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
Dec. 20, 2011 National HR 3630 Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (229 - 193)
Dec. 17, 2011 National S Amdt 1465 Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 10)
Dec. 14, 2011 National S J Res 10 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Hatch Bill) Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
Dec. 14, 2011 National S J Res 10 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Hatch Bill) Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
Dec. 14, 2011 National S J Res 24 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Udall Bill) Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 79)
Dec. 14, 2011 National S J Res 24 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Udall Bill) Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 79)
Dec. 13, 2011 IL SB 397 Tax Code Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 9)
Dec. 13, 2011 IL SB 400 Amends State Income Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
Dec. 13, 2011 National HR 3630 Reduces Payroll Taxes and Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
Dec. 12, 2011 IL SB 400 Amends State Income Tax Bill Passed - House (67 - 49)
Dec. 12, 2011 IL SB 397 Tax Code Amendments Bill Passed - House (81 - 28)
Dec. 7, 2011 National HR 10 Congressional Approval of Regulations Bill Passed - House (241 - 184)
Dec. 1, 2011 National S 1931 Reduces Payroll Tax Rate Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 78)
Dec. 1, 2011 National S 1917 Extends Payroll Tax Cut and Establishes Tax on Income Over $1 Million Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 49)
Nov. 30, 2011 NH CACR 14 Constitutional Amendment Authorizing the Legislature to Set Standards for Public Education Amendment Rejected - House (114 - 264)
Nov. 29, 2011 IL HB 1883 Property Tax Amendments Concurrence Vote Failed - House (8 - 99)
Nov. 29, 2011 IL HB 1883 Property Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 18)
Nov. 29, 2011 NC HB 645 Temporary Fuel Tax Cap Bill Passed - House (94 - 23)
Nov. 18, 2011 National H J Res 2 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Joint Resolution Failed - House (261 - 165)
Nov. 14, 2011 PA HB 1503 Angel Investment Tax Credits Bill Passed - House (151 - 44)
Nov. 10, 2011 National S Amdt 928 American Jobs and Economic Growth Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 56)
Nov. 3, 2011 National S 1769 Transportation Infrastructure Appropriations and Tax on Income Over $1 Million Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 49)
Oct. 27, 2011 WI SB 23 Amends Tax Enforcement System Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Oct. 27, 2011 National HR 2576 Requires Inclusion of Social Security Benefits in Calculation of Modified Adjusted Gross Income Bill Passed - House (262 - 157)
Oct. 26, 2011 CT SB 1401 Establishes the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program Bill Passed - House (101 - 41)
Oct. 26, 2011 PA SB 1 Charter School Guidelines Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Oct. 26, 2011 CT SB 1401 Establishes the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Oct. 18, 2011 PA SB 1151 Fiscal Emergency Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
Oct. 11, 2011 National S 1660 American Jobs Act of 2011 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 49)
Oct. 6, 2011 MO SB 8 Tax Credit Amendments Bill Passed - House (98 - 48)
Oct. 4, 2011 National HR 2608 Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (352 - 66)
Sept. 26, 2011 National HR 2608 Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (79 - 12)
Sept. 23, 2011 National HR 2608 Stopgap Spending and Disaster Relief Concurrence Vote Passed - House (219 - 203)
Sept. 23, 2011 MO SB 7 Incentives for Science-Based Businesses Bill Passed - House (94 - 48)
Sept. 23, 2011 National S Amdt 655 Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012 Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 36)
Sept. 23, 2011 MO HA 1 to SB 7 Prohibits Public Funding for Certain Life Science Research Projects Amendment Rejected - House (68 - 74)
Sept. 23, 2011 National H Amdt 800 Requires the EPA to Consider Costs and Feasibility of Air Quality Standards Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 192)
Sept. 21, 2011 National HR 2608 Stopgap Spending and Disaster Relief Concurrence Vote Failed - House (195 - 230)
Sept. 14, 2011 MO SB 8 Tax Credit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
Sept. 14, 2011 National H J Res 77 Disapproval of the President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Joint Resolution Passed - House (232 - 186)
Sept. 9, 2011 MO HB 6 Appropriations for Missouri Disaster Relief Bill Passed - House (127 - 22)
Sept. 8, 2011 CA ABX1 40 State Tax Code Restructuring Bill Passed - House (54 - 15)
Aug. 24, 2011 MI SB 348 1 Percent Tax on Paid Health Insurance Claims Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Aug. 24, 2011 MI SB 348 1 Percent Tax on Paid Health Insurance Claims Bill Passed - House (65 - 42)
Aug. 2, 2011 National S 365 Budget Control Act of 2011 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (74 - 26)
Aug. 1, 2011 National S 365 Budget Control Act of 2011 Bill Passed - House (269 - 161)
July 31, 2011 National S 627 Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Reid Bill) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 49)
July 29, 2011 National S 627 Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Boehner Bill) Bill Tabled - Senate (59 - 41)
July 29, 2011 National S 627 Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Boehner Bill) Bill Passed - House (218 - 210)
July 22, 2011 National HR 2560 Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011 Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 46)
July 22, 2011 National HR 2551 2011-2012 Congressional Budget Bill Passed - House (252 - 159)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 26 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 20 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 27)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 25 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 27)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 4 Higher Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 30)
July 19, 2011 MN SF 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (76 - 50)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 20 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 4 Higher Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 25 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
July 19, 2011 MN SF 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23)
July 19, 2011 National HR 2560 Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011 Bill Passed - House (234 - 190)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 26 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 56)
June 30, 2011 PA SB 330 Amending The Taxpayer Relief Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
June 30, 2011 PA SB 330 Amending The Taxpayer Relief Act Bill Passed - House (109 - 86)
June 29, 2011 OH HB 153 2011-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 40)
June 29, 2011 PA HB 1485 2011-2012 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (109 - 92)
June 29, 2011 NJ S 4000 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - House (46 - 32)
June 29, 2011 NJ S 4000 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
June 28, 2011 OH HB 153 2011-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 11)
June 28, 2011 PA HB 1485 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
June 23, 2011 LA SB 259 Establishes a Commission to Repeal Income Taxes Motion Rejected - House (46 - 32)
June 23, 2011 LA SB 259 Establishes a Commission to Repeal Income Taxes Motion Rejected - House (46 - 32)
June 21, 2011 National S 782 Economic Development Revitalization Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 51)
June 20, 2011 OR SB 909 Appropriates Education Funds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
June 16, 2011 LA HB 591 Permanent Cigarette Tax Veto Override Failed - House (58 - 44)
June 16, 2011 WI AB 40 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
June 15, 2011 NC HB 200 2011-2013 Budget Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
June 15, 2011 NC HB 200 2011-2013 Budget Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 46)
June 15, 2011 NY S 5596 Revising The Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
June 15, 2011 NY S 5596 Revising The Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
June 14, 2011 National S Amdt 436 Repeals the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (40 - 59)
June 14, 2011 WI AB 40 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
June 13, 2011 OR HB 2541 Amends Inheritance Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
June 10, 2011 TX SB 1 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - House (83 - 62)
June 8, 2011 CT SB 1152 Funding for Construction at the University of Connecticut Health Center Bill Passed - House (97 - 45)
June 8, 2011 IA HF 697 State Budget for 2011-2012 Bill Passed - House (54 - 38)
June 7, 2011 OR SB 99 Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (48 - 12)
June 5, 2011 NV AB 580 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
June 5, 2011 NV AB 580 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (36 - 6)
June 3, 2011 TX SB 1 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
June 2, 2011 LA HB 591 Permanent Cigarette Tax Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
June 1, 2011 CT SB 1152 Funding for Construction at the University of Connecticut Health Center Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
June 1, 2011 CA AB 131 In-State College Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (50 - 27)
May 31, 2011 National HR 1954 Increasing the Debt Limit Motion Rejected - House (97 - 318)
May 31, 2011 CA AB 155 Online Sale Taxes Bill Passed - House (52 - 20)
May 31, 2011 LA SB 108 Limits Tax and Bond Elections Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 29, 2011 TX SB 1811 Reduces Funding for State Agencies Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 63)
May 28, 2011 TX HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 53)
May 28, 2011 TX HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 11)
May 27, 2011 CT HB 6650 Appropriations for Judicial Branch and Other Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/20 HR 3630 Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (229 - 193)
12/17 S Amdt 1465 Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 10)
12/14 S J Res 10 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Hatch Bill) Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
12/14 S J Res 10 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Hatch Bill) Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
12/14 S J Res 24 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Udall Bill) Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 79)
12/14 S J Res 24 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Udall Bill) Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 79)
12/13 SB 397 Tax Code Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 9)
12/13 SB 400 Amends State Income Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
12/13 HR 3630 Reduces Payroll Taxes and Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
12/12 SB 400 Amends State Income Tax Bill Passed - House (67 - 49)
12/12 SB 397 Tax Code Amendments Bill Passed - House (81 - 28)
12/07 HR 10 Congressional Approval of Regulations Bill Passed - House (241 - 184)
12/01 S 1931 Reduces Payroll Tax Rate Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 78)
12/01 S 1917 Extends Payroll Tax Cut and Establishes Tax on Income Over $1 Million Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 49)
11/30 CACR 14 Constitutional Amendment Authorizing the Legislature to Set Standards for Public Education Amendment Rejected - House (114 - 264)
11/29 HB 1883 Property Tax Amendments Concurrence Vote Failed - House (8 - 99)
11/29 HB 1883 Property Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 18)
11/29 HB 645 Temporary Fuel Tax Cap Bill Passed - House (94 - 23)
11/18 H J Res 2 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Joint Resolution Failed - House (261 - 165)
11/14 HB 1503 Angel Investment Tax Credits Bill Passed - House (151 - 44)
11/10 S Amdt 928 American Jobs and Economic Growth Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 56)
11/03 S 1769 Transportation Infrastructure Appropriations and Tax on Income Over $1 Million Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 49)
10/27 SB 23 Amends Tax Enforcement System Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
10/27 HR 2576 Requires Inclusion of Social Security Benefits in Calculation of Modified Adjusted Gross Income Bill Passed - House (262 - 157)
10/26 SB 1401 Establishes the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program Bill Passed - House (101 - 41)
10/26 SB 1 Charter School Guidelines Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
10/26 SB 1401 Establishes the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
10/18 SB 1151 Fiscal Emergency Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
10/11 S 1660 American Jobs Act of 2011 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 49)
10/06 SB 8 Tax Credit Amendments Bill Passed - House (98 - 48)
10/04 HR 2608 Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (352 - 66)
9/26 HR 2608 Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (79 - 12)
9/23 HR 2608 Stopgap Spending and Disaster Relief Concurrence Vote Passed - House (219 - 203)
9/23 SB 7 Incentives for Science-Based Businesses Bill Passed - House (94 - 48)
9/23 S Amdt 655 Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012 Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 36)
9/23 HA 1 to SB 7 Prohibits Public Funding for Certain Life Science Research Projects Amendment Rejected - House (68 - 74)
9/23 H Amdt 800 Requires the EPA to Consider Costs and Feasibility of Air Quality Standards Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 192)
9/21 HR 2608 Stopgap Spending and Disaster Relief Concurrence Vote Failed - House (195 - 230)
9/14 SB 8 Tax Credit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
9/14 H J Res 77 Disapproval of the President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Joint Resolution Passed - House (232 - 186)
9/09 HB 6 Appropriations for Missouri Disaster Relief Bill Passed - House (127 - 22)
9/08 ABX1 40 State Tax Code Restructuring Bill Passed - House (54 - 15)
8/24 SB 348 1 Percent Tax on Paid Health Insurance Claims Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
8/24 SB 348 1 Percent Tax on Paid Health Insurance Claims Bill Passed - House (65 - 42)
8/02 S 365 Budget Control Act of 2011 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (74 - 26)
8/01 S 365 Budget Control Act of 2011 Bill Passed - House (269 - 161)
7/31 S 627 Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Reid Bill) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 49)
7/29 S 627 Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Boehner Bill) Bill Tabled - Senate (59 - 41)
7/29 S 627 Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Boehner Bill) Bill Passed - House (218 - 210)
7/22 HR 2560 Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011 Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 46)
7/22 HR 2551 2011-2012 Congressional Budget Bill Passed - House (252 - 159)
7/19 HF 26 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28)
7/19 HF 20 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 27)
7/19 HF 25 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 27)
7/19 HF 4 Higher Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 30)
7/19 SF 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (76 - 50)
7/19 HF 20 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
7/19 HF 4 Higher Education Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
7/19 HF 25 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
7/19 SF 2 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23)
7/19 HR 2560 Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011 Bill Passed - House (234 - 190)
7/19 HF 26 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 56)
6/30 SB 330 Amending The Taxpayer Relief Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
6/30 SB 330 Amending The Taxpayer Relief Act Bill Passed - House (109 - 86)
6/29 HB 153 2011-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 40)
6/29 HB 1485 2011-2012 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (109 - 92)
6/29 S 4000 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - House (46 - 32)
6/29 S 4000 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
6/28 HB 153 2011-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 11)
6/28 HB 1485 2011-2012 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
6/23 SB 259 Establishes a Commission to Repeal Income Taxes Motion Rejected - House (46 - 32)
6/23 SB 259 Establishes a Commission to Repeal Income Taxes Motion Rejected - House (46 - 32)
6/21 S 782 Economic Development Revitalization Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 51)
6/20 SB 909 Appropriates Education Funds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
6/16 HB 591 Permanent Cigarette Tax Veto Override Failed - House (58 - 44)
6/16 AB 40 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
6/15 HB 200 2011-2013 Budget Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
6/15 HB 200 2011-2013 Budget Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 46)
6/15 S 5596 Revising The Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
6/15 S 5596 Revising The Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
6/14 S Amdt 436 Repeals the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (40 - 59)
6/14 AB 40 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
6/13 HB 2541 Amends Inheritance Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
6/10 SB 1 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - House (83 - 62)
6/08 SB 1152 Funding for Construction at the University of Connecticut Health Center Bill Passed - House (97 - 45)
6/08 HF 697 State Budget for 2011-2012 Bill Passed - House (54 - 38)
6/07 SB 99 Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (48 - 12)
6/05 AB 580 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
6/05 AB 580 2011-2013 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (36 - 6)
6/03 SB 1 2011-2013 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
6/02 HB 591 Permanent Cigarette Tax Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
6/01 SB 1152 Funding for Construction at the University of Connecticut Health Center Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
6/01 AB 131 In-State College Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (50 - 27)
5/31 HR 1954 Increasing the Debt Limit Motion Rejected - House (97 - 318)
5/31 AB 155 Online Sale Taxes Bill Passed - House (52 - 20)
5/31 SB 108 Limits Tax and Bond Elections Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/29 SB 1811 Reduces Funding for State Agencies Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 63)
5/28 HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 53)
5/28 HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 11)
5/27 HB 6650 Appropriations for Judicial Branch and Other Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)

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