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
May 5, 2008 MN Howes Amendment: Gas Tax Holiday Amendment Rejected - House (28 - 102)
March 27, 2008 MN Seifert Amendment: Breaches of Insurance Policy Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 52)
April 10, 2008 MA Garry and D'Amico Amendment: Removal of Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Failed - House (49 - 105)
June 24, 2008 NY A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - House (141 - 3)
Oct. 27, 2008 NJ A 2550 Renewable Energy Facilities Within Industrial Districts Bill Passed - House (60 - 15)
Nov. 17, 2008 NJ A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - House (56 - 22)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ A 4559 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - House (43 - 31)
May 28, 2008 WI AB 1 Education Line Item Veto Override Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 36)
May 28, 2008 WI AB 1 Education Line Item Veto Override Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 39)
May 14, 2008 WI AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 46)
March 12, 2008 WI AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA AB 1107 Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18)
July 14, 2008 CA AB 1155 Penalties for Healthcare Service Plan Underpayments or Failures to Pay Service Providers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 26)
Sept. 16, 2008 CA AB 1452 Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 21)
Sept. 16, 2008 CA AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 11)
Aug. 17, 2008 CA AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Rejected - House (45 - 30)
May 29, 2008 CA AB 1830 Subprime Lending Regulations Bill Passed - House (47 - 28)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA AB 1860 Prohibiting Resale of Recalled Products Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 30)
Aug. 19, 2008 CA AB 1894 Health Insurance Coverage of HIV Testing Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 29)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA AB 1945 Health Insurance Cancellation Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 17)
Aug. 12, 2008 CA AB 1946 Expanding Enforcement of Water Pollution Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 29)
May 28, 2008 CA AB 1991 Development on Half Moon Bay Bill Passed - House (46 - 18)
May 28, 2008 CA AB 2058 Paper and Plastic Bag Tax Bill Passed - House (44 - 33)
May 29, 2008 CA AB 2076 Prohibiting E-verify Bill Passed - House (43 - 31)
Aug. 12, 2008 CA AB 2270 Water Softener Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 19)
May 28, 2008 CA AB 2279 Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients Bill Passed - House (41 - 35)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA AB 2321 Metro Sales Tax Increase Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA AB 2386 Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 31)
May 29, 2008 CA AB 2572 Nutritional Disclosure Bill Bill Passed - House (46 - 15)
Aug. 28, 2008 CA AB 2765 Aerial Spraying Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14)
May 27, 2008 CA AB 3025 Polystyrene Packaging Regulations Bill Passed - House (42 - 32)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 346 Nuclear Power Plant Construction Bill Passed - House (57 - 38)
Jan. 29, 2008 CA AB 624 Disclosing Organizational Diversity Bill Passed - House (45 - 29)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 67 Business Education Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (55 - 40)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 770 Corporate Research and Development Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (84 - 13)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 901 Austism Treatment Funding Bill Passed - House (55 - 39)
July 14, 2008 CA AB 97 Trans Fats Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
Dec. 18, 2008 CA ABx1 12 Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
March 12, 2008 CA ABx3 9 Oil Tax Bill Failed - House (45 - 30)
April 24, 2008 FL Amdt 28283 Commuter Trains in Orlando Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 64)
May 7, 2008 SC Amendment No. 8A Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33)
Feb. 26, 2008 IN Amnd. 2 Permitting Lawsuits for Injuries Caused by Hazardous Substances Amendment Adopted - House (52 - 45)
March 27, 2008 KS Carlson Amnd. Employment Eligibility Verification Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 36)
Feb. 18, 2008 ID H 348 Legalizing Alcohol Sales on Election Day Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
May 27, 2008 SC H 3567 Cigarette Tax Increase Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 57)
May 21, 2008 SC H 3816 Bankruptcy Exemptions Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 26)
May 29, 2008 SC H 4400 Immigration Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16)
Jan. 31, 2008 SC H 4400 Immigration Bill Bill Passed - House (80 - 13)
June 11, 2008 MA H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (142 - 15)
April 10, 2008 MA H 4645 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (131 - 23)
March 20, 2008 MA H 4920 to 4307 Establishing and Regulating Casinos Amendment Adopted - House (106 - 48)
March 5, 2008 ID H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production Bill Passed - House (60 - 10)
March 5, 2008 ID H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
March 7, 2008 ID H 586 State Administered Vehicle Emissions Testing Bill Passed - House (42 - 26)
March 10, 2008 ID H 592 Film and Television Production Rebate Bill Passed - House (51 - 17)
March 17, 2008 ID H 594 Amending Property Tax Formula Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
March 21, 2008 ID H 599 Eliminating the Personal Property Tax Bill Passed - House (39 - 31)
March 28, 2008 ID H 655 Tax Rebate for Road Projects Bill Passed - House (40 - 25)
March 27, 2008 ID H 680 Community Infrastructure Districts Bill Passed - House (50 - 18)
April 29, 2008 RI H 7107 Employment Verification Program Bill Passed - House (52 - 17)
May 21, 2008 SC H Amdt 3A Cigarette Tax Increase for Employee Health Care Amendment Tabled - House (67 - 51)
May 21, 2008 SC H Amdt 4A Cigarette Tax for Small Business Employee Health Care Amendment Tabled - House (60 - 58)
May 21, 2008 SC H Amdt 7A To Reduce Income Tax Amendment Tabled - House (68 - 52)
March 14, 2008 IN HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 17)
April 1, 2008 AR HB 1004 Natural Gas Tax Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
Feb. 21, 2008 MS HB 1013 Altering Medicaid and Medicare Eligibility and Increasing Cigarette Tax Bill Passed - House (75 - 41)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1107 Energy Efficiency Requirements Bill Passed - House (33 - 32)
March 31, 2008 CO HB 1123 Funeral Registration Bill Passed - House (41 - 24)
Feb. 14, 2008 SD HB 1151 Adult-Oriented Business Restrictions Bill Passed - House (47 - 21)
May 5, 2008 CO HB 1161 Mining Regulation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 15)
March 31, 2008 CO HB 1161 Mining Regulation Bill Passed - House (49 - 16)
Feb. 11, 2008 VA HB 12 Payday Lending Restrictions Bill Passed - House (91 - 7)
March 11, 2008 GA HB 1216 Regional Commissions Bill Passed - House (134 - 30)
April 1, 2008 CO HB 1228 Insurance Company Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 23)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1228 Insurance Company Regulations Bill Passed - House (40 - 25)
April 15, 2008 CO HB 1270 Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 10)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1270 Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1276 Workplace Accommodations for Nursing Mothers Bill Passed - House (59 - 6)
March 11, 2008 KY HB 130 Requiring Licenses for Denturists Bill Passed - House (66 - 27)
Feb. 25, 2008 CO HB 1310 Payday Loan Restrictions Bill Passed - House (33 - 30)
May 19, 2008 LA HB 1312 Drivers Insurance Increase Bill Passed - House (57 - 35)
May 5, 2008 CO HB 1325 Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 17)
April 22, 2008 CO HB 1325 Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (46 - 18)
Feb. 12, 2008 UT HB 137 Water Conservation Program Bill Failed - House (31 - 40)
April 24, 2008 CO HB 1389 Health Insurance Rates Bill Passed - House (39 - 25)
March 19, 2008 NH HB 1434 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Bill Passed - House (214 - 107)
May 21, 2008 NH HB 1436 Automatic Continuation Clause in Collective Bargaining Agreements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (186 - 128)
March 18, 2008 NH HB 1436 Automatic Continuation Clause in Collective Bargaining Agreements Bill Passed - House (180 - 126)
March 19, 2008 NH HB 1472 Affordable Workforce Housing Bill Passed - House (176 - 149)
May 16, 2008 MO HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - House (136 - 12)
April 4, 2008 MD HB 1626 Public Utilitiy Regulation Bill Passed - House (98 - 41)
May 29, 2008 MS HB 17 Medicaid Funds Bill Bill Failed - House (55 - 53)
March 6, 2008 MO HB 1779 Regulation of Telecommunications Services Bill Passed - House (130 - 22)
April 24, 2008 MO HB 1851 Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay Changes Bill Failed - House (68 - 82)
March 4, 2008 AL HB 196 Relaxing Alcohol Sales Restrictions Bill Passed - House (48 - 42)
June 25, 2008 AZ HB 2156 Reviews for Potential Railroad Sites Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 12)
March 19, 2008 AZ HB 2230 College Textbook Information Disclosure Bill Passed - House (48 - 11)
May 7, 2008 PA HB 2297 Expansion of the Keystone Opportunity Zone Bill Passed - House (126 - 72)
April 21, 2008 MO HB 2393 Mega-Project Tax Credits Bill Passed - House (125 - 16)
May 7, 2008 MO HB 2393 Mega-Project Tax Credits Bill Passed - House (138 - 14)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/05 Howes Amendment: Gas Tax Holiday Amendment Rejected - House (28 - 102)
3/27 Seifert Amendment: Breaches of Insurance Policy Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 52)
4/10 Garry and D'Amico Amendment: Removal of Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Failed - House (49 - 105)
6/24 A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - House (141 - 3)
10/27 A 2550 Renewable Energy Facilities Within Industrial Districts Bill Passed - House (60 - 15)
11/17 A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - House (56 - 22)
1/07 A 4559 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - House (43 - 31)
5/28 AB 1 Education Line Item Veto Override Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 36)
5/28 AB 1 Education Line Item Veto Override Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 39)
5/14 AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 46)
3/12 AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
8/29 AB 1107 Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18)
7/14 AB 1155 Penalties for Healthcare Service Plan Underpayments or Failures to Pay Service Providers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 26)
9/16 AB 1452 Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 21)
9/16 AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 11)
8/17 AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Rejected - House (45 - 30)
5/29 AB 1830 Subprime Lending Regulations Bill Passed - House (47 - 28)
8/31 AB 1860 Prohibiting Resale of Recalled Products Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 30)
8/19 AB 1894 Health Insurance Coverage of HIV Testing Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 29)
8/31 AB 1945 Health Insurance Cancellation Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 17)
8/12 AB 1946 Expanding Enforcement of Water Pollution Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 29)
5/28 AB 1991 Development on Half Moon Bay Bill Passed - House (46 - 18)
5/28 AB 2058 Paper and Plastic Bag Tax Bill Passed - House (44 - 33)
5/29 AB 2076 Prohibiting E-verify Bill Passed - House (43 - 31)
8/12 AB 2270 Water Softener Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 19)
5/28 AB 2279 Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients Bill Passed - House (41 - 35)
8/31 AB 2321 Metro Sales Tax Increase Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25)
8/29 AB 2386 Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 31)
5/29 AB 2572 Nutritional Disclosure Bill Bill Passed - House (46 - 15)
8/28 AB 2765 Aerial Spraying Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14)
5/27 AB 3025 Polystyrene Packaging Regulations Bill Passed - House (42 - 32)
3/05 AB 346 Nuclear Power Plant Construction Bill Passed - House (57 - 38)
1/29 AB 624 Disclosing Organizational Diversity Bill Passed - House (45 - 29)
3/05 AB 67 Business Education Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (55 - 40)
2/28 AB 770 Corporate Research and Development Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (84 - 13)
3/05 AB 901 Austism Treatment Funding Bill Passed - House (55 - 39)
7/14 AB 97 Trans Fats Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
12/18 ABx1 12 Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
3/12 ABx3 9 Oil Tax Bill Failed - House (45 - 30)
4/24 Amdt 28283 Commuter Trains in Orlando Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 64)
5/07 Amendment No. 8A Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33)
2/26 Amnd. 2 Permitting Lawsuits for Injuries Caused by Hazardous Substances Amendment Adopted - House (52 - 45)
3/27 Carlson Amnd. Employment Eligibility Verification Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 36)
2/18 H 348 Legalizing Alcohol Sales on Election Day Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
5/27 H 3567 Cigarette Tax Increase Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 57)
5/21 H 3816 Bankruptcy Exemptions Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 26)
5/29 H 4400 Immigration Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16)
1/31 H 4400 Immigration Bill Bill Passed - House (80 - 13)
6/11 H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (142 - 15)
4/10 H 4645 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (131 - 23)
3/20 H 4920 to 4307 Establishing and Regulating Casinos Amendment Adopted - House (106 - 48)
3/05 H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production Bill Passed - House (60 - 10)
3/05 H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
3/07 H 586 State Administered Vehicle Emissions Testing Bill Passed - House (42 - 26)
3/10 H 592 Film and Television Production Rebate Bill Passed - House (51 - 17)
3/17 H 594 Amending Property Tax Formula Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
3/21 H 599 Eliminating the Personal Property Tax Bill Passed - House (39 - 31)
3/28 H 655 Tax Rebate for Road Projects Bill Passed - House (40 - 25)
3/27 H 680 Community Infrastructure Districts Bill Passed - House (50 - 18)
4/29 H 7107 Employment Verification Program Bill Passed - House (52 - 17)
5/21 H Amdt 3A Cigarette Tax Increase for Employee Health Care Amendment Tabled - House (67 - 51)
5/21 H Amdt 4A Cigarette Tax for Small Business Employee Health Care Amendment Tabled - House (60 - 58)
5/21 H Amdt 7A To Reduce Income Tax Amendment Tabled - House (68 - 52)
3/14 HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 17)
4/01 HB 1004 Natural Gas Tax Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
2/21 HB 1013 Altering Medicaid and Medicare Eligibility and Increasing Cigarette Tax Bill Passed - House (75 - 41)
2/27 HB 1107 Energy Efficiency Requirements Bill Passed - House (33 - 32)
3/31 HB 1123 Funeral Registration Bill Passed - House (41 - 24)
2/14 HB 1151 Adult-Oriented Business Restrictions Bill Passed - House (47 - 21)
5/05 HB 1161 Mining Regulation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 15)
3/31 HB 1161 Mining Regulation Bill Passed - House (49 - 16)
2/11 HB 12 Payday Lending Restrictions Bill Passed - House (91 - 7)
3/11 HB 1216 Regional Commissions Bill Passed - House (134 - 30)
4/01 HB 1228 Insurance Company Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 23)
2/27 HB 1228 Insurance Company Regulations Bill Passed - House (40 - 25)
4/15 HB 1270 Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 10)
2/27 HB 1270 Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
2/27 HB 1276 Workplace Accommodations for Nursing Mothers Bill Passed - House (59 - 6)
3/11 HB 130 Requiring Licenses for Denturists Bill Passed - House (66 - 27)
2/25 HB 1310 Payday Loan Restrictions Bill Passed - House (33 - 30)
5/19 HB 1312 Drivers Insurance Increase Bill Passed - House (57 - 35)
5/05 HB 1325 Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 17)
4/22 HB 1325 Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (46 - 18)
2/12 HB 137 Water Conservation Program Bill Failed - House (31 - 40)
4/24 HB 1389 Health Insurance Rates Bill Passed - House (39 - 25)
3/19 HB 1434 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Bill Passed - House (214 - 107)
5/21 HB 1436 Automatic Continuation Clause in Collective Bargaining Agreements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (186 - 128)
3/18 HB 1436 Automatic Continuation Clause in Collective Bargaining Agreements Bill Passed - House (180 - 126)
3/19 HB 1472 Affordable Workforce Housing Bill Passed - House (176 - 149)
5/16 HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - House (136 - 12)
4/04 HB 1626 Public Utilitiy Regulation Bill Passed - House (98 - 41)
5/29 HB 17 Medicaid Funds Bill Bill Failed - House (55 - 53)
3/06 HB 1779 Regulation of Telecommunications Services Bill Passed - House (130 - 22)
4/24 HB 1851 Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay Changes Bill Failed - House (68 - 82)
3/04 HB 196 Relaxing Alcohol Sales Restrictions Bill Passed - House (48 - 42)
6/25 HB 2156 Reviews for Potential Railroad Sites Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 12)
3/19 HB 2230 College Textbook Information Disclosure Bill Passed - House (48 - 11)
5/07 HB 2297 Expansion of the Keystone Opportunity Zone Bill Passed - House (126 - 72)
4/21 HB 2393 Mega-Project Tax Credits Bill Passed - House (125 - 16)
5/07 HB 2393 Mega-Project Tax Credits Bill Passed - House (138 - 14)

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