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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nov. 10, 2011 | National | S Amdt 928 | American Jobs and Economic Growth | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 56) |
Nov. 10, 2011 | National | S J Res 27 | Disapproval of EPA Cross-Border Pollution Rule | Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 56) |
Oct. 21, 2011 | National | S Amdt 791 | Limits Farm Subsidies to Individuals with Incomes Under $1 million | Amendment Adopted - Senate (84 - 15) |
Sept. 21, 2011 | National | S Amdt 642 | Modifies Eligibility Requirements for Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 57) |
Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 292 | Authorizes Governor to Expedite Environmental Review | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 7) |
Sept. 7, 2011 | NH | SB 154 | Withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative | Veto Override Failed - Senate (15 - 9) |
Sept. 7, 2011 | NH | SB 154 | Withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative | Veto Override Failed - Senate (15 - 9) |
Sept. 6, 2011 | CA | AB 376 | Prohibiting the Sale of Shark Fins | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
June 28, 2011 | OH | HB 231 | Withdrawal Permit for Water Usage at Lake Erie | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
June 27, 2011 | AK | SB 45 | Extending the Coastal Management Program | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 7) |
June 23, 2011 | DE | SB 129 | Removes Protected Wildlife Designation from Coyotes | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
June 15, 2011 | OH | HB 133 | Establishes the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
June 2, 2011 | CA | SB 568 | Recycling Polystyrene Food Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
May 31, 2011 | IL | SB 1652 | Smart Grid Technology | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 24) |
May 6, 2011 | CO | HB 1005 | Repeals Taxes on Agricultural Products | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
April 20, 2011 | MT | HB 198 | Eminent Domain Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
April 20, 2011 | WA | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
April 11, 2011 | MD | SB 690 | Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 20) |
March 31, 2011 | CA | SB 104 | Labor Representatives | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
March 29, 2011 | WA | SB 5251 | Electric Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
March 29, 2011 | WA | SB 5251 | Electric Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
March 22, 2011 | IA | SF 464 | Establishment of an Open Season for Hunting Mourning Doves | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
March 10, 2011 | MO | SB 113 | Regulating Animal Care Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
March 5, 2011 | WA | SB 5769 | Coal-Fired Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
March 5, 2011 | WA | SB 5769 | Coal-Fired Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
March 1, 2011 | AZ | SB 1394 | Regulation of Greenhouse Substances and Freedom to Breathe | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
Feb. 24, 2011 | MN | HF 1 | Environmental Review Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 16) |
Feb. 24, 2011 | MT | SB 226 | Amends Utility Net Metering Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
Feb. 24, 2011 | MT | SB 330 | Waiver from Renewable Portfolio Standard | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
Feb. 24, 2011 | CA | SB 2 | Increasing Renewable Energy | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
Feb. 2, 2011 | MN | SF 4 | Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 14) |
Feb. 2, 2011 | WI | SB 10 | Wetland Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
Feb. 2, 2011 | MN | SF 4 | Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 14) |
Jan. 28, 2011 | MT | SB 104 | Limitations on Electricity Pricing | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
Jan. 27, 2011 | WY | SF 100 | Cruelty to Animals | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
Jan. 24, 2011 | MN | SF 86 | Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition | |
Jan. 24, 2011 | MN | SF 86 | Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition | |
Jan. 19, 2011 | MT | SB 112 | Authorizes the Use of Hand-Thrown Spears | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
Jan. 10, 2011 | NJ | S 2381 | Electric Generation Facilities Pilot Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 6) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
11/10 | S Amdt 928 | American Jobs and Economic Growth | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 56) |
11/10 | S J Res 27 | Disapproval of EPA Cross-Border Pollution Rule | Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 56) |
10/21 | S Amdt 791 | Limits Farm Subsidies to Individuals with Incomes Under $1 million | Amendment Adopted - Senate (84 - 15) |
9/21 | S Amdt 642 | Modifies Eligibility Requirements for Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 57) |
9/09 | SB 292 | Authorizes Governor to Expedite Environmental Review | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 7) |
9/07 | SB 154 | Withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative | Veto Override Failed - Senate (15 - 9) |
9/07 | SB 154 | Withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative | Veto Override Failed - Senate (15 - 9) |
9/06 | AB 376 | Prohibiting the Sale of Shark Fins | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
6/28 | HB 231 | Withdrawal Permit for Water Usage at Lake Erie | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
6/27 | SB 45 | Extending the Coastal Management Program | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 7) |
6/23 | SB 129 | Removes Protected Wildlife Designation from Coyotes | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
6/15 | HB 133 | Establishes the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
6/02 | SB 568 | Recycling Polystyrene Food Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
5/31 | SB 1652 | Smart Grid Technology | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 24) |
5/06 | HB 1005 | Repeals Taxes on Agricultural Products | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
4/20 | HB 198 | Eminent Domain Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
4/20 | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
4/11 | SB 690 | Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 20) |
3/31 | SB 104 | Labor Representatives | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
3/29 | SB 5251 | Electric Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
3/29 | SB 5251 | Electric Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
3/22 | SF 464 | Establishment of an Open Season for Hunting Mourning Doves | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
3/10 | SB 113 | Regulating Animal Care Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
3/05 | SB 5769 | Coal-Fired Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
3/05 | SB 5769 | Coal-Fired Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
3/01 | SB 1394 | Regulation of Greenhouse Substances and Freedom to Breathe | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
2/24 | HF 1 | Environmental Review Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 16) |
2/24 | SB 226 | Amends Utility Net Metering Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
2/24 | SB 330 | Waiver from Renewable Portfolio Standard | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
2/24 | SB 2 | Increasing Renewable Energy | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
2/02 | SF 4 | Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 14) |
2/02 | SB 10 | Wetland Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
2/02 | SF 4 | Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 14) |
1/28 | SB 104 | Limitations on Electricity Pricing | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
1/27 | SF 100 | Cruelty to Animals | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
1/24 | SF 86 | Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition | |
1/24 | SF 86 | Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition | |
1/19 | SB 112 | Authorizes the Use of Hand-Thrown Spears | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
1/10 | S 2381 | Electric Generation Facilities Pilot Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 6) |