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
Oct. 18, 2005 National S Amdt 2062 Congressional Pay Raise Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (92 - 6)
July 29, 2005 National HR 2985 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2006 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 4)
July 1, 1994 National HR 4454 Legislative Branch FY95 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 27)
July 21, 1998 National HR 4112 Legislative Branch FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 9)
Feb. 6, 2007 SD SJR 7 Extension of Term Limits Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
April 23, 1996 National S J Res 21 Term Limits bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42)
April 5, 2007 SC S 355 Restructuring the Department of Transportation Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
Aug. 2, 2007 National S 1 Lobbying and Donation Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (83 - 14)
Sept. 18, 2007 National S 1257 District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 42)
Oct. 31, 2007 MI SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8)
Jan. 24, 2008 CO GN Baker Matt Baker to the Public Utilities Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (21 - 13)
Feb. 21, 2008 SD HB 1250 Legislative Pay Raise Bill Tabled - Senate (29 - 4)
March 24, 2008 MS HB 859 Salary Adjustments for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3)
March 12, 2008 KY HB 600 State Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
March 13, 2008 National S Amdt 4347 Earmark Moratorium Motion Rejected - Senate (29 - 71)
March 18, 2008 CO HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
April 23, 2008 AZ HB 2017 Legislative Approval for Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
May 29, 2008 LA S Amdt 3870 Legislator Financial Disclosures Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 29)
June 10, 2008 LA SB 672 Legislative Pay Increase Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
June 23, 2008 NJ S 1962 State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
Sept. 14, 2005 National S Amdt 1670 Special Committee on Contracts in Afghanistan and Iraq Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 53)
Jan. 5, 1995 National S Amdt 1 Filibuster Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (76 - 19)
July 25, 2002 National HR 5121 Legislative Branch Appropriation, FY2003 Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14)
July 11, 2003 National HR 2657 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7)
June 16, 1999 National HR 1905 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2000 Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 4)
June 25, 1998 National S Amdt 2981 Military Closure Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45)
Sept. 15, 2005 National S Amdt 1678 Hurricane Katrina Relief Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (43 - 52)
Sept. 21, 2004 National HR 4755 Legislative Branch FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2)
Oct. 23, 2003 National S Amdt 1904 Congressional Pay Raise Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (60 - 34)
July 23, 1993 National HR 2348 Legislative Branch FY94 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7)
Jan. 14, 2009 TX SR 14 Majority Vote Requirement for Voter ID Bill Consideration Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
Feb. 2, 2009 MT SJ 7 Statement of Opposition to Expansion of EPA Jurisdiction (H.R. 2421) Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
Feb. 6, 2009 MT SB 187 Limitations on Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
Feb. 9, 2009 SD SJR 3 Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Feb. 26, 2009 National S 160 Washington DC Voting Act Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
Feb. 19, 2009 NC SB 15 Limiting Per Diem Payments to Legislators Motion Agreed - Senate (37 - 11)
March 5, 2009 GA SB 200 Reorganization of State Transportation Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25)
March 19, 2009 NM HB 393 Opening Conference Committees to the Public Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 8)
Feb. 25, 2009 NM SB 141 Allowing Increase of Penalties for Convicted Public Officials Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 12)
March 11, 2009 UT HB 345 Regulating Former Lawmakers in Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
Sept. 23, 2009 OH SJR 5 Redistricting Commission Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Sept. 30, 2009 National HR 2918 Continuing Appropriations Resolution and 2009-2010 Legislative Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 38)
Oct. 9, 2009 PA HB 1614 Fiscal Code Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
Dec. 17, 2009 OH HB 318 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Feb. 8, 2010 NM SB 531 Legislative Finance Committee Review of Confidential Information Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 8)
Jan. 13, 2010 KY SB 51 Legislator Pension Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Jan. 11, 2010 NJ A 4378 Exception to the Ban on Former State Employees Working for the Casino Industry Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Jan. 26, 2010 National S Amdt 3302 Establishing a Federal Budget Deficit Commission Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46)
Feb. 15, 2010 WA SB 6562 Expanding State University Tuition Authority Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
Feb. 9, 2010 NY R 3904 Expelling Senator Hiram Monserrate from the Senate Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 8)
Feb. 18, 2010 GA SR 1120 Temporary Legislative Adjournment Resolution Passed - Senate (35 - 17)
March 31, 2010 AK SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
April 18, 2010 AK SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
April 14, 2010 IL SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
March 16, 2010 CO SB 87 Increasing Lobbyist Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
March 1, 2010 AZ SCR 1007 Repealing Legislative Term Limits Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
Nov. 30, 2010 National S Amdt 4697 Prohibiting Earmarks Motion Rejected - Senate (39 - 56)
Feb. 10, 2011 MA S 9 Establishing a Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
March 14, 2011 NY S 3331 Non-Partisan Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 24)
April 6, 2011 AR SB 871 Congressional Redistricting Plan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
April 13, 2011 MO HB 193 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
April 12, 2011 AR SB 972 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
April 11, 2011 VA HB 5001 Legislative Redistricting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
May 4, 2011 MO HB 193 Congressional Redistricting Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
May 25, 2011 NV AB 566 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
June 20, 2011 TX SB 4 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
June 6, 2011 TX SB 4 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
May 31, 2011 IL SB 1178 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 25)
April 14, 2011 IA HF 682 Congressional and Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
April 13, 2011 LA HB 6 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
June 10, 2011 OR SB 989 State Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
June 2, 2011 AL SB 484 2011 Congressional Redistricting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 15)
May 3, 2011 OK HB 1527 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 5)
May 16, 2011 OK HB 2145 State House Redistricting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 4)
May 27, 2011 IL SB 1177 General Assembly Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 22)
April 27, 2011 IN HB 1601 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
April 11, 2011 LA HB 1 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
May 21, 2011 TX HB 150 2011-2012 Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
May 17, 2011 MN HF 1426 Congressional Redistricting Plan Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28)
June 29, 2011 MI HB 4780 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
June 29, 2011 MI SB 498 Legislative Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
June 23, 2011 National S Amdt 499 Prohibits the Appointment of Presidential "Czars" Without Senate Approval Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
May 26, 2011 NE LB 703 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
May 26, 2011 NE LB 704 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
June 22, 2011 TX SB 22 Establishing the Texas Congressional Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
April 7, 2011 ND HB 1267 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
July 19, 2011 WI SB 149 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
July 19, 2011 WI SB 148 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
Feb. 15, 2012 NH CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
July 27, 2011 NC SB 453 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
July 27, 2011 NC HB 937 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
July 25, 2011 NC SB 455 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
May 10, 2011 NV SB 497 Congressional and Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
Aug. 31, 2011 GA HB 20EX Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
Aug. 23, 2011 GA HB 1EX House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
Aug. 18, 2011 GA SB 1EX State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
April 12, 2011 OK S Amdt 1 Removes Provision Authorizing Legislators to Carry Firearms Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 19)
Sept. 21, 2011 OH HB 319 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
Sept. 19, 2011 NM SB 22 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14)
Sept. 21, 2011 NM SB 33 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15)
Date No. Title Outcome
10/18 S Amdt 2062 Congressional Pay Raise Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (92 - 6)
7/29 HR 2985 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2006 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 4)
7/01 HR 4454 Legislative Branch FY95 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 27)
7/21 HR 4112 Legislative Branch FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 9)
2/06 SJR 7 Extension of Term Limits Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
4/23 S J Res 21 Term Limits bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42)
4/05 S 355 Restructuring the Department of Transportation Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
8/02 S 1 Lobbying and Donation Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (83 - 14)
9/18 S 1257 District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 42)
10/31 SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8)
1/24 GN Baker Matt Baker to the Public Utilities Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (21 - 13)
2/21 HB 1250 Legislative Pay Raise Bill Tabled - Senate (29 - 4)
3/24 HB 859 Salary Adjustments for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 3)
3/12 HB 600 State Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
3/13 S Amdt 4347 Earmark Moratorium Motion Rejected - Senate (29 - 71)
3/18 HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
4/23 HB 2017 Legislative Approval for Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
5/29 S Amdt 3870 Legislator Financial Disclosures Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 29)
6/10 SB 672 Legislative Pay Increase Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
6/23 S 1962 State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
9/14 S Amdt 1670 Special Committee on Contracts in Afghanistan and Iraq Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 53)
1/05 S Amdt 1 Filibuster Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (76 - 19)
7/25 HR 5121 Legislative Branch Appropriation, FY2003 Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14)
7/11 HR 2657 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7)
6/16 HR 1905 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2000 Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 4)
6/25 S Amdt 2981 Military Closure Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45)
9/15 S Amdt 1678 Hurricane Katrina Relief Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (43 - 52)
9/21 HR 4755 Legislative Branch FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2)
10/23 S Amdt 1904 Congressional Pay Raise Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (60 - 34)
7/23 HR 2348 Legislative Branch FY94 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7)
1/14 SR 14 Majority Vote Requirement for Voter ID Bill Consideration Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
2/02 SJ 7 Statement of Opposition to Expansion of EPA Jurisdiction (H.R. 2421) Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
2/06 SB 187 Limitations on Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
2/09 SJR 3 Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
2/26 S 160 Washington DC Voting Act Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
2/19 SB 15 Limiting Per Diem Payments to Legislators Motion Agreed - Senate (37 - 11)
3/05 SB 200 Reorganization of State Transportation Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25)
3/19 HB 393 Opening Conference Committees to the Public Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 8)
2/25 SB 141 Allowing Increase of Penalties for Convicted Public Officials Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 12)
3/11 HB 345 Regulating Former Lawmakers in Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
9/23 SJR 5 Redistricting Commission Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
9/30 HR 2918 Continuing Appropriations Resolution and 2009-2010 Legislative Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 38)
10/09 HB 1614 Fiscal Code Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
12/17 HB 318 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
2/08 SB 531 Legislative Finance Committee Review of Confidential Information Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 8)
1/13 SB 51 Legislator Pension Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
1/11 A 4378 Exception to the Ban on Former State Employees Working for the Casino Industry Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
1/26 S Amdt 3302 Establishing a Federal Budget Deficit Commission Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46)
2/15 SB 6562 Expanding State University Tuition Authority Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
2/09 R 3904 Expelling Senator Hiram Monserrate from the Senate Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 8)
2/18 SR 1120 Temporary Legislative Adjournment Resolution Passed - Senate (35 - 17)
3/31 SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
4/18 SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
4/14 SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
3/16 SB 87 Increasing Lobbyist Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
3/01 SCR 1007 Repealing Legislative Term Limits Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
11/30 S Amdt 4697 Prohibiting Earmarks Motion Rejected - Senate (39 - 56)
2/10 S 9 Establishing a Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
3/14 S 3331 Non-Partisan Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 24)
4/06 SB 871 Congressional Redistricting Plan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
4/13 HB 193 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
4/12 SB 972 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
4/11 HB 5001 Legislative Redistricting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
5/04 HB 193 Congressional Redistricting Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
5/25 AB 566 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
6/20 SB 4 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
6/06 SB 4 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
5/31 SB 1178 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 25)
4/14 HF 682 Congressional and Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
4/13 HB 6 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
6/10 SB 989 State Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
6/02 SB 484 2011 Congressional Redistricting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 15)
5/03 HB 1527 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 5)
5/16 HB 2145 State House Redistricting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 4)
5/27 SB 1177 General Assembly Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 22)
4/27 HB 1601 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
4/11 HB 1 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
5/21 HB 150 2011-2012 Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
5/17 HF 1426 Congressional Redistricting Plan Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28)
6/29 HB 4780 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
6/29 SB 498 Legislative Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
6/23 S Amdt 499 Prohibits the Appointment of Presidential "Czars" Without Senate Approval Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
5/26 LB 703 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
5/26 LB 704 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
6/22 SB 22 Establishing the Texas Congressional Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
4/07 HB 1267 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
7/19 SB 149 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
7/19 SB 148 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
2/15 CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
7/27 SB 453 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
7/27 HB 937 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
7/25 SB 455 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
5/10 SB 497 Congressional and Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
8/31 HB 20EX Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
8/23 HB 1EX House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
8/18 SB 1EX State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
4/12 S Amdt 1 Removes Provision Authorizing Legislators to Carry Firearms Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 19)
9/21 HB 319 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
9/19 SB 22 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14)
9/21 SB 33 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15)

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