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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 12, 2007 | IL | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1) |
| Oct. 11, 2007 | IL | SB 1463 | Silent Reflection and Student Prayer | Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 37) |
| Oct. 11, 2007 | MI | Sub HB 4920 | Expanding Drunk Driving Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (92 - 16) |
| Oct. 11, 2007 | MI | Sub HB 4749 | Motorcycle Helmet Law | Bill Passed - House (69 - 39) |
| Oct. 11, 2007 | MI | Sub HB 4749 | Motorcycle Helmet Law | Bill Passed - House (69 - 39) |
| Oct. 10, 2007 | IL | SB 540 | Truck Speed Limit Increase | Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 53) |
| Oct. 10, 2007 | National | HR 2895 | National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (264 - 148) |
| Oct. 4, 2007 | National | HR 3648 | Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (386 - 27) |
| Oct. 4, 2007 | National | HR 2740 | Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA) Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (389 - 30) |
| Oct. 3, 2007 | IL | SB 1463 | Silent Reflection and Student Prayer | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 9) |
| Oct. 3, 2007 | IL | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - House (92 - 19) |
| Oct. 3, 2007 | IL | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - House (92 - 19) |
| Oct. 2, 2007 | IL | SB 540 | Truck Speed Limit Increase | Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| Oct. 2, 2007 | National | HR 3087 | Requiring Reports from the Defense Department to Congress Regarding Withdrawal from Iraq | Bill Passed - House (377 - 46) |
| Oct. 1, 2007 | MI | H Sub for S Sub SB 546 | Public School Employee Retirement Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Oct. 1, 2007 | MI | H Sub for Sub SB 547 | Public School Employee Retirement Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Oct. 1, 2007 | MI | H Sub for Sub SB 547 | Public School Employee Retirement Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Oct. 1, 2007 | National | HR 1585 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 3) |
| Oct. 1, 2007 | MI | H Sub for Sub SB 547 | Public School Employee Retirement Plan | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
| Oct. 1, 2007 | MI | H Sub for S Sub SB 546 | Public School Employee Retirement Benefits | Bill Passed - House (65 - 44) |
| Oct. 1, 2007 | MI | H Sub for Sub SB 547 | Public School Employee Retirement Plan | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
| Sept. 30, 2007 | MI | Sub SB 418 | Public Employees Health Benefit Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 53) |
| Sept. 30, 2007 | MI | Sub SB 418 | Public Employees Health Benefit Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Sept. 27, 2007 | MI | Sub SB 374 | Estate Recovery for Medicaid Recipients in Michigan | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Sept. 26, 2007 | National | S Amdt 3017 | Expressing the Sense of Congress Regarding Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps | Amendment Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| Sept. 26, 2007 | MI | Sub SB 374 | Estate Recovery for Medicaid Recipients in Michigan | Bill Passed - House (57 - 52) |
| Sept. 25, 2007 | National | HR 1400 | Iran Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (397 - 16) |
| Sept. 23, 2007 | MI | Sub SB 237 | 2007-2008 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Sept. 21, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2898 | Iraq Troop Reduction Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 47) |
| Sept. 18, 2007 | IL | HB 2035 | Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| Sept. 18, 2007 | IL | HB 2035 | Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| Sept. 18, 2007 | IL | HB 2035 | Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| Sept. 18, 2007 | National | HR 1852 | Expanding American Homeownership Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (348 - 72) |
| Sept. 18, 2007 | WI | AB 506 | 2007-2009 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (70 - 27) |
| Sept. 10, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2792 | Bridge Repair Funding | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 33) |
| Sept. 5, 2007 | CA | AB 1155 | Penalties for Healthcare Service Plan Underpayments or Failures to Pay Service Providers | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| Sept. 4, 2007 | MI | Sub SB 418 | Public Employees Health Benefit Act | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| Aug. 30, 2007 | CA | SB 33 | Underage Driver Cellphone Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Aug. 27, 2007 | CA | SB 33 | Underage Driver Cellphone Ban | Bill Passed - House (67 - 7) |
| Aug. 24, 2007 | KY | HCS HB 1 | Renewable Energy Tax Incentives | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1) |
| Aug. 23, 2007 | MI | Sub HB 4350 | 2006-2007 Higher Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (59 - 50) |
| Aug. 23, 2007 | MI | Sub HB 4351 | 2007-2008 Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (57 - 52) |
| Aug. 23, 2007 | MO | HB 2 | Extended Transportation Projects Contract | Bill Passed - House (135 - 14) |
| Aug. 22, 2007 | KY | HCS HB 1 | Renewable Energy Tax Incentives | Bill Passed - House (87 - 10) |
| Aug. 9, 2007 | IL | HB 556 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 24) |
| Aug. 5, 2007 | National | HR 3222 | Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2008 | Bill Passed - House (395 - 13) |
| Aug. 4, 2007 | National | H Amdt 748 | Renewable Energy Standards | Amendment Adopted - House (220 - 190) |
| Aug. 4, 2007 | National | HR 2776 | Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 189) |
| Aug. 4, 2007 | National | HR 3221 | Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (241 - 172) |
| Aug. 4, 2007 | National | S 1927 | Foreign Intelligence Acquisition | Bill Passed - House (227 - 183) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/12 | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1) |
| 10/11 | SB 1463 | Silent Reflection and Student Prayer | Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 37) |
| 10/11 | Sub HB 4920 | Expanding Drunk Driving Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (92 - 16) |
| 10/11 | Sub HB 4749 | Motorcycle Helmet Law | Bill Passed - House (69 - 39) |
| 10/11 | Sub HB 4749 | Motorcycle Helmet Law | Bill Passed - House (69 - 39) |
| 10/10 | SB 540 | Truck Speed Limit Increase | Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 53) |
| 10/10 | HR 2895 | National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (264 - 148) |
| 10/04 | HR 3648 | Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (386 - 27) |
| 10/04 | HR 2740 | Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA) Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (389 - 30) |
| 10/03 | SB 1463 | Silent Reflection and Student Prayer | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 9) |
| 10/03 | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - House (92 - 19) |
| 10/03 | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - House (92 - 19) |
| 10/02 | SB 540 | Truck Speed Limit Increase | Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| 10/02 | HR 3087 | Requiring Reports from the Defense Department to Congress Regarding Withdrawal from Iraq | Bill Passed - House (377 - 46) |
| 10/01 | H Sub for S Sub SB 546 | Public School Employee Retirement Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 10/01 | H Sub for Sub SB 547 | Public School Employee Retirement Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 10/01 | H Sub for Sub SB 547 | Public School Employee Retirement Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 10/01 | HR 1585 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 3) |
| 10/01 | H Sub for Sub SB 547 | Public School Employee Retirement Plan | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
| 10/01 | H Sub for S Sub SB 546 | Public School Employee Retirement Benefits | Bill Passed - House (65 - 44) |
| 10/01 | H Sub for Sub SB 547 | Public School Employee Retirement Plan | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
| 9/30 | Sub SB 418 | Public Employees Health Benefit Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 53) |
| 9/30 | Sub SB 418 | Public Employees Health Benefit Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 9/27 | Sub SB 374 | Estate Recovery for Medicaid Recipients in Michigan | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 9/26 | S Amdt 3017 | Expressing the Sense of Congress Regarding Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps | Amendment Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| 9/26 | Sub SB 374 | Estate Recovery for Medicaid Recipients in Michigan | Bill Passed - House (57 - 52) |
| 9/25 | HR 1400 | Iran Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (397 - 16) |
| 9/23 | Sub SB 237 | 2007-2008 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 9/21 | S Amdt 2898 | Iraq Troop Reduction Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 47) |
| 9/18 | HB 2035 | Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| 9/18 | HB 2035 | Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| 9/18 | HB 2035 | Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| 9/18 | HR 1852 | Expanding American Homeownership Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (348 - 72) |
| 9/18 | AB 506 | 2007-2009 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (70 - 27) |
| 9/10 | S Amdt 2792 | Bridge Repair Funding | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 33) |
| 9/05 | AB 1155 | Penalties for Healthcare Service Plan Underpayments or Failures to Pay Service Providers | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 9/04 | Sub SB 418 | Public Employees Health Benefit Act | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| 8/30 | SB 33 | Underage Driver Cellphone Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 8/27 | SB 33 | Underage Driver Cellphone Ban | Bill Passed - House (67 - 7) |
| 8/24 | HCS HB 1 | Renewable Energy Tax Incentives | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1) |
| 8/23 | Sub HB 4350 | 2006-2007 Higher Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (59 - 50) |
| 8/23 | Sub HB 4351 | 2007-2008 Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (57 - 52) |
| 8/23 | HB 2 | Extended Transportation Projects Contract | Bill Passed - House (135 - 14) |
| 8/22 | HCS HB 1 | Renewable Energy Tax Incentives | Bill Passed - House (87 - 10) |
| 8/09 | HB 556 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 24) |
| 8/05 | HR 3222 | Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2008 | Bill Passed - House (395 - 13) |
| 8/04 | H Amdt 748 | Renewable Energy Standards | Amendment Adopted - House (220 - 190) |
| 8/04 | HR 2776 | Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 189) |
| 8/04 | HR 3221 | Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (241 - 172) |
| 8/04 | S 1927 | Foreign Intelligence Acquisition | Bill Passed - House (227 - 183) |