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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Dec. 20, 2011 National HR 3630 Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (229 - 193)
Dec. 13, 2011 National HR 3630 Reduces Payroll Taxes and Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
Dec. 8, 2011 MI HB 4770 Prohibits Public Employers from Providing Medical Benefits to Public Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 45)
Nov. 30, 2011 NH CACR 14 Constitutional Amendment Authorizing the Legislature to Set Standards for Public Education Amendment Rejected - House (114 - 264)
Nov. 18, 2011 National H J Res 2 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Joint Resolution Failed - House (261 - 165)
Nov. 3, 2011 MI HB 4701 Amends the State Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - House (63 - 45)
Oct. 26, 2011 CT SB 1401 Establishes the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program Bill Passed - House (101 - 41)
Oct. 12, 2011 NH SB 198 Amends Eligibility Requirements for TANF Bill Passed - House (237 - 126)
Oct. 4, 2011 National HR 2608 Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (352 - 66)
Sept. 23, 2011 National HR 2608 Stopgap Spending and Disaster Relief Concurrence Vote Passed - House (219 - 203)
Sept. 23, 2011 MO SB 7 Incentives for Science-Based Businesses Bill Passed - House (94 - 48)
Sept. 23, 2011 MO HA 1 to SB 7 Prohibits Public Funding for Certain Life Science Research Projects Amendment Rejected - House (68 - 74)
Sept. 23, 2011 National H Amdt 800 Requires the EPA to Consider Costs and Feasibility of Air Quality Standards Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 192)
Sept. 21, 2011 National HR 2608 Stopgap Spending and Disaster Relief Concurrence Vote Failed - House (195 - 230)
Sept. 14, 2011 National H J Res 77 Disapproval of the President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Joint Resolution Passed - House (232 - 186)
Sept. 9, 2011 MO HB 6 Appropriations for Missouri Disaster Relief Bill Passed - House (127 - 22)
Sept. 2, 2011 CA AB 6 Repeals Fingerprinting Requirement for CalFresh Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 26)
Aug. 1, 2011 National S 365 Budget Control Act of 2011 Bill Passed - House (269 - 161)
July 29, 2011 National S 627 Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Boehner Bill) Bill Passed - House (218 - 210)
July 22, 2011 National HR 2551 2011-2012 Congressional Budget Bill Passed - House (252 - 159)
July 19, 2011 MN SF 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (76 - 50)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 26 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 56)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 20 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 4 Higher Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 25 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
July 19, 2011 National HR 2560 Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011 Bill Passed - House (234 - 190)
June 30, 2011 PA HB 960 Public Assistance Program Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (130 - 66)
June 29, 2011 OH HB 153 2011-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 40)
June 29, 2011 PA HB 1485 2011-2012 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (109 - 92)
June 29, 2011 NJ S 4000 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - House (46 - 32)
June 23, 2011 LA SB 259 Establishes a Commission to Repeal Income Taxes Motion Rejected - House (46 - 32)
June 22, 2011 NH HB 2 Recertification of Employer Retirement Contribution Rates Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 119)
June 16, 2011 TX HB 5 Interstate Health Care Compact Bill Passed - House (92 - 43)
June 15, 2011 NC HB 200 2011-2013 Budget Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 46)
June 14, 2011 WI AB 40 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
June 10, 2011 TX SB 1 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - House (83 - 62)
June 9, 2011 TX SB 7 Health Care Bill Passed - House (89 - 41)
June 8, 2011 CT SB 1152 Funding for Construction at the University of Connecticut Health Center Bill Passed - House (97 - 45)
June 8, 2011 IA HF 697 State Budget for 2011-2012 Bill Passed - House (54 - 38)
June 7, 2011 OR SB 99 Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (48 - 12)
June 5, 2011 NV AB 580 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (36 - 6)
June 2, 2011 AL HB 414 Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 48)
May 31, 2011 National HR 1954 Increasing the Debt Limit Motion Rejected - House (97 - 318)
May 29, 2011 TX SB 1811 Reduces Funding for State Agencies Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 63)
May 28, 2011 TX HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 53)
May 28, 2011 TX HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 53)
May 26, 2011 MI HB 4325 Education Appropriations for 2011-2013 Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 50)
May 26, 2011 MI HB 4526 2011-2012 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 47)
May 19, 2011 MN SF 760 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 63)
May 17, 2011 TX SB 420 Eligibility for Indigent Health Care Bill Passed - House (102 - 40)
May 13, 2011 KS HB 2014 2011-2012 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 55)
May 10, 2011 NV AB 568 2011-2013 Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (26 - 16)
May 7, 2011 FL SB 2000 2011-2012 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (79 - 39)
May 6, 2011 FL HB 5305 Eliminating the Correctional Medical Authority Conference Report Adopted - House (81 - 34)
May 5, 2011 MI HB 4325 Education Appropriations for 2011-2013 Bill Passed - House (57 - 53)
May 4, 2011 NC HB 200 2011-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (72 - 47)
May 3, 2011 CT SB 1239 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (83 - 67)
April 28, 2011 MI HB 4480 Tax Exemption and Pension Bill Bill Passed - House (56 - 52)
April 28, 2011 MI HB 4484 State Tax on Retirement Distributions for Judges and State Officials Bill Passed - House (57 - 52)
April 28, 2011 MI HB 4481 Public School Employees' Pension and Tax Exemption Bill Passed - House (56 - 50)
April 28, 2011 MI HB 4483 State Tax on Retirement Distributions for Public Library Employees Bill Passed - House (56 - 53)
April 27, 2011 MT HB 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 45)
April 27, 2011 IN HB 1210 Repealing Medicaid Funding for Planned Parenthood Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 32)
April 26, 2011 FL HB 353 Drug Screening for Temporary Assistance Beneficiaries Bill Passed - House (78 - 38)
April 26, 2011 OR HB 3543 Kicker Refunds Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
April 15, 2011 National H Con Res 34 2011-2012 Budget Joint Resolution Passed - House (235 - 193)
April 14, 2011 NC HB 383 Relating to Unemployment Insurance Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 49)
April 14, 2011 National HR 1473 2011 Budget Bill Passed - House (260 - 167)
April 13, 2011 OR SB 5552 Department of Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (32 - 28)
April 12, 2011 IL HB 161 Electronic Benefits Transfer Card Photograph Requirement Bill Passed - House (64 - 48)
April 12, 2011 MT HB 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 44)
April 12, 2011 AL HB 414 Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees Bill Passed - House (54 - 41)
April 9, 2011 National HR 1363 2011 Department of Defense Budget and Additional Continuing Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (348 - 70)
April 6, 2011 MN SF 760 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - House (70 - 62)
April 6, 2011 ID S 1202 Appropriations to Secretary of State Bill Passed - House (44 - 22)
April 5, 2011 SC S 434 Prohibiting DHHS From Reducing Provider Rates Joint Resolution Passed - House (63 - 44)
April 3, 2011 TX HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (98 - 49)
April 3, 2011 TX HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (98 - 49)
April 1, 2011 AZ SB 1618 2011-2012 Budget Reconciliation for Higher Education Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
April 1, 2011 AZ SB 1617 K-12 Education Budget for 2011-2012 Bill Passed - House (39 - 20)
April 1, 2011 AZ SB 1619 Provisions to Health and Health Care for 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - House (39 - 20)
April 1, 2011 TX H Amdt 6 Appropriations for the Department of Aging and Disability Services Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 61)
March 31, 2011 ID S 1182 2012-2013 State Liquor Division Appropriations Bill Passed - House (38 - 30)
March 31, 2011 NH HB 1 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (243 - 124)
March 30, 2011 IN HB 1001 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
March 30, 2011 NH HB 580 Public Employee Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (228 - 139)
March 30, 2011 NH CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Resolution Passed - House (256 - 117)
March 29, 2011 National HR 839 Terminating the Home Affordable Modification Program Bill Passed - House (252 - 170)
March 27, 2011 MS SB 3100 Issuance of State Bonds for Improvements in Higher Learning Institutions Conference Report Adopted - House (91 - 27)
March 24, 2011 MD HB 70 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (97 - 42)
March 23, 2011 MI HB 4408 Employment Compensation Fund Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 44)
March 22, 2011 AL SB 72 Repealing the Deferred Retirement Option Plan Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 33)
March 17, 2011 ID H 260 Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - House (56 - 14)
March 17, 2011 National HR 1076 Prohibiting Federal Funding of National Public Radio Bill Passed - House (228 - 192)
March 16, 2011 National HR 861 Terminating the Neighborhood Stabilization Program Bill Passed - House (242 - 182)
March 15, 2011 SC Amdt 71 Repeals Funding for the 2012 Presidential Preference Primary Amendment Rejected - House (46 - 69)
March 15, 2011 National H J Res 48 Additional Continuing Appropriations Joint Resolution Passed - House (271 - 158)
March 15, 2011 SC H 3700 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - House (77 - 42)
March 11, 2011 National HR 836 Terminating the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program Bill Passed - House (242 - 177)
March 10, 2011 National HR 830 Terminating the Federal Housing Administration Refinance Program Bill Passed - House (256 - 171)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/20 HR 3630 Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (229 - 193)
12/13 HR 3630 Reduces Payroll Taxes and Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
12/08 HB 4770 Prohibits Public Employers from Providing Medical Benefits to Public Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 45)
11/30 CACR 14 Constitutional Amendment Authorizing the Legislature to Set Standards for Public Education Amendment Rejected - House (114 - 264)
11/18 H J Res 2 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Joint Resolution Failed - House (261 - 165)
11/03 HB 4701 Amends the State Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - House (63 - 45)
10/26 SB 1401 Establishes the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program Bill Passed - House (101 - 41)
10/12 SB 198 Amends Eligibility Requirements for TANF Bill Passed - House (237 - 126)
10/04 HR 2608 Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (352 - 66)
9/23 HR 2608 Stopgap Spending and Disaster Relief Concurrence Vote Passed - House (219 - 203)
9/23 SB 7 Incentives for Science-Based Businesses Bill Passed - House (94 - 48)
9/23 HA 1 to SB 7 Prohibits Public Funding for Certain Life Science Research Projects Amendment Rejected - House (68 - 74)
9/23 H Amdt 800 Requires the EPA to Consider Costs and Feasibility of Air Quality Standards Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 192)
9/21 HR 2608 Stopgap Spending and Disaster Relief Concurrence Vote Failed - House (195 - 230)
9/14 H J Res 77 Disapproval of the President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Joint Resolution Passed - House (232 - 186)
9/09 HB 6 Appropriations for Missouri Disaster Relief Bill Passed - House (127 - 22)
9/02 AB 6 Repeals Fingerprinting Requirement for CalFresh Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 26)
8/01 S 365 Budget Control Act of 2011 Bill Passed - House (269 - 161)
7/29 S 627 Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Boehner Bill) Bill Passed - House (218 - 210)
7/22 HR 2551 2011-2012 Congressional Budget Bill Passed - House (252 - 159)
7/19 SF 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (76 - 50)
7/19 HF 26 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 56)
7/19 HF 20 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
7/19 HF 4 Higher Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
7/19 HF 25 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
7/19 HR 2560 Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011 Bill Passed - House (234 - 190)
6/30 HB 960 Public Assistance Program Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (130 - 66)
6/29 HB 153 2011-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 40)
6/29 HB 1485 2011-2012 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (109 - 92)
6/29 S 4000 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - House (46 - 32)
6/23 SB 259 Establishes a Commission to Repeal Income Taxes Motion Rejected - House (46 - 32)
6/22 HB 2 Recertification of Employer Retirement Contribution Rates Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 119)
6/16 HB 5 Interstate Health Care Compact Bill Passed - House (92 - 43)
6/15 HB 200 2011-2013 Budget Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 46)
6/14 AB 40 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
6/10 SB 1 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - House (83 - 62)
6/09 SB 7 Health Care Bill Passed - House (89 - 41)
6/08 SB 1152 Funding for Construction at the University of Connecticut Health Center Bill Passed - House (97 - 45)
6/08 HF 697 State Budget for 2011-2012 Bill Passed - House (54 - 38)
6/07 SB 99 Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (48 - 12)
6/05 AB 580 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (36 - 6)
6/02 HB 414 Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 48)
5/31 HR 1954 Increasing the Debt Limit Motion Rejected - House (97 - 318)
5/29 SB 1811 Reduces Funding for State Agencies Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 63)
5/28 HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 53)
5/28 HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 53)
5/26 HB 4325 Education Appropriations for 2011-2013 Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 50)
5/26 HB 4526 2011-2012 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 47)
5/19 SF 760 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 63)
5/17 SB 420 Eligibility for Indigent Health Care Bill Passed - House (102 - 40)
5/13 HB 2014 2011-2012 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 55)
5/10 AB 568 2011-2013 Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (26 - 16)
5/07 SB 2000 2011-2012 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (79 - 39)
5/06 HB 5305 Eliminating the Correctional Medical Authority Conference Report Adopted - House (81 - 34)
5/05 HB 4325 Education Appropriations for 2011-2013 Bill Passed - House (57 - 53)
5/04 HB 200 2011-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (72 - 47)
5/03 SB 1239 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (83 - 67)
4/28 HB 4480 Tax Exemption and Pension Bill Bill Passed - House (56 - 52)
4/28 HB 4484 State Tax on Retirement Distributions for Judges and State Officials Bill Passed - House (57 - 52)
4/28 HB 4481 Public School Employees' Pension and Tax Exemption Bill Passed - House (56 - 50)
4/28 HB 4483 State Tax on Retirement Distributions for Public Library Employees Bill Passed - House (56 - 53)
4/27 HB 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 45)
4/27 HB 1210 Repealing Medicaid Funding for Planned Parenthood Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 32)
4/26 HB 353 Drug Screening for Temporary Assistance Beneficiaries Bill Passed - House (78 - 38)
4/26 HB 3543 Kicker Refunds Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
4/15 H Con Res 34 2011-2012 Budget Joint Resolution Passed - House (235 - 193)
4/14 HB 383 Relating to Unemployment Insurance Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 49)
4/14 HR 1473 2011 Budget Bill Passed - House (260 - 167)
4/13 SB 5552 Department of Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (32 - 28)
4/12 HB 161 Electronic Benefits Transfer Card Photograph Requirement Bill Passed - House (64 - 48)
4/12 HB 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 44)
4/12 HB 414 Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees Bill Passed - House (54 - 41)
4/09 HR 1363 2011 Department of Defense Budget and Additional Continuing Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (348 - 70)
4/06 SF 760 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - House (70 - 62)
4/06 S 1202 Appropriations to Secretary of State Bill Passed - House (44 - 22)
4/05 S 434 Prohibiting DHHS From Reducing Provider Rates Joint Resolution Passed - House (63 - 44)
4/03 HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (98 - 49)
4/03 HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (98 - 49)
4/01 SB 1618 2011-2012 Budget Reconciliation for Higher Education Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
4/01 SB 1617 K-12 Education Budget for 2011-2012 Bill Passed - House (39 - 20)
4/01 SB 1619 Provisions to Health and Health Care for 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - House (39 - 20)
4/01 H Amdt 6 Appropriations for the Department of Aging and Disability Services Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 61)
3/31 S 1182 2012-2013 State Liquor Division Appropriations Bill Passed - House (38 - 30)
3/31 HB 1 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (243 - 124)
3/30 HB 1001 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
3/30 HB 580 Public Employee Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (228 - 139)
3/30 CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Resolution Passed - House (256 - 117)
3/29 HR 839 Terminating the Home Affordable Modification Program Bill Passed - House (252 - 170)
3/27 SB 3100 Issuance of State Bonds for Improvements in Higher Learning Institutions Conference Report Adopted - House (91 - 27)
3/24 HB 70 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (97 - 42)
3/23 HB 4408 Employment Compensation Fund Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 44)
3/22 SB 72 Repealing the Deferred Retirement Option Plan Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 33)
3/17 H 260 Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - House (56 - 14)
3/17 HR 1076 Prohibiting Federal Funding of National Public Radio Bill Passed - House (228 - 192)
3/16 HR 861 Terminating the Neighborhood Stabilization Program Bill Passed - House (242 - 182)
3/15 Amdt 71 Repeals Funding for the 2012 Presidential Preference Primary Amendment Rejected - House (46 - 69)
3/15 H J Res 48 Additional Continuing Appropriations Joint Resolution Passed - House (271 - 158)
3/15 H 3700 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - House (77 - 42)
3/11 HR 836 Terminating the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program Bill Passed - House (242 - 177)
3/10 HR 830 Terminating the Federal Housing Administration Refinance Program Bill Passed - House (256 - 171)

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