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
June 3, 2010 OH Wachtmann Amdt Authorizes Funding for the Workers' Compensation Council Amendment Tabled - House (53 - 44)
Feb. 22, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 30)
March 17, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
March 1, 2010 UT SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
March 25, 2010 National HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 207)
March 4, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - House (217 - 201)
Feb. 24, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28)
March 25, 2010 National HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
March 21, 2010 National HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - House (220 - 211)
June 8, 2010 PA HB 1502 Verification of Employee Eligibility Bill Passed - House (188 - 6)
April 30, 2010 CO SB 191 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
July 30, 2010 National HR 5851 "Whistleblower Protection" for Offshore Oil Workers Bill Passed - House (315 - 93)
Feb. 25, 2010 MN SF 2168 General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications Veto Override Passed - Senate (45 - 21)
June 21, 2010 CT HB 5207 Criminal Background Checks for State Employees Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
March 11, 2010 MN HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 44)
July 14, 2010 MO HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 53)
June 21, 2010 CT HB 5207 Criminal Background Checks for State Employees Veto Override Passed - House (120 - 19)
March 11, 2010 MN HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 17)
July 14, 2010 MO HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 5)
April 12, 2010 MD HB 465 Establishes Collective Bargaining Procedures for Certain Child Care Providers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 18)
Aug. 26, 2010 CA SB 145 Prohibiting Denial of Workers' Compensation if the Injury or Death was Related to Certain Personal Characteristics Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
Sept. 23, 2010 MI SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
April 12, 2010 MD HB 465 Establishes Collective Bargaining Procedures for Certain Child Care Providers Conference Report Adopted - House (100 - 39)
Jan. 13, 2010 IL SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
May 11, 2010 CO SB 12 Increasing Penalties for Worker's Compensation Violations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
March 1, 2010 UT SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
May 12, 2010 CO HB 1409 State Employee Compensation Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 27)
Feb. 4, 2010 IA SF 2062 State Worker Retirement Incentive Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 6)
May 12, 2010 CO SB 191 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Nov. 15, 2010 PA HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31)
Aug. 31, 2010 CA AB 482 Prohibiting Use of Credit Reports for Employment Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 30)
Feb. 9, 2010 WA SB 6382 Extending State Employee Salary Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
May 27, 2010 LA HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 23)
March 10, 2010 SC H 3305 Requiring Secret Ballot Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 12)
March 29, 2010 IA SF 2389 Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
June 20, 2010 LA HB 519 Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19)
March 26, 2010 ME LD 1552 Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 68)
April 12, 2010 MD SB 590 Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
Sept. 23, 2010 MI SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (60 - 45)
May 25, 2010 IL SB 3514 Amending State Pension Laws and Limiting Pension Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 44)
April 2, 2010 WA SB 6503 State Employee Furlough Plan Bill Passed - House (50 - 38)
Aug. 23, 2010 CA SB 145 Prohibiting Denial of Workers' Compensation if the Injury or Death was Related to Certain Personal Characteristics Bill Passed - House (47 - 27)
March 8, 2010 SD SB 18 Restrictions on Retirement for Rehired Public Employees Bill Passed - House (55 - 13)
March 9, 2010 VA SB 66 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment Motion Agreed - House (55 - 42)
March 25, 2010 KY SB 178 Closed-Session School Superintendent Evaluations Bill Passed - House (67 - 29)
Oct. 14, 2010 PA HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
March 23, 2010 KY HB 239 School Principal Selection Process Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
Feb. 26, 2010 UT SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (46 - 26)
Feb. 26, 2010 UT SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (55 - 20)
March 29, 2010 IA SF 2389 Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (52 - 47)
Feb. 24, 2010 IN SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (82 - 17)
May 26, 2010 LA HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
Aug. 26, 2010 CA AB 482 Prohibiting Use of Credit Reports for Employment Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
April 9, 2010 MD SB 590 Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board Bill Passed - House (103 - 35)
May 10, 2010 CO SB 12 Increasing Penalties for Worker's Compensation Violations Bill Passed - House (37 - 27)
Feb. 18, 2010 NM SB 112 Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds Bill Passed - House (37 - 31)
May 12, 2010 CO HB 1409 State Employee Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
May 12, 2010 CO SB 191 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
Jan. 12, 2010 IL SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - House (74 - 37)
March 10, 2010 SC H 3305 Requiring Secret Ballot Elections Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 9)
Feb. 26, 2010 WY SF 72 Increasing State Employee Contribution to State Retirement System Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
March 26, 2010 ME LD 1552 Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
April 9, 2010 FL SB 6 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (64 - 55)
Feb. 16, 2010 CO SB 1 Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
March 18, 2010 IA HF 2518 Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
April 22, 2010 WI SB 437 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (50 - 47)
July 1, 2010 CA SB 1121 Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - House (47 - 28)
May 17, 2010 NY S 7846 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - House (92 - 50)
Feb. 16, 2010 NM HB 231 Authorizing Education Retirement Board Pension Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
May 10, 2010 NY S 7777 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - House (83 - 56)
April 5, 2010 CO SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
April 12, 2010 MD SB 789 Requires Shift Breaks for Certain Employees Bill Passed - House (94 - 45)
April 14, 2010 MI SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
May 26, 2010 LA Amdt 4002 Requires Department of Education Employees Evaluation Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
May 26, 2010 MA H 4703 Sentencing Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (139 - 17)
May 10, 2010 NY S 7777 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
Jan. 12, 2010 IN SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
Jan. 20, 2010 WA HB 2561 Energy Efficiency Improvement Bonds Bill Passed - House (57 - 41)
Jan. 27, 2010 SD SB 18 Restrictions on Retirement for Rehired Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
Feb. 1, 2010 CO SB 1 Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Feb. 8, 2010 VA SB 239 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Feb. 8, 2010 NM HB 17 Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Being Peace Officers Bill Passed - House (48 - 19)
Feb. 8, 2010 UT HB 18 Expanding Unemployment Insurance Eligibility Bill Passed - House (46 - 28)
Feb. 8, 2010 VA SB 66 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
Feb. 9, 2010 MN SF 2360 Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14)
Feb. 12, 2010 NM SB 112 Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17)
Feb. 22, 2010 WY HB 93 Increasing Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations Bill Passed - House (54 - 3)
Feb. 24, 2010 AZ HB 2042 Prohibiting Roadside Solicitation of Employment Bill Passed - House (35 - 23)
March 9, 2010 OK SB 1973 Worker's Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
March 17, 2010 IA HF 2518 Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments Bill Passed - House (53 - 43)
March 24, 2010 FL SB 6 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
April 1, 2010 MD SB 789 Requires Shift Breaks for Certain Employees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
April 9, 2010 NE LB 780 PTSD Workers' Compensation Benefits for First Responders Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5)
April 20, 2010 MO SB 714 State Employee Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
May 10, 2010 LA HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - House (68 - 26)
May 17, 2010 NY S 7846 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
May 25, 2010 LA SB 293 Establishes and Implements an Agency Attrition Analysis Process Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
June 1, 2010 NY S 2311D Labor Standards for Domestic Workers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 28)
June 3, 2010 CA AB 2047 Expanding Authorized University Admission Considerations Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 28)
June 3, 2010 CA SB 1121 Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/03 Wachtmann Amdt Authorizes Funding for the Workers' Compensation Council Amendment Tabled - House (53 - 44)
2/22 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 30)
3/17 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
3/01 SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
3/25 HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 207)
3/04 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - House (217 - 201)
2/24 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28)
3/25 HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
3/21 HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - House (220 - 211)
6/08 HB 1502 Verification of Employee Eligibility Bill Passed - House (188 - 6)
4/30 SB 191 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
7/30 HR 5851 "Whistleblower Protection" for Offshore Oil Workers Bill Passed - House (315 - 93)
2/25 SF 2168 General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications Veto Override Passed - Senate (45 - 21)
6/21 HB 5207 Criminal Background Checks for State Employees Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
3/11 HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 44)
7/14 HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 53)
6/21 HB 5207 Criminal Background Checks for State Employees Veto Override Passed - House (120 - 19)
3/11 HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 17)
7/14 HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 5)
4/12 HB 465 Establishes Collective Bargaining Procedures for Certain Child Care Providers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 18)
8/26 SB 145 Prohibiting Denial of Workers' Compensation if the Injury or Death was Related to Certain Personal Characteristics Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
9/23 SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
4/12 HB 465 Establishes Collective Bargaining Procedures for Certain Child Care Providers Conference Report Adopted - House (100 - 39)
1/13 SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
5/11 SB 12 Increasing Penalties for Worker's Compensation Violations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
3/01 SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
5/12 HB 1409 State Employee Compensation Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 27)
2/04 SF 2062 State Worker Retirement Incentive Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 6)
5/12 SB 191 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
11/15 HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31)
8/31 AB 482 Prohibiting Use of Credit Reports for Employment Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 30)
2/09 SB 6382 Extending State Employee Salary Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
5/27 HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 23)
3/10 H 3305 Requiring Secret Ballot Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 12)
3/29 SF 2389 Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
6/20 HB 519 Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19)
3/26 LD 1552 Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 68)
4/12 SB 590 Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
9/23 SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (60 - 45)
5/25 SB 3514 Amending State Pension Laws and Limiting Pension Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 44)
4/02 SB 6503 State Employee Furlough Plan Bill Passed - House (50 - 38)
8/23 SB 145 Prohibiting Denial of Workers' Compensation if the Injury or Death was Related to Certain Personal Characteristics Bill Passed - House (47 - 27)
3/08 SB 18 Restrictions on Retirement for Rehired Public Employees Bill Passed - House (55 - 13)
3/09 SB 66 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment Motion Agreed - House (55 - 42)
3/25 SB 178 Closed-Session School Superintendent Evaluations Bill Passed - House (67 - 29)
10/14 HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
3/23 HB 239 School Principal Selection Process Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
2/26 SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (46 - 26)
2/26 SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (55 - 20)
3/29 SF 2389 Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (52 - 47)
2/24 SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (82 - 17)
5/26 HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
8/26 AB 482 Prohibiting Use of Credit Reports for Employment Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
4/09 SB 590 Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board Bill Passed - House (103 - 35)
5/10 SB 12 Increasing Penalties for Worker's Compensation Violations Bill Passed - House (37 - 27)
2/18 SB 112 Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds Bill Passed - House (37 - 31)
5/12 HB 1409 State Employee Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
5/12 SB 191 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
1/12 SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - House (74 - 37)
3/10 H 3305 Requiring Secret Ballot Elections Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 9)
2/26 SF 72 Increasing State Employee Contribution to State Retirement System Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
3/26 LD 1552 Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
4/09 SB 6 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (64 - 55)
2/16 SB 1 Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
3/18 HF 2518 Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
4/22 SB 437 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (50 - 47)
7/01 SB 1121 Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - House (47 - 28)
5/17 S 7846 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - House (92 - 50)
2/16 HB 231 Authorizing Education Retirement Board Pension Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
5/10 S 7777 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - House (83 - 56)
4/05 SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
4/12 SB 789 Requires Shift Breaks for Certain Employees Bill Passed - House (94 - 45)
4/14 SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
5/26 Amdt 4002 Requires Department of Education Employees Evaluation Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
5/26 H 4703 Sentencing Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (139 - 17)
5/10 S 7777 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
1/12 SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
1/20 HB 2561 Energy Efficiency Improvement Bonds Bill Passed - House (57 - 41)
1/27 SB 18 Restrictions on Retirement for Rehired Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
2/01 SB 1 Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
2/08 SB 239 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
2/08 HB 17 Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Being Peace Officers Bill Passed - House (48 - 19)
2/08 HB 18 Expanding Unemployment Insurance Eligibility Bill Passed - House (46 - 28)
2/08 SB 66 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
2/09 SF 2360 Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14)
2/12 SB 112 Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17)
2/22 HB 93 Increasing Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations Bill Passed - House (54 - 3)
2/24 HB 2042 Prohibiting Roadside Solicitation of Employment Bill Passed - House (35 - 23)
3/09 SB 1973 Worker's Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
3/17 HF 2518 Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments Bill Passed - House (53 - 43)
3/24 SB 6 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
4/01 SB 789 Requires Shift Breaks for Certain Employees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
4/09 LB 780 PTSD Workers' Compensation Benefits for First Responders Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5)
4/20 SB 714 State Employee Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
5/10 HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - House (68 - 26)
5/17 S 7846 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
5/25 SB 293 Establishes and Implements an Agency Attrition Analysis Process Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
6/01 S 2311D Labor Standards for Domestic Workers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 28)
6/03 AB 2047 Expanding Authorized University Admission Considerations Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 28)
6/03 SB 1121 Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)

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