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
July 15, 2008 National HR 6331 Medicare Bill Veto Override Passed - House (383 - 41)
July 15, 2008 National HR 6331 Medicare Bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (70 - 26)
July 9, 2008 National HR 6331 Medicare Bill Cloture Invoked - Senate (69 - 30)
June 25, 1997 National S Amdt 468 Private Contracts Amendment Motion Agreed - Senate (64 - 35)
April 1, 1998 National S Amdt 2209 Personal Retirement Accounts Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
April 1, 1998 National S Amdt 2169 Medicare Choices Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 47)
May 5, 2008 MN Severson Amendment: Income Tax Refund Amendment Adopted - House (75 - 54)
June 29, 2000 National S Amdt 3689 Social Security and Medicare Surplus Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 43)
May 17, 2007 National S Con Res 21 2008 Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 40)
May 7, 2007 MN SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 44)
May 7, 2007 MN SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 19)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
Oct. 18, 1993 National HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 15)
Aug. 6, 1993 National HR 2010 National Service Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (275 - 152)
Sept. 8, 1993 National HR 2010 National Service Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (57 - 40)
May 23, 2003 National HR 2 Jobs and Economic Growth bill Conference Report Adopted - House (231 - 200)
May 17, 2007 National S Con Res 21 2008 Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 209)
May 23, 2003 National HR 2 Jobs and Economic Growth bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 50)
May 6, 2008 MO HB 2010 2008-2009 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 63)
Oct. 7, 1993 National HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (311 - 115)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72)
Oct. 31, 2007 MI SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 25)
Oct. 31, 2007 MI SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8)
March 1, 2010 UT SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
Jan. 17, 2008 IL HB 656 Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 47)
Jan. 10, 2008 IL HB 656 Transportation Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 51)
Oct. 1, 2007 MI H Sub for S Sub SB 546 Public School Employee Retirement Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Nov. 8, 2007 National HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Concurrence Vote Passed - House (274 - 141)
May 1, 2009 FL HB 479 Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 23)
June 2, 2009 NC SB 703 Restrictions on the State Treasurer Regarding the State Pension Fund Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
Sept. 27, 2007 MI Sub SB 374 Estate Recovery for Medicaid Recipients in Michigan Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
Jan. 17, 2008 IL HB 656 Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 33)
May 24, 2006 ME LD 1021 Police and Firefighter Insurance Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
Nov. 7, 2007 National HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 37)
July 9, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24)
April 20, 2007 MN SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - House (86 - 45)
Aug. 3, 1993 National HR 2010 National Service Bill Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 41)
June 5, 2008 CA SB 153 Property Transfer Bill Passed - House (45 - 29)
Dec. 6, 1995 National HR 660 Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
Sept. 27, 2007 MA S 2255 State Pension Fund Divestment from Sudan Bill Passed - House (154 - 2)
March 12, 2008 KY HB 600 State Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
Aug. 20, 2008 CA AB 2747 Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
May 1, 2009 FL HB 479 Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
May 28, 2009 NC SB 703 Restrictions on the State Treasurer Regarding the State Pension Fund Bill Passed - House (64 - 50)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Oct. 23, 2007 National HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (75 - 19)
Sept. 29, 1993 National HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 17)
June 25, 1997 National S 947 Budget Reconciliation bill Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 27)
Feb. 27, 2008 MS SB 2998 Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
Jan. 31, 2006 IA HF 2045 Senior Citizen Tax Revision Bill Passed - House (81 - 18)
May 15, 2006 CA AB 813 Medi-Cal: Emergency Drug Benefits Bill Passed - House (66 - 5)
June 30, 1993 National HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (305 - 124)
March 11, 2008 KY HB 130 Requiring Licenses for Denturists Bill Passed - House (66 - 27)
March 18, 2008 NH HB 1645 State Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (259 - 60)
March 27, 2008 MO HB 2010 2008-2009 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Services Budget Bill Passed - House (87 - 66)
April 20, 2006 OR SB 5644 Social Services and Education Funding Bill Passed - House (57 - 3)
Nov. 19, 2009 National HR 3961 Revising Medicare Physician Fee Schedules and Reinstatement of PAYGO Bill Passed - House (243 - 183)
April 20, 2006 OR SB 5644 Social Services and Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
July 11, 2007 National S 1701 Extension of Funding for Transitional Medical Assistance and Abstinence Education Bill Passed - House (291 - 126)
May 11, 2006 CA AB 813 Medi-Cal: Emergency Drug Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7)
March 29, 2007 MN SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23)
July 27, 2000 National HR 4865 Social Security Benefits Tax Relief bill Bill Passed - House (265 - 159)
Feb. 8, 2006 KY HB 163 State Request for Federal Drug Importation Bill Passed - House (58 - 35)
June 26, 2007 AK HCS CS SB 4 Senior Benefits Payment Program Bill Passed - House (34 - 3)
June 24, 2008 National HR 6331 Medicare Bill Bill Passed - House (355 - 59)
May 22, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - House (414 - 10)
April 10, 2007 AK CSSB 4 Senior Benefits Payment Program Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 2)
Jan. 10, 2008 IL HB 656 Transportation Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25)
Sept. 26, 2007 MI Sub SB 374 Estate Recovery for Medicaid Recipients in Michigan Bill Passed - House (57 - 52)
May 24, 2006 ME LD 1021 Police and Firefighter Insurance Bill Passed - House (72 - 71)
Oct. 1, 2007 MI H Sub for S Sub SB 546 Public School Employee Retirement Benefits Bill Passed - House (65 - 44)
April 2, 2003 National HR 743 Social Security Protection Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (396 - 28)
May 26, 1999 National HR 1259 Social Security Lock Box bill Bill Passed - House (416 - 12)
March 19, 2008 ID S 1447 Capping Medical Benefits for State Government Retirees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
April 9, 2008 SC H 4673 Cost-of-Living Pension Increases for Retired Legislators and State Workers Bill Passed - House (58 - 51)
Jan. 12, 2007 National HR 4 Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act Bill Passed - House (255 - 170)
May 29, 2008 CA SB 1096 Pharmacy Prescription Refill Mailings Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
May 29, 2008 IL SB 788 Authorizing $16 Billion Increase in Bonds for State Pensions Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 21)
May 28, 2008 CA AB 2747 Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options Bill Passed - House (42 - 34)
Aug. 17, 2006 CA SB 1248 Long-Term Health Care Facilities Bill Passed - House (49 - 28)
April 25, 2008 RI H 7204 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (60 - 12)
May 1, 2008 RI H 7204 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
July 19, 2001 National HR 7 Community Solutions Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (233 - 198)
Oct. 19, 1995 National HR 2425 Medicare Preservation Act of 1995 Bill Passed - House (231 - 201)
March 16, 2006 National S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
July 28, 1993 National HR 2010 National Service Bill Bill Passed - House (275 - 152)
Sept. 25, 1998 National HR 4578 Social Security Account Protection bill Bill Passed - House (240 - 188)
June 28, 2002 National HR 4954 Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act Bill Passed - House (221 - 208)
Aug. 22, 2006 CA SB 1248 Long-Term Health Care Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
March 23, 2007 National S Con Res 21 2008 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
March 13, 2009 WV SB 238 Ban on Sexual Orientation Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
March 16, 2009 NJ S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
March 16, 2009 NJ S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral Bill Passed - House (42 - 36)
March 5, 2009 NM HB 616 State Employee Return-to-Work Restrictions Bill Passed - House (49 - 13)
June 28, 2000 National HR 4680 Medicare Rx bill Bill Passed - House (217 - 214)
May 2, 2006 IA SF 2408 Elderly Income Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 4)
Aug. 30, 2007 MI Sub SB 689 State Employees' Retirement Act Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
May 28, 2009 LA SB 296 Retirement Debt Payment Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Feb. 17, 2011 ND HB 1385 Senior Citizens Attending Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - House (65 - 29)
Date No. Title Outcome
7/15 HR 6331 Medicare Bill Veto Override Passed - House (383 - 41)
7/15 HR 6331 Medicare Bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (70 - 26)
7/09 HR 6331 Medicare Bill Cloture Invoked - Senate (69 - 30)
6/25 S Amdt 468 Private Contracts Amendment Motion Agreed - Senate (64 - 35)
4/01 S Amdt 2209 Personal Retirement Accounts Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
4/01 S Amdt 2169 Medicare Choices Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 47)
5/05 Severson Amendment: Income Tax Refund Amendment Adopted - House (75 - 54)
6/29 S Amdt 3689 Social Security and Medicare Surplus Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 43)
5/17 S Con Res 21 2008 Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 40)
5/07 SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 44)
5/07 SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 19)
8/02 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
10/18 HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 15)
8/06 HR 2010 National Service Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (275 - 152)
9/08 HR 2010 National Service Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (57 - 40)
5/23 HR 2 Jobs and Economic Growth bill Conference Report Adopted - House (231 - 200)
5/17 S Con Res 21 2008 Budget Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 209)
5/23 HR 2 Jobs and Economic Growth bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 50)
5/06 HB 2010 2008-2009 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 63)
10/07 HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (311 - 115)
8/02 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72)
10/31 SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 25)
10/31 SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8)
3/01 SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
1/17 HB 656 Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 47)
1/10 HB 656 Transportation Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 51)
10/01 H Sub for S Sub SB 546 Public School Employee Retirement Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
11/08 HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Concurrence Vote Passed - House (274 - 141)
5/01 HB 479 Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 23)
6/02 SB 703 Restrictions on the State Treasurer Regarding the State Pension Fund Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
9/27 Sub SB 374 Estate Recovery for Medicaid Recipients in Michigan Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
1/17 HB 656 Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
7/24 ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 33)
5/24 LD 1021 Police and Firefighter Insurance Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
11/07 HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 37)
7/09 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24)
4/20 SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - House (86 - 45)
8/03 HR 2010 National Service Bill Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 41)
6/05 SB 153 Property Transfer Bill Passed - House (45 - 29)
12/06 HR 660 Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
9/27 S 2255 State Pension Fund Divestment from Sudan Bill Passed - House (154 - 2)
3/12 HB 600 State Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
8/20 AB 2747 Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
5/01 HB 479 Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
5/28 SB 703 Restrictions on the State Treasurer Regarding the State Pension Fund Bill Passed - House (64 - 50)
7/24 ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
10/23 HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (75 - 19)
9/29 HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 17)
6/25 S 947 Budget Reconciliation bill Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 27)
2/27 SB 2998 Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
1/31 HF 2045 Senior Citizen Tax Revision Bill Passed - House (81 - 18)
5/15 AB 813 Medi-Cal: Emergency Drug Benefits Bill Passed - House (66 - 5)
6/30 HR 2518 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (305 - 124)
3/11 HB 130 Requiring Licenses for Denturists Bill Passed - House (66 - 27)
3/18 HB 1645 State Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (259 - 60)
3/27 HB 2010 2008-2009 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Services Budget Bill Passed - House (87 - 66)
4/20 SB 5644 Social Services and Education Funding Bill Passed - House (57 - 3)
11/19 HR 3961 Revising Medicare Physician Fee Schedules and Reinstatement of PAYGO Bill Passed - House (243 - 183)
4/20 SB 5644 Social Services and Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
7/11 S 1701 Extension of Funding for Transitional Medical Assistance and Abstinence Education Bill Passed - House (291 - 126)
5/11 AB 813 Medi-Cal: Emergency Drug Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7)
3/29 SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23)
7/27 HR 4865 Social Security Benefits Tax Relief bill Bill Passed - House (265 - 159)
2/08 HB 163 State Request for Federal Drug Importation Bill Passed - House (58 - 35)
6/26 HCS CS SB 4 Senior Benefits Payment Program Bill Passed - House (34 - 3)
6/24 HR 6331 Medicare Bill Bill Passed - House (355 - 59)
5/22 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Bill Passed - House (414 - 10)
4/10 CSSB 4 Senior Benefits Payment Program Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 2)
1/10 HB 656 Transportation Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25)
9/26 Sub SB 374 Estate Recovery for Medicaid Recipients in Michigan Bill Passed - House (57 - 52)
5/24 LD 1021 Police and Firefighter Insurance Bill Passed - House (72 - 71)
10/01 H Sub for S Sub SB 546 Public School Employee Retirement Benefits Bill Passed - House (65 - 44)
4/02 HR 743 Social Security Protection Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (396 - 28)
5/26 HR 1259 Social Security Lock Box bill Bill Passed - House (416 - 12)
3/19 S 1447 Capping Medical Benefits for State Government Retirees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
4/09 H 4673 Cost-of-Living Pension Increases for Retired Legislators and State Workers Bill Passed - House (58 - 51)
1/12 HR 4 Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act Bill Passed - House (255 - 170)
5/29 SB 1096 Pharmacy Prescription Refill Mailings Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
5/29 SB 788 Authorizing $16 Billion Increase in Bonds for State Pensions Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 21)
5/28 AB 2747 Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options Bill Passed - House (42 - 34)
8/17 SB 1248 Long-Term Health Care Facilities Bill Passed - House (49 - 28)
4/25 H 7204 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (60 - 12)
5/01 H 7204 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
7/19 HR 7 Community Solutions Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (233 - 198)
10/19 HR 2425 Medicare Preservation Act of 1995 Bill Passed - House (231 - 201)
3/16 S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
7/28 HR 2010 National Service Bill Bill Passed - House (275 - 152)
9/25 HR 4578 Social Security Account Protection bill Bill Passed - House (240 - 188)
6/28 HR 4954 Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act Bill Passed - House (221 - 208)
8/22 SB 1248 Long-Term Health Care Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
3/23 S Con Res 21 2008 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
3/13 SB 238 Ban on Sexual Orientation Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
3/16 S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
3/16 S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral Bill Passed - House (42 - 36)
3/05 HB 616 State Employee Return-to-Work Restrictions Bill Passed - House (49 - 13)
6/28 HR 4680 Medicare Rx bill Bill Passed - House (217 - 214)
5/02 SF 2408 Elderly Income Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 4)
8/30 Sub SB 689 State Employees' Retirement Act Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
5/28 SB 296 Retirement Debt Payment Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
2/17 HB 1385 Senior Citizens Attending Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - House (65 - 29)

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