SB 34 New Mexico School for the Arts Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
Aug. 19, 2008 NM HB 4 Working Families Tax Credit Increase Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/28 HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
3/28 HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
3/24 SB 597 Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
4/01 SB 268 Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25)
3/14 SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
4/03 SB 46 Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
3/26 SB 373 Tax Credit for Educational Donations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
3/12 SB 42 Temporary Confiscation of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
4/07 LD 1932 School Consolidation Veto Override Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
3/20 LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 8)
4/07 LD 1932 School Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14)
3/31 LD 2289 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/15 LD 2247 Alcohol and Soda Tax for Health Care Funding Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
5/28 Anderson Amendment: Increase Revenue Sharing Grants Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 18)
5/28 Anderson Amendment: Increase Revenue Sharing Grants Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 18)
3/12 SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
3/25 SB 1094 2008-2009 Department of Community Health Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
4/22 SB 1078 Township Annexation Requirements Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20)
1/22 SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
3/12 SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
12/10 SB 861 Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
4/22 SB 1198 Changes to Michigan Business Tax Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/25 HF 2800 2009-2010 Transportation Budget Veto Override Passed - Senate (47 - 20)
2/28 GN Molnau Confirmation of Carol Molnau as Department of Transportation Commissioner Nomination Rejected - Senate (22 - 44)
4/02 Hann Amnd. Prohibiting Funding for Cities that Prevent Immigration Status Checks Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 33)
3/18 Scheid Amnd. Insurance Payouts Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (37 - 30)
4/02 Marty Amnd. Removing Funding for Stadium Study Amendment Adopted - Senate (41 - 22)
4/14 SF 2822 "Good Faith" Requirement for Insurance Companies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 15)
2/14 HF 2285 Funding for Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 17)
4/21 HF 1351 Transportation Policy Reform Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 11)
5/15 HF 3195 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 22)
5/13 HF 6 2008 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 10)
5/12 HF 3391 Health Care Reform Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 13)
5/13 SF 2965 Surrogate Mother Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
4/30 HF 3195 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 21)
3/06 HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
5/13 HF 3807 Real ID Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 16)
4/03 SF 960 Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22)
4/03 SF 960 Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22)
2/21 HF 2800 2009-2010 Transportation Budget Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 20)
4/16 SA 1 to HB 2007 Mega-Project Fund Appropriation Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 22)
5/16 HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 7)
5/01 HB 2393 Mega-Project Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
2/21 SB 1038 Repealing Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
3/24 HB 859 Salary Adjustments for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3)
3/24 HB 859 Salary Adjustments for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3)
3/24 HB 859 Salary Adjustments for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3)
2/26 SB 2550 Covenant Marriage Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
2/27 SB 2998 Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
2/26 SB 2910 Changes to Election Law Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
2/21 SB 2468 Voter Identification Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
5/22 SB 2004 Voter Identification Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
5/22 SB 2011 Increasing Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 3)
5/28 SB 2013 Hospital Tax for Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
1/25 SB 2188 Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
1/25 SB 2188 Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
1/25 SB 2188 Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
3/13 S Amdt 4347 Earmark Moratorium Motion Rejected - Senate (29 - 71)
7/26 HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 13)
7/17 HB 2690 Durham County Meals Tax Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
7/02 SB 1988 Outlaws Burning Crosses and Hanging Nooses Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 3)
7/17 HB 2690 Durham County Meals Tax Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
7/08 HB 2436 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 14)
6/19 HB 2436 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
4/07 LB 959 Gas Tax Veto Override Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
4/10 LB 1082 Expanding Workers' Compensation Benefits Motion Rejected - Senate (22 - 18)
11/18 Amdt 4 Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 26)
11/18 Amdt 4 Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 26)
2/14 AM 1736 Eliminating Opt-Out Provision of Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 13)
3/25 LB 1063 Abolishing the Death Penalty Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 28)
4/07 LB 1157 Uniform School Testing Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
2/06 LB 39 Restricting Petition Circulation Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
3/28 LB 959 2007-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
3/06 Amdt 0891 to SB 530 Fully Subsidized Kindergarten Construction Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 12)
6/04 SB 321 Cigarette Tax Increase and Wine Discount Reduction Conference Report Adopted - Senate (12 - 11)
6/04 SSHB 1 Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9)
5/15 HB 1509 Allocation of Gambling/Gaming Profits Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
2/07 SB 436 Reducing the Voting Age for Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6)
2/21 CACR 34 Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 5)
3/20 SB 539 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/20 SB 502 Expanding Unemployment Compensation Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
12/15 S 1599 Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
1/03 A 4225 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
6/23 A 2873 School Construction Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
11/24 A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
1/07 S 176 Expanding Damages for Wrongful Death Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
3/03 S 786 Extending Family Leave Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
6/23 S 1962 State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
6/23 S 1962 State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
1/07 A 500 Education Funding Reform Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
12/15 A 3373 Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
11/24 A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7)
6/23 S 1962 State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
8/18 HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
2/13 HB 237 Mandatory Election Recounts Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
2/06 HB 2 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4)
2/13 HB 237 Mandatory Election Recounts Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
2/10 HB 661 Affordable Housing Tax Relief Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
2/04 SB 34 New Mexico School for the Arts Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
8/19 HB 4 Working Families Tax Credit Increase Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)

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