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:
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.
Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 28, 2008 | MI | Anderson Amendment: Increase Revenue Sharing Grants | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 18) | |
Aug. 8, 2008 | NY | A 11258 | Mandatory Cigarette Taxation | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 4) |
June 23, 2008 | NJ | A 2873 | School Construction Bonds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
Nov. 24, 2008 | NJ | A 3294 | Capital Investment and Employment Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
Dec. 15, 2008 | NJ | A 3373 | Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
Nov. 24, 2008 | NJ | A 3459 | Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
Jan. 7, 2008 | NJ | A 500 | Education Funding Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
Feb. 13, 2008 | NY | A 9998 | New York Racing Association Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17) |
May 13, 2008 | WI | AB 1 | Budget Repair Plan | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 16) |
March 25, 2008 | WI | AB 1 | Budget Repair Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
Aug. 14, 2008 | CA | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | AB 1452 | Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (24 - 15) |
Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
Sept. 8, 2008 | CA | AB 1793 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 2321 | Metro Sales Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
Aug. 7, 2008 | CA | AB 3034 | High-Speed Rail Bond Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 2 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 4 | Reducing Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 5 | Modifying Transportation Project Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 8 | Amending Sentencing, Parole, and Property Crime Statutes | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
March 6, 2008 | NH | Amdt 0891 to SB 530 | Fully Subsidized Kindergarten Construction Program | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 12) |
Nov. 18, 2008 | NE | Amdt 4 | Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law | Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 26) |
Feb. 25, 2008 | IN | Amnd. 17 | Elimination of Township Assessors | Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 23) |
Feb. 25, 2008 | IN | Amnd. 19 | Referendum on Township Assessors | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 20) |
Feb. 21, 2008 | NH | CACR 34 | Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education | Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 5) |
May 29, 2008 | CA | CA SB 1665 | Prison Health Care Facility Bonds | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 15) |
May 7, 2008 | SC | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11) |
June 12, 2008 | MA | H 4554 | Life-Science Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7) |
May 6, 2008 | MA | H 4645 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
March 17, 2008 | ID | H 561 | Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
March 17, 2008 | ID | H 562 | Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
March 25, 2008 | ID | H 592 | Film and Television Production Rebate | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
May 1, 2008 | RI | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
April 2, 2008 | MN | Hann Amnd. | Prohibiting Funding for Cities that Prevent Immigration Status Checks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 33) |
March 14, 2008 | IN | HB 1001 | Property Tax Reduction | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6) |
Feb. 26, 2008 | IN | HB 1001 | Property Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
April 8, 2008 | CO | HB 1001 | Expanding Bioscience Research Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
April 2, 2008 | AR | HB 1004 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
Feb. 27, 2008 | SD | HB 1085 | Constructing Science Facilities at Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
Feb. 25, 2008 | VA | HB 11 | Property Tax Exemptions | Motion Agreed - Senate (21 - 19) |
April 1, 2008 | GA | HB 1133 | Tax Credits for Nonprofit Donations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20) |
March 31, 2008 | GA | HB 1158 | Motor Vehicle Trauma Care Fee | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
March 17, 2008 | SD | HB 1233 | Government Spending Database | Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 12) |
Feb. 26, 2008 | SD | HB 1233 | Government Spending Database | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
April 1, 2008 | GA | HB 1244 | State Income Tax Reductions | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
March 28, 2008 | GA | HB 1244 | State Income Tax Reductions | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 6) |
Feb. 21, 2008 | SD | HB 1250 | Legislative Pay Raise | Bill Tabled - Senate (29 - 4) |
March 18, 2008 | CO | HB 1297 | Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
5/28 | Anderson Amendment: Increase Revenue Sharing Grants | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 18) | |
8/08 | A 11258 | Mandatory Cigarette Taxation | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 4) |
6/23 | A 2873 | School Construction Bonds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
11/24 | A 3294 | Capital Investment and Employment Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
12/15 | A 3373 | Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
11/24 | A 3459 | Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
1/07 | A 500 | Education Funding Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
2/13 | A 9998 | New York Racing Association Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17) |
5/13 | AB 1 | Budget Repair Plan | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 16) |
3/25 | AB 1 | Budget Repair Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
8/14 | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
9/16 | AB 1452 | Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
8/29 | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (24 - 15) |
9/16 | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
9/08 | AB 1793 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
8/29 | AB 2321 | Metro Sales Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
8/07 | AB 3034 | High-Speed Rail Bond Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
8/29 | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
12/18 | ABx1 2 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
12/18 | ABx1 4 | Reducing Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
12/18 | ABx1 5 | Modifying Transportation Project Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
12/18 | ABx1 8 | Amending Sentencing, Parole, and Property Crime Statutes | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
3/06 | Amdt 0891 to SB 530 | Fully Subsidized Kindergarten Construction Program | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 12) |
11/18 | Amdt 4 | Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law | Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 26) |
2/25 | Amnd. 17 | Elimination of Township Assessors | Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 23) |
2/25 | Amnd. 19 | Referendum on Township Assessors | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 20) |
2/21 | CACR 34 | Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education | Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 5) |
5/29 | CA SB 1665 | Prison Health Care Facility Bonds | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 15) |
5/07 | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11) |
6/12 | H 4554 | Life-Science Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7) |
5/06 | H 4645 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
3/17 | H 561 | Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
3/17 | H 562 | Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
3/25 | H 592 | Film and Television Production Rebate | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
5/01 | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
4/02 | Hann Amnd. | Prohibiting Funding for Cities that Prevent Immigration Status Checks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 33) |
3/14 | HB 1001 | Property Tax Reduction | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6) |
2/26 | HB 1001 | Property Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
4/08 | HB 1001 | Expanding Bioscience Research Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
4/02 | HB 1004 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
2/27 | HB 1085 | Constructing Science Facilities at Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
2/25 | HB 11 | Property Tax Exemptions | Motion Agreed - Senate (21 - 19) |
4/01 | HB 1133 | Tax Credits for Nonprofit Donations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20) |
3/31 | HB 1158 | Motor Vehicle Trauma Care Fee | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
3/17 | HB 1233 | Government Spending Database | Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 12) |
2/26 | HB 1233 | Government Spending Database | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
4/01 | HB 1244 | State Income Tax Reductions | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
3/28 | HB 1244 | State Income Tax Reductions | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 6) |
2/21 | HB 1250 | Legislative Pay Raise | Bill Tabled - Senate (29 - 4) |
3/18 | HB 1297 | Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |