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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Aug. 30, 2011 CA AB 353 DUI Inspection Checkpoints and Unlicensed Drivers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
Aug. 30, 2011 CA SB 161 Administration of Epilepsy Medication in Schools Bill Passed - House (46 - 21)
July 21, 2011 National HR 1315 Oversight of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Bill Passed - House (241 - 173)
July 20, 2011 National HR 2553 Airport and Airway Extension Act Bill Passed - House (243 - 177)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 25 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 27)
July 19, 2011 MN HF 25 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
July 12, 2011 National HR 2417 Repeals Energy Efficiency Standards for Incandescent Light Bulbs Motion Rejected - House (233 - 193)
July 5, 2011 CA SB 48 Requires Teaching Gay History Bill Passed - House (50 - 26)
July 1, 2011 DE SB 65 Expansion of Criminal Nuisance Definition Bill Passed - House (26 - 15)
June 30, 2011 DE HB 95 Motorcycle Helmet Requirement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (28 - 11)
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 OR HB 2726 Certification for Smoke Shops Concurrence Vote Passed - House (31 - 29)
June 29, 2011 TX SB 29 Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials Motion Rejected - House (96 - 26)
June 29, 2011 NJ A 2806 Conversion of Certain Private Schools to Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (59 - 14)
June 27, 2011 TX SB 29 Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
June 24, 2011 NY A 8496 Increases The Number Of Taxicabs Serving New York Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 21)
June 24, 2011 National HR 2278 Limits the Use of Funds in Support of NATO Operations in Libya Bill Failed - House (180 - 238)
June 24, 2011 National H J Res 68 Authorizes Limited Use of US Armed Forces in Libya Joint Resolution Failed - House (123 - 295)
June 23, 2011 OR HB 2726 Certification for Smoke Shops Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
June 23, 2011 DE HB 95 Motorcycle Helmet Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
June 23, 2011 NJ S 2937 Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees Bill Passed - House (46 - 32)
June 23, 2011 NY A 8514 Health Benefit Exchange Act Bill Passed - House (95 - 43)
June 22, 2011 OH SJR 1 Constitutional Amendment Concerning Health Care Joint Resolution Passed - House (59 - 39)
June 22, 2011 DE SB 97 Approval of Rental Prices on Certain Housing Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 9)
June 20, 2011 NJ S 2937 Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
June 16, 2011 LA HB 591 Permanent Cigarette Tax Veto Override Failed - House (58 - 44)
June 15, 2011 NY A 8446 Extension of Rent Control Laws Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 30)
June 15, 2011 OH HB 133 Establishes the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
June 15, 2011 NY S 5596 Revising The Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
June 15, 2011 NY A 8446 Extension of Rent Control Laws Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 43)
June 15, 2011 OH SJR 1 Constitutional Amendment Concerning Health Care Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
June 13, 2011 OR HB 2541 Amends Inheritance Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
June 13, 2011 National H Amdt 414 Prohibits Use of Funds in Contravention of the War Powers Resolution Amendment Adopted - House (248 - 163)
June 9, 2011 AL HB 60 Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9)
June 9, 2011 NJ S 805 Senior Tenants' Rent Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
June 9, 2011 LA HB 338 Prohibits Handheld Cellular Devices While Driving Bill Failed - House (33 - 55)
June 8, 2011 National S Amdt 392 Debit Card Transactions Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45)
June 7, 2011 OR SB 99 Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (48 - 12)
June 6, 2011 NV AB 571 Amending Smoking Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
June 6, 2011 CT HB 6308 Establishes the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
June 5, 2011 NV AB 571 Amending Smoking Regulations Bill Passed - House (23 - 19)
June 3, 2011 National H Res 292 Ground Forces in Libya Resolution Passed - House (268 - 145)
June 3, 2011 National H Con Res 51 Removing Armed Forces from Libya Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265)
June 2, 2011 National H Amdt 406 Transportation Security Administration Appropriations Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 204)
June 2, 2011 LA HB 591 Permanent Cigarette Tax Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
June 2, 2011 National H Amdt 385 Prohibiting Funds From Being Used in Contradiction to the War Powers Resolution Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 213)
June 2, 2011 National H Amdt 398 Prohibiting the Use of Funds for Transportation Security Administration Collective Bargaining Amendment Adopted - House (218 - 205)
June 2, 2011 NC HB 810 Consumer Finance Act Amendments Bill Passed - House (61 - 54)
June 2, 2011 National HR 2017 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (231 - 188)
Date No. Title Outcome
8/30 AB 353 DUI Inspection Checkpoints and Unlicensed Drivers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
8/30 SB 161 Administration of Epilepsy Medication in Schools Bill Passed - House (46 - 21)
7/21 HR 1315 Oversight of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Bill Passed - House (241 - 173)
7/20 HR 2553 Airport and Airway Extension Act Bill Passed - House (243 - 177)
7/19 HF 25 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 27)
7/19 HF 25 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (71 - 57)
7/12 HR 2417 Repeals Energy Efficiency Standards for Incandescent Light Bulbs Motion Rejected - House (233 - 193)
7/05 SB 48 Requires Teaching Gay History Bill Passed - House (50 - 26)
7/01 SB 65 Expansion of Criminal Nuisance Definition Bill Passed - House (26 - 15)
6/30 HB 95 Motorcycle Helmet Requirement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (28 - 11)
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 2726 Certification for Smoke Shops Concurrence Vote Passed - House (31 - 29)
6/29 SB 29 Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials Motion Rejected - House (96 - 26)
6/29 A 2806 Conversion of Certain Private Schools to Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (59 - 14)
6/27 SB 29 Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
6/24 A 8496 Increases The Number Of Taxicabs Serving New York Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 21)
6/24 HR 2278 Limits the Use of Funds in Support of NATO Operations in Libya Bill Failed - House (180 - 238)
6/24 H J Res 68 Authorizes Limited Use of US Armed Forces in Libya Joint Resolution Failed - House (123 - 295)
6/23 HB 2726 Certification for Smoke Shops Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
6/23 HB 95 Motorcycle Helmet Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
6/23 S 2937 Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees Bill Passed - House (46 - 32)
6/23 A 8514 Health Benefit Exchange Act Bill Passed - House (95 - 43)
6/22 SJR 1 Constitutional Amendment Concerning Health Care Joint Resolution Passed - House (59 - 39)
6/22 SB 97 Approval of Rental Prices on Certain Housing Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 9)
6/20 S 2937 Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
6/16 HB 591 Permanent Cigarette Tax Veto Override Failed - House (58 - 44)
6/15 A 8446 Extension of Rent Control Laws Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 30)
6/15 HB 133 Establishes the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
6/15 S 5596 Revising The Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
6/15 A 8446 Extension of Rent Control Laws Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 43)
6/15 SJR 1 Constitutional Amendment Concerning Health Care Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
6/13 HB 2541 Amends Inheritance Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
6/13 H Amdt 414 Prohibits Use of Funds in Contravention of the War Powers Resolution Amendment Adopted - House (248 - 163)
6/09 HB 60 Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9)
6/09 S 805 Senior Tenants' Rent Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
6/09 HB 338 Prohibits Handheld Cellular Devices While Driving Bill Failed - House (33 - 55)
6/08 S Amdt 392 Debit Card Transactions Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45)
6/07 SB 99 Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (48 - 12)
6/06 AB 571 Amending Smoking Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
6/06 HB 6308 Establishes the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
6/05 AB 571 Amending Smoking Regulations Bill Passed - House (23 - 19)
6/03 H Res 292 Ground Forces in Libya Resolution Passed - House (268 - 145)
6/03 H Con Res 51 Removing Armed Forces from Libya Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265)
6/02 H Amdt 406 Transportation Security Administration Appropriations Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 204)
6/02 HB 591 Permanent Cigarette Tax Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
6/02 H Amdt 385 Prohibiting Funds From Being Used in Contradiction to the War Powers Resolution Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 213)
6/02 H Amdt 398 Prohibiting the Use of Funds for Transportation Security Administration Collective Bargaining Amendment Adopted - House (218 - 205)
6/02 HB 810 Consumer Finance Act Amendments Bill Passed - House (61 - 54)
6/02 HR 2017 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (231 - 188)

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