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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
March 17, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Passed - House (61 - 8)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
March 27, 2008 KS Carlson Amnd. Employment Eligibility Verification Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 36)
April 2, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3)
April 15, 2008 KY HB 683 DNA Collection, Parole Board, and Felony Review Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 42)
April 15, 2008 KY HB 683 DNA Collection, Parole Board, and Felony Review Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 1)
April 2, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 21)
May 5, 2008 CO HB 1385 Health Insurance Website Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 17)
Aug. 21, 2008 CA SB 28 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
Aug. 13, 2008 CA AB 86 Cyber-Bullying Enforcement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22)
March 14, 2008 National HR 3773 Electronic Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Review Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (213 - 197)
May 2, 2008 CO HB 1385 Health Insurance Website Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Jan. 23, 2008 MA H 4477 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (107 - 47)
Aug. 13, 2008 CA SB 28 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (52 - 24)
June 19, 2008 LA SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (70 - 19)
March 18, 2008 CO SB 139 Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification Bill Passed - House (52 - 12)
March 19, 2008 MS SB 2264 Authorizing Wire-tapping Out of State Bill Passed - House (97 - 21)
March 24, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
June 10, 2008 LA SB 807 Cable Deregulation Bill Bill Passed - House (94 - 9)
March 28, 2008 MD HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
March 31, 2008 MD SB 269 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - House (89 - 47)
Aug. 18, 2008 NM HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Aug. 11, 2008 CA AB 86 Cyber-Bullying Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
April 29, 2008 RI H 7107 Employment Verification Program Bill Passed - House (52 - 17)
May 6, 2008 LA SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
May 29, 2008 CA AB 2076 Prohibiting E-verify Bill Passed - House (43 - 31)
Dec. 4, 2008 MI HB 5117 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (68 - 32)
Feb. 4, 2008 NM HB 37 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - House (51 - 10)
Feb. 12, 2008 National S 2248 FISA Amendments Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
Feb. 19, 2008 GA SB 379 Automatic Calling Device Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI SB 396 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 26, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Feb. 26, 2008 CO SB 139 Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 870 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
March 4, 2008 MD HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - House (105 - 31)
March 5, 2008 MS SB 2988 Prohibiting Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (112 - 8)
March 6, 2008 MO HB 1619 Monitoring Prescription Drug Sales Bill Passed - House (84 - 69)
March 6, 2008 GA SB 404 Health Insurance Marketplace Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 12)
March 6, 2008 MO HB 1779 Regulation of Telecommunications Services Bill Passed - House (130 - 22)
March 11, 2008 WI AB 862 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
March 12, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (84 - 14)
March 17, 2008 KS HB 2762 Income Tax Reduction Bill Passed - House (109 - 13)
March 17, 2008 KS HB 2938 Sales Tax Exemptions Bill Passed - House (96 - 26)
March 18, 2008 MD SB 269 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
March 20, 2008 MD SB 2 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
April 3, 2008 MD SB 46 Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
April 5, 2008 MD SB 46 Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments Bill Passed - House (93 - 44)
April 21, 2008 LA HB 852 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
April 23, 2008 CO HB 1385 Health Insurance Website Bill Passed - House (49 - 16)
June 17, 2008 RI S 2706 Red Light Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
June 20, 2008 RI S 2706 Red Light Cameras Bill Passed - House (44 - 12)
June 20, 2008 National HR 6304 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments Bill Passed - House (293 - 129)
June 24, 2008 NY S 8638 Internet Sales Tax Repeal Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 18)
July 9, 2008 National HR 6304 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 28)
July 9, 2008 National HR 5811 Electronic Communications Preservation Act Bill Passed - House (286 - 137)
Aug. 17, 2008 NM HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
March 17, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 12)
July 9, 2008 National S Amdt 5064 Striking Telecom Immunity from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Bill Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 66)
Feb. 12, 2008 National S Amdt 3910 FISA as Exclusive Means for Conducting Electronic Surveillance Amendment Rejected - Senate (57 - 41)
Feb. 12, 2008 National S Amdt 3907 Striking Telecommunications Companies' Civil Immunity for Surveillance Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 67)
March 26, 2008 KS Huelskamp Amnd. 1 Employment Verification Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 27)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17)
June 17, 2008 LA HB 852 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 27)
June 4, 2008 AZ HB 2475 Bonds for School Computers Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 13)
March 14, 2008 MD SB 461 Prohibiting Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 21)
Feb. 12, 2008 NM HB 37 Electronic Medical Records Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 23)
Feb. 18, 2008 UT HB 295 Policies for Electronic Devices at School Bill Failed - House (33 - 37)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/17 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Passed - House (61 - 8)
2/19 S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
3/27 Carlson Amnd. Employment Eligibility Verification Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 36)
4/02 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3)
4/15 HB 683 DNA Collection, Parole Board, and Felony Review Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 42)
4/15 HB 683 DNA Collection, Parole Board, and Felony Review Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 1)
4/02 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 21)
5/05 HB 1385 Health Insurance Website Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 17)
8/21 SB 28 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
8/13 AB 86 Cyber-Bullying Enforcement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22)
3/14 HR 3773 Electronic Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Review Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (213 - 197)
5/02 HB 1385 Health Insurance Website Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
1/23 H 4477 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (107 - 47)
8/13 SB 28 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (52 - 24)
6/19 SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (70 - 19)
3/18 SB 139 Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification Bill Passed - House (52 - 12)
3/19 SB 2264 Authorizing Wire-tapping Out of State Bill Passed - House (97 - 21)
3/24 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
6/10 SB 807 Cable Deregulation Bill Bill Passed - House (94 - 9)
3/28 HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
3/31 SB 269 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - House (89 - 47)
8/18 HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
8/11 AB 86 Cyber-Bullying Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
4/29 H 7107 Employment Verification Program Bill Passed - House (52 - 17)
5/06 SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
5/29 AB 2076 Prohibiting E-verify Bill Passed - House (43 - 31)
12/04 HB 5117 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (68 - 32)
2/04 HB 37 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - House (51 - 10)
2/12 S 2248 FISA Amendments Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
2/13 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
2/19 SB 379 Automatic Calling Device Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9)
2/19 SB 396 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/26 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
2/26 SB 139 Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
2/28 AB 870 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
3/04 HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - House (105 - 31)
3/05 SB 2988 Prohibiting Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (112 - 8)
3/06 HB 1619 Monitoring Prescription Drug Sales Bill Passed - House (84 - 69)
3/06 SB 404 Health Insurance Marketplace Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 12)
3/06 HB 1779 Regulation of Telecommunications Services Bill Passed - House (130 - 22)
3/11 AB 862 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
3/12 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (84 - 14)
3/17 HB 2762 Income Tax Reduction Bill Passed - House (109 - 13)
3/17 HB 2938 Sales Tax Exemptions Bill Passed - House (96 - 26)
3/18 SB 269 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
3/20 SB 2 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
4/03 SB 46 Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
4/05 SB 46 Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments Bill Passed - House (93 - 44)
4/21 HB 852 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
4/23 HB 1385 Health Insurance Website Bill Passed - House (49 - 16)
6/17 S 2706 Red Light Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
6/20 S 2706 Red Light Cameras Bill Passed - House (44 - 12)
6/20 HR 6304 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments Bill Passed - House (293 - 129)
6/24 S 8638 Internet Sales Tax Repeal Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 18)
7/09 HR 6304 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 28)
7/09 HR 5811 Electronic Communications Preservation Act Bill Passed - House (286 - 137)
8/17 HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
3/17 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 12)
7/09 S Amdt 5064 Striking Telecom Immunity from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Bill Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 66)
2/12 S Amdt 3910 FISA as Exclusive Means for Conducting Electronic Surveillance Amendment Rejected - Senate (57 - 41)
2/12 S Amdt 3907 Striking Telecommunications Companies' Civil Immunity for Surveillance Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 67)
3/26 Huelskamp Amnd. 1 Employment Verification Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 27)
2/19 S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17)
6/17 HB 852 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 27)
6/04 HB 2475 Bonds for School Computers Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 13)
3/14 SB 461 Prohibiting Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 21)
2/12 HB 37 Electronic Medical Records Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 23)
2/18 HB 295 Policies for Electronic Devices at School Bill Failed - House (33 - 37)

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