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
March 3, 2008 MN Seifert Amendment: Restriction of State Aid Based on Compliance with Immigration Laws Amendment Rejected - House (66 - 67)
May 5, 2008 MN Severson Amendment: Income Tax Refund Amendment Adopted - House (75 - 54)
May 5, 2008 MN Howes Amendment: Gas Tax Holiday Amendment Rejected - House (28 - 102)
April 1, 2008 MN Seifert Amendment: Prohibiting Grants for Groups Associated with Abortion Providers Amendment Rejected - House (64 - 66)
May 28, 2008 MI Anderson Amendment: Increase Revenue Sharing Grants Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 18)
April 10, 2008 MA Garry and D'Amico Amendment: Removal of Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Failed - House (49 - 105)
May 7, 2008 NY A 10083 Foreclosure Assistance Finance Bill Passed - House (104 - 33)
Aug. 8, 2008 NY A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 4)
June 24, 2008 NY A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - House (141 - 3)
Aug. 19, 2008 NY A 11838 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (118 - 24)
June 23, 2008 NJ A 2873 School Construction Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
June 23, 2008 NJ A 2873 School Construction Bonds Bill Passed - House (42 - 36)
Nov. 17, 2008 NJ A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - House (56 - 22)
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 - House (63 - 10)
Dec. 15, 2008 NJ A 3373 Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
Nov. 17, 2008 NJ A 3374 Public Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - House (67 - 10)
Nov. 24, 2008 NJ A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
Nov. 17, 2008 NJ A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - House (47 - 26)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ A 500 Education Funding Reform Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ A 500 Education Funding Reform Bill Passed - House (41 - 37)
March 13, 2008 NJ A 873 Extending Family Leave Benefits Bill Passed - House (46 - 30)
Feb. 13, 2008 NY A 9998 New York Racing Association Funding Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17)
Feb. 13, 2008 NY A 9998 New York Racing Association Funding Bill Passed - House (92 - 40)
Feb. 26, 2008 WI A Amnd. 1 Divestment Due to Genocide Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (50 - 47)
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 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)
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)
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)
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 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 21)
Sept. 16, 2008 CA AB 1452 Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 151 Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (70 - 24)
Sept. 16, 2008 CA AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11)
Sept. 16, 2008 CA AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 11)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Rejected - Senate (24 - 15)
Aug. 17, 2008 CA AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Rejected - House (45 - 30)
Sept. 8, 2008 CA AB 1793 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21)
May 28, 2008 CA AB 2058 Paper and Plastic Bag Tax Bill Passed - House (44 - 33)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA AB 2321 Metro Sales Tax Increase Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA AB 2321 Metro Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
Aug. 13, 2008 CA AB 3034 High-Speed Rail Bond Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 15)
Aug. 7, 2008 CA AB 3034 High-Speed Rail Bond Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
May 29, 2008 CA AB 3034 High-Speed Rail Bond Amendments Bill Passed - House (60 - 3)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 47 Health Savings Account Tax Deductions Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
Aug. 30, 2008 CA AB 583 Public Financing of Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 32)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA AB 583 Public Financing of Elections Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 770 Corporate Research and Development Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (84 - 13)
March 11, 2008 WI AB 862 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 901 Austism Treatment Funding Bill Passed - House (55 - 39)
Dec. 18, 2008 CA ABx1 12 Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
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 12, 2008 CA ABx3 9 Oil Tax Bill Failed - House (45 - 30)
April 2, 2008 SC AM 1 Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 73)
March 6, 2008 NH Amdt 0891 to SB 530 Fully Subsidized Kindergarten Construction Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 12)
Feb. 26, 2008 IN Amdt 1 to SJR 1 Adjusting the Constitutional Property Tax Cap Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 50)
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)
Jan. 22, 2008 IN Amnd. 72 School Construction Exemption Amendment Adopted - House (49 - 44)
April 1, 2008 MN Buesgens Amnd. Amendment Prohibiting Grants for Groups Involved in Political Activity Amendment Rejected - House (60 - 69)
May 14, 2008 NH CACR 34 Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education Resolution Failed - House (97 - 238)
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)
March 12, 2008 MA DeLeo Amdt Legislative Committee Chair Pay Raises Amendment Adopted - House (126 - 20)
May 27, 2008 SC H 3567 Cigarette Tax Increase Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 57)
May 7, 2008 SC H 3567 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11)
April 9, 2008 SC H 4549 Funding Road Repair and Maintenance Bill Passed - House (91 - 9)
April 2, 2008 SC H 4550 Marriage Tax Cut Bill Passed - House (100 - 14)
June 12, 2008 MA H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7)
June 11, 2008 MA H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (142 - 15)
May 6, 2008 MA H 4645 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
April 10, 2008 MA H 4645 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (131 - 23)
April 9, 2008 SC H 4673 Cost-of-Living Pension Increases for Retired Legislators and State Workers Bill Passed - House (58 - 51)
March 20, 2008 MA H 4920 to 4307 Establishing and Regulating Casinos Amendment Adopted - House (106 - 48)
Feb. 26, 2008 ID H 503 Scholarships for Drug-Free Students Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
March 5, 2008 ID H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production Bill Passed - House (60 - 10)
March 17, 2008 ID H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
March 5, 2008 ID H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
March 17, 2008 ID H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
March 7, 2008 ID H 577 Voter Approval of Local Improvement District Funding Bill Passed - House (43 - 25)
March 7, 2008 ID H 579 Voter-Mandated Property Tax Limitations Bill Passed - House (39 - 29)
March 11, 2008 ID H 581 Highway Spending Regulations Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
March 6, 2008 ID H 588 Food Tax Credit Expansion Bill Passed - House (62 - 8)
March 25, 2008 ID H 592 Film and Television Production Rebate Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
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 18, 2008 ID H 657 Highway Project Financing Bill Passed - House (47 - 23)
March 27, 2008 ID H 680 Community Infrastructure Districts Bill Passed - House (50 - 18)
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)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/03 Seifert Amendment: Restriction of State Aid Based on Compliance with Immigration Laws Amendment Rejected - House (66 - 67)
5/05 Severson Amendment: Income Tax Refund Amendment Adopted - House (75 - 54)
5/05 Howes Amendment: Gas Tax Holiday Amendment Rejected - House (28 - 102)
4/01 Seifert Amendment: Prohibiting Grants for Groups Associated with Abortion Providers Amendment Rejected - House (64 - 66)
5/28 Anderson Amendment: Increase Revenue Sharing Grants Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 18)
4/10 Garry and D'Amico Amendment: Removal of Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Failed - House (49 - 105)
5/07 A 10083 Foreclosure Assistance Finance Bill Passed - House (104 - 33)
8/08 A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 4)
6/24 A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - House (141 - 3)
8/19 A 11838 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (118 - 24)
6/23 A 2873 School Construction Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
6/23 A 2873 School Construction Bonds Bill Passed - House (42 - 36)
11/17 A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - House (56 - 22)
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 - House (63 - 10)
12/15 A 3373 Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
11/17 A 3374 Public Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - House (67 - 10)
11/24 A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
11/17 A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - House (47 - 26)
1/07 A 500 Education Funding Reform Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
1/07 A 500 Education Funding Reform Bill Passed - House (41 - 37)
3/13 A 873 Extending Family Leave Benefits Bill Passed - House (46 - 30)
2/13 A 9998 New York Racing Association Funding Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17)
2/13 A 9998 New York Racing Association Funding Bill Passed - House (92 - 40)
2/26 A Amnd. 1 Divestment Due to Genocide Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (50 - 47)
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)
5/28 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)
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)
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)
8/14 AB 1107 Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
9/16 AB 1452 Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 21)
9/16 AB 1452 Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
3/05 AB 151 Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (70 - 24)
9/16 AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11)
9/16 AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 11)
8/29 AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Rejected - Senate (24 - 15)
8/17 AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Rejected - House (45 - 30)
9/08 AB 1793 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21)
5/28 AB 2058 Paper and Plastic Bag Tax Bill Passed - House (44 - 33)
8/31 AB 2321 Metro Sales Tax Increase Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25)
8/29 AB 2321 Metro Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
8/13 AB 3034 High-Speed Rail Bond Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 15)
8/07 AB 3034 High-Speed Rail Bond Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
5/29 AB 3034 High-Speed Rail Bond Amendments Bill Passed - House (60 - 3)
3/05 AB 47 Health Savings Account Tax Deductions Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
8/30 AB 583 Public Financing of Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 32)
8/29 AB 583 Public Financing of Elections Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
2/28 AB 770 Corporate Research and Development Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (84 - 13)
3/11 AB 862 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
3/05 AB 901 Austism Treatment Funding Bill Passed - House (55 - 39)
12/18 ABx1 12 Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
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)
3/12 ABx3 9 Oil Tax Bill Failed - House (45 - 30)
4/02 AM 1 Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 73)
3/06 Amdt 0891 to SB 530 Fully Subsidized Kindergarten Construction Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 12)
2/26 Amdt 1 to SJR 1 Adjusting the Constitutional Property Tax Cap Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 50)
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)
1/22 Amnd. 72 School Construction Exemption Amendment Adopted - House (49 - 44)
4/01 Buesgens Amnd. Amendment Prohibiting Grants for Groups Involved in Political Activity Amendment Rejected - House (60 - 69)
5/14 CACR 34 Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education Resolution Failed - House (97 - 238)
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)
3/12 DeLeo Amdt Legislative Committee Chair Pay Raises Amendment Adopted - House (126 - 20)
5/27 H 3567 Cigarette Tax Increase Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 57)
5/07 H 3567 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11)
4/09 H 4549 Funding Road Repair and Maintenance Bill Passed - House (91 - 9)
4/02 H 4550 Marriage Tax Cut Bill Passed - House (100 - 14)
6/12 H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7)
6/11 H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (142 - 15)
5/06 H 4645 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
4/10 H 4645 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (131 - 23)
4/09 H 4673 Cost-of-Living Pension Increases for Retired Legislators and State Workers Bill Passed - House (58 - 51)
3/20 H 4920 to 4307 Establishing and Regulating Casinos Amendment Adopted - House (106 - 48)
2/26 H 503 Scholarships for Drug-Free Students Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
3/05 H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production Bill Passed - House (60 - 10)
3/17 H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
3/05 H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
3/17 H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
3/07 H 577 Voter Approval of Local Improvement District Funding Bill Passed - House (43 - 25)
3/07 H 579 Voter-Mandated Property Tax Limitations Bill Passed - House (39 - 29)
3/11 H 581 Highway Spending Regulations Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
3/06 H 588 Food Tax Credit Expansion Bill Passed - House (62 - 8)
3/25 H 592 Film and Television Production Rebate Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
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)
3/18 H 657 Highway Project Financing Bill Passed - House (47 - 23)
3/27 H 680 Community Infrastructure Districts Bill Passed - House (50 - 18)
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)

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