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:
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.
Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 7, 2008 | NY | A 10083 | Foreclosure Assistance Finance | Bill Passed - House (104 - 33) |
May 7, 2008 | NY | A 10219 | Mortgage Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - House (122 - 15) |
Nov. 17, 2008 | NJ | A 3374 | Public Assistance Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (67 - 10) |
Nov. 17, 2008 | NJ | A 3459 | Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (47 - 26) |
June 16, 2008 | NJ | A 500 | Affordable Housing | Bill Passed - House (44 - 34) |
May 7, 2008 | NY | A 8972 | Foreclosure and Lending | Bill Passed - House (113 - 21) |
May 7, 2008 | NY | A 9695 | Foreclosure Relief | Bill Passed - House (126 - 11) |
Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18) |
May 27, 2008 | CA | AB 1996 | Food Stamps for Convicted Drug Felons | Bill Passed - House (42 - 35) |
May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2368 | CalWORKs Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 33) |
April 2, 2008 | SC | AM 1 | Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 73) |
May 27, 2008 | SC | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 57) |
May 21, 2008 | SC | H 3816 | Bankruptcy Exemptions | Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 26) |
April 2, 2008 | SC | H 4550 | Marriage Tax Cut | Bill Passed - House (100 - 14) |
March 6, 2008 | ID | H 588 | Food Tax Credit Expansion | Bill Passed - House (62 - 8) |
April 25, 2008 | RI | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (60 - 12) |
Feb. 27, 2008 | CO | HB 1180 | Unemployment Benefits for Military Spouses | Bill Passed - House (60 - 5) |
Feb. 11, 2008 | VA | HB 12 | Payday Lending Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (91 - 7) |
Feb. 25, 2008 | CO | HB 1310 | Payday Loan Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (33 - 30) |
May 14, 2008 | LA | HB 1347 | Vouchers Bill | Bill Passed - House (60 - 42) |
Feb. 25, 2008 | WY | HB 145 | Restricting Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (40 - 18) |
May 16, 2008 | MO | HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 | Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (136 - 12) |
March 6, 2008 | MS | HB 1601 | Medicaid Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (74 - 41) |
June 27, 2008 | MS | HB 17 | Medicaid Funds Bill | Bill Passed - House (68 - 44) |
May 29, 2008 | MS | HB 17 | Medicaid Funds Bill | Bill Failed - House (55 - 53) |
Aug. 16, 2008 | NM | HB 4 | Working Families Tax Credit Increase | Bill Passed - House (39 - 25) |
April 30, 2008 | OH | HB 545 | Short Term Loans | Bill Passed - House (69 - 26) |
May 5, 2008 | CT | HB 5577 | Mortgage Assistance | Bill Passed - House (124 - 24) |
May 12, 2008 | MN | HF 3391 | Health Care Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 50) |
May 21, 2008 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (316 - 108) |
May 14, 2008 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 106) |
June 19, 2008 | National | HR 2642 | GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (268 - 155) |
May 15, 2008 | National | HR 2642 | Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (256 - 166) |
May 15, 2008 | National | HR 2642 | Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (227 - 196) |
May 15, 2008 | National | HR 2642 | Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (141 - 149) |
May 8, 2008 | National | HR 3221 | Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments | Amendment Adopted - House (266 - 154) |
May 8, 2008 | National | HR 3221 | Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments | Amendment Adopted - House (322 - 94) |
July 23, 2008 | National | HR 3221 | Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (272 - 152) |
Jan. 23, 2008 | National | HR 3963 | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) | Veto Override Failed - House (260 - 152) |
April 23, 2008 | National | HR 5613 | Medicaid Extensions and Changes | Bill Passed - House (349 - 62) |
June 12, 2008 | National | HR 5749 | Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008 | Bill Passed - House (274 - 137) |
May 8, 2008 | National | HR 5818 | Assistance to States for Purchasing Foreclosed Homes | Bill Passed - House (239 - 188) |
June 18, 2008 | National | HR 6124 | Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (317 - 109) |
Oct. 3, 2008 | National | HR 6867 | Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation | Bill Passed - House (368 - 28) |
June 23, 2008 | NJ | S 1557 | FamilyCare Expansion bill | Bill Passed - House (59 - 18) |
April 8, 2008 | MI | SB 120 | Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly | Bill Passed - House (87 - 19) |
May 13, 2008 | PA | SB 1278 | Child Support Fee | Bill Passed - House (116 - 84) |
May 28, 2008 | MS | SB 2011 | Increasing Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (87 - 33) |
May 2, 2008 | CO | SB 217 | Extended Health Care Coverage | Bill Passed - House (44 - 22) |
Aug. 18, 2008 | NM | SB 22 | Subsidizing Children's Health Care | Bill Passed - House (47 - 19) |
Aug. 19, 2008 | NM | SB 24 | Tax Rebate | Bill Passed - House (51 - 16) |
April 15, 2008 | MS | SB 2497 | Increasing Unemployment Compensation | Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 10) |
March 18, 2008 | MS | SB 2497 | Increasing Unemployment Compensation | Bill Passed - House (71 - 48) |
Feb. 18, 2008 | CO | SB 3 | Medicaid Funded Family Planning | Bill Passed - House (41 - 23) |
July 1, 2008 | DE | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - House (33 - 7) |
April 16, 2008 | NH | SB 502 | Expanding Unemployment Compensation Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (219 - 113) |
March 6, 2008 | VA | SB 588 | Payday Lending Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (91 - 9) |
March 6, 2008 | WA | SB 6809 | Working Family Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (57 - 37) |
May 3, 2008 | KS | SB 81 | Health Care Reform | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 16) |
March 25, 2008 | KS | SB 81 | Health Care Reform | Bill Passed - House (103 - 20) |
March 3, 2008 | UT | SB 81 | Expanding Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (56 - 15) |
Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | SB 840 | California Universal Healthcare Agency | Bill Passed - House (44 - 32) |
Dec. 19, 2008 | MI | SB 861 | Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
5/07 | A 10083 | Foreclosure Assistance Finance | Bill Passed - House (104 - 33) |
5/07 | A 10219 | Mortgage Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - House (122 - 15) |
11/17 | A 3374 | Public Assistance Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (67 - 10) |
11/17 | A 3459 | Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (47 - 26) |
6/16 | A 500 | Affordable Housing | Bill Passed - House (44 - 34) |
5/07 | A 8972 | Foreclosure and Lending | Bill Passed - House (113 - 21) |
5/07 | A 9695 | Foreclosure Relief | Bill Passed - House (126 - 11) |
8/29 | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18) |
5/27 | AB 1996 | Food Stamps for Convicted Drug Felons | Bill Passed - House (42 - 35) |
5/28 | AB 2368 | CalWORKs Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 33) |
4/02 | AM 1 | Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 73) |
5/27 | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 57) |
5/21 | H 3816 | Bankruptcy Exemptions | Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 26) |
4/02 | H 4550 | Marriage Tax Cut | Bill Passed - House (100 - 14) |
3/06 | H 588 | Food Tax Credit Expansion | Bill Passed - House (62 - 8) |
4/25 | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (60 - 12) |
2/27 | HB 1180 | Unemployment Benefits for Military Spouses | Bill Passed - House (60 - 5) |
2/11 | HB 12 | Payday Lending Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (91 - 7) |
2/25 | HB 1310 | Payday Loan Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (33 - 30) |
5/14 | HB 1347 | Vouchers Bill | Bill Passed - House (60 - 42) |
2/25 | HB 145 | Restricting Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (40 - 18) |
5/16 | HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 | Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (136 - 12) |
3/06 | HB 1601 | Medicaid Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (74 - 41) |
6/27 | HB 17 | Medicaid Funds Bill | Bill Passed - House (68 - 44) |
5/29 | HB 17 | Medicaid Funds Bill | Bill Failed - House (55 - 53) |
8/16 | HB 4 | Working Families Tax Credit Increase | Bill Passed - House (39 - 25) |
4/30 | HB 545 | Short Term Loans | Bill Passed - House (69 - 26) |
5/05 | HB 5577 | Mortgage Assistance | Bill Passed - House (124 - 24) |
5/12 | HF 3391 | Health Care Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 50) |
5/21 | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (316 - 108) |
5/14 | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 106) |
6/19 | HR 2642 | GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (268 - 155) |
5/15 | HR 2642 | Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (256 - 166) |
5/15 | HR 2642 | Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (227 - 196) |
5/15 | HR 2642 | Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (141 - 149) |
5/08 | HR 3221 | Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments | Amendment Adopted - House (266 - 154) |
5/08 | HR 3221 | Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments | Amendment Adopted - House (322 - 94) |
7/23 | HR 3221 | Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (272 - 152) |
1/23 | HR 3963 | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) | Veto Override Failed - House (260 - 152) |
4/23 | HR 5613 | Medicaid Extensions and Changes | Bill Passed - House (349 - 62) |
6/12 | HR 5749 | Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008 | Bill Passed - House (274 - 137) |
5/08 | HR 5818 | Assistance to States for Purchasing Foreclosed Homes | Bill Passed - House (239 - 188) |
6/18 | HR 6124 | Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (317 - 109) |
10/03 | HR 6867 | Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation | Bill Passed - House (368 - 28) |
6/23 | S 1557 | FamilyCare Expansion bill | Bill Passed - House (59 - 18) |
4/08 | SB 120 | Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly | Bill Passed - House (87 - 19) |
5/13 | SB 1278 | Child Support Fee | Bill Passed - House (116 - 84) |
5/28 | SB 2011 | Increasing Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (87 - 33) |
5/02 | SB 217 | Extended Health Care Coverage | Bill Passed - House (44 - 22) |
8/18 | SB 22 | Subsidizing Children's Health Care | Bill Passed - House (47 - 19) |
8/19 | SB 24 | Tax Rebate | Bill Passed - House (51 - 16) |
4/15 | SB 2497 | Increasing Unemployment Compensation | Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 10) |
3/18 | SB 2497 | Increasing Unemployment Compensation | Bill Passed - House (71 - 48) |
2/18 | SB 3 | Medicaid Funded Family Planning | Bill Passed - House (41 - 23) |
7/01 | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - House (33 - 7) |
4/16 | SB 502 | Expanding Unemployment Compensation Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (219 - 113) |
3/06 | SB 588 | Payday Lending Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (91 - 9) |
3/06 | SB 6809 | Working Family Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (57 - 37) |
5/03 | SB 81 | Health Care Reform | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 16) |
3/25 | SB 81 | Health Care Reform | Bill Passed - House (103 - 20) |
3/03 | SB 81 | Expanding Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (56 - 15) |
8/29 | SB 840 | California Universal Healthcare Agency | Bill Passed - House (44 - 32) |
12/19 | SB 861 | Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |