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
April 22, 2010 WI SB 437 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (50 - 47)
April 22, 2010 WI SB 434 Legalizing Sale of Unpasteurized Milk Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
April 20, 2010 WI SB 484 BadgerCare Plus Basic Health Plan Bill Passed - House (50 - 47)
April 20, 2010 WI Amdt 1 Expelling Representative Jeffery Wood Amendment Tabled - House (49 - 48)
April 20, 2010 WI Amdt 6 Censuring Representative Jeffery Wood Amendment Adopted - House (73 - 24)
April 20, 2010 WI AB 696 Landline Phone Service Deregulation Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
April 15, 2010 WI AB 612 Limiting Access to 9-1-1 Recordings Bill Passed - House (67 - 30)
April 15, 2010 WI SB 434 Legalizing Sale of Unpasteurized Milk Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
April 15, 2010 WI AB 106 Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
April 15, 2010 WI SB 437 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
April 13, 2010 WI SB 530 Payday Lending Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Feb. 25, 2010 WI AB 35 Complaint Process for Race-Based Names, Logos and Mascots of Schools Bill Passed - House (51 - 42)
Feb. 16, 2010 WI AB 447 Payday Lending Regulations Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
Jan. 28, 2010 WI AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Jan. 28, 2010 WI SB 415 Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements Bill Passed - House (69 - 27)
Jan. 28, 2010 WI SB 263 Expanding Access to Public Defenders Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 223 University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Geographic Composition Requirements Bill Passed - House (59 - 34)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 371 Higher Education Student Data System Bill Passed - House (73 - 20)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 371 Higher Education Student Data System Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 372 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - House (47 - 46)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI SB 372 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - House (48 - 43)
Oct. 28, 2009 WI SB 372 Teacher Evaluation Reform
Sept. 22, 2009 WI SB 107 Electronics Sale and Disposal Regulations Bill Passed - House (57 - 37)
Sept. 22, 2009 WI AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Sept. 22, 2009 WI AB 138 Board Appointment of the Secretary of Natural Resources Bill Passed - House (61 - 32)
Sept. 16, 2009 WI SB 185 State Regulation of Wind Energy Systems Bill Passed - House (65 - 31)
Sept. 16, 2009 WI AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
June 26, 2009 WI AB 75 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 46)
June 26, 2009 WI AB 281 Phosphorus in Cleaning Products Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
June 25, 2009 WI AB 75 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 15)
June 17, 2009 WI AB 75 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
June 11, 2009 WI AB 75 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (50 - 48)
June 9, 2009 WI SB 107 Electronics Sale and Disposal Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
June 9, 2009 WI SB 167 Decreasing the Minimum Hunting Age Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
May 13, 2009 WI SB 181 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
May 13, 2009 WI SB 181 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (61 - 38)
April 29, 2009 WI SB 20 Discriminatory Pay Compensation Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
April 28, 2009 WI SB 20 Discriminatory Pay Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
April 28, 2009 WI AB 100 Restricting Health Insurance Companies' Ability to Exclude Individuals. Bill Passed - House (61 - 38)
April 23, 2009 WI SB 27 Requires Insurance Coverage for Children's Hearing Aid Treatments Bill Passed - House (80 - 16)
March 24, 2009 WI SB 37 Allowing Drivers To Keep Licenses While Paying Fines Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
Feb. 18, 2009 WI SB 62 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (51 - 48)
Feb. 18, 2009 WI SB 62 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 10, 2009 WI SB 1 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
Jan. 27, 2009 WI AB 2 Mandatory State Contracting with Domestic Companies Bill Passed - House (69 - 30)
Jan. 27, 2009 WI AB 1 Wisconsin-Based Products and Services Purchasing Goals Bill Passed - House (77 - 22)
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)
March 11, 2008 WI AB 862 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
March 11, 2008 WI AB 482 Prohibiting Teacher Residency Requirements Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
March 6, 2008 WI SB 523 Great Lakes Water Resources Compact Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 47 Health Savings Account Tax Deductions Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 346 Nuclear Power Plant Construction Bill Passed - House (57 - 38)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 151 Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (70 - 24)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 67 Business Education Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (55 - 40)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 901 Austism Treatment Funding Bill Passed - House (55 - 39)
March 4, 2008 WI SB 537 John Doe Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI A Amnd. 1 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI A Amnd. 2 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 770 Corporate Research and Development Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (84 - 13)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 710 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 581 Gun Possession During Emergencies Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 870 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
Feb. 26, 2008 WI A Amnd. 1 Divestment Due to Genocide Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (50 - 47)
Feb. 26, 2008 WI AR 13 Supporting the Individual's Right to Bear Arms Resolution Passed - House (78 - 18)
Feb. 26, 2008 WI AB 695 John Doe Proceedings Bill Passed - House (84 - 13)
Feb. 26, 2008 WI SB 178 Insurance Coverage for Autism Treatment Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI SB 171 Financing of Judicial Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI SB 396 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Jan. 23, 2008 WI AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - House (61 - 35)
Jan. 15, 2008 WI SB 130 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
Jan. 15, 2008 WI SJR 5 Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 1)
Jan. 15, 2008 WI AB 363 Limiting the Scope of Citizen-Proposed Ordinances Bill Passed - House (48 - 44)
Dec. 11, 2007 WI ASA 1 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 41)
Dec. 11, 2007 WI SB 176 Compensation for Discharged Police Officers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
Dec. 11, 2007 WI SJR 5 Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
Dec. 11, 2007 WI AB 581 Gun Possession During Emergencies Bill Passed - House (84 - 13)
Dec. 11, 2007 WI AJR 5 State Christmas Tree Joint Resolution Passed - House (84 - 12)
Nov. 8, 2007 WI SB 299 School Tax Credit Formula Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
Oct. 30, 2007 WI AB 427 Prevention of Coercive Abortion Bill Passed - House (65 - 32)
Oct. 23, 2007 WI AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
Oct. 23, 2007 WI AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 39)
Oct. 15, 2007 WI SB 2 Transportation Funding Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
Oct. 15, 2007 WI SB 1 2007-2008 Budget Bill Failed - House (44 - 53)
Oct. 15, 2007 WI SB 1 2007-2008 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
Sept. 18, 2007 WI AB 506 2007-2009 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - House (70 - 27)
Sept. 18, 2007 WI AB 507 2008 Levy Limits Bill Passed - House (52 - 45)
July 10, 2007 WI AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (51 - 44)
June 26, 2007 WI SS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
May 16, 2007 WI AB 30 Felon Employment in Educational Agencies Bill Passed - House (64 - 29)
May 16, 2007 WI SB 129 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/22 SB 437 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (50 - 47)
4/22 SB 434 Legalizing Sale of Unpasteurized Milk Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
4/20 SB 484 BadgerCare Plus Basic Health Plan Bill Passed - House (50 - 47)
4/20 Amdt 1 Expelling Representative Jeffery Wood Amendment Tabled - House (49 - 48)
4/20 Amdt 6 Censuring Representative Jeffery Wood Amendment Adopted - House (73 - 24)
4/20 AB 696 Landline Phone Service Deregulation Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
4/15 AB 612 Limiting Access to 9-1-1 Recordings Bill Passed - House (67 - 30)
4/15 SB 434 Legalizing Sale of Unpasteurized Milk Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
4/15 AB 106 Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
4/15 SB 437 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
4/13 SB 530 Payday Lending Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
2/25 AB 35 Complaint Process for Race-Based Names, Logos and Mascots of Schools Bill Passed - House (51 - 42)
2/16 AB 447 Payday Lending Regulations Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
1/28 AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
1/28 SB 415 Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements Bill Passed - House (69 - 27)
1/28 SB 263 Expanding Access to Public Defenders Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
11/05 SB 223 University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Geographic Composition Requirements Bill Passed - House (59 - 34)
11/05 SB 371 Higher Education Student Data System Bill Passed - House (73 - 20)
11/05 SB 371 Higher Education Student Data System Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
11/05 SB 372 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - House (47 - 46)
11/05 SB 372 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
11/05 AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - House (48 - 43)
10/28 SB 372 Teacher Evaluation Reform
9/22 SB 107 Electronics Sale and Disposal Regulations Bill Passed - House (57 - 37)
9/22 AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
9/22 AB 138 Board Appointment of the Secretary of Natural Resources Bill Passed - House (61 - 32)
9/16 SB 185 State Regulation of Wind Energy Systems Bill Passed - House (65 - 31)
9/16 AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
6/26 AB 75 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 46)
6/26 AB 281 Phosphorus in Cleaning Products Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
6/25 AB 75 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 15)
6/17 AB 75 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
6/11 AB 75 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (50 - 48)
6/09 SB 107 Electronics Sale and Disposal Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
6/09 SB 167 Decreasing the Minimum Hunting Age Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
5/13 SB 181 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
5/13 SB 181 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (61 - 38)
4/29 SB 20 Discriminatory Pay Compensation Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
4/28 SB 20 Discriminatory Pay Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
4/28 AB 100 Restricting Health Insurance Companies' Ability to Exclude Individuals. Bill Passed - House (61 - 38)
4/23 SB 27 Requires Insurance Coverage for Children's Hearing Aid Treatments Bill Passed - House (80 - 16)
3/24 SB 37 Allowing Drivers To Keep Licenses While Paying Fines Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
2/18 SB 62 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (51 - 48)
2/18 SB 62 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/10 SB 1 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
1/27 AB 2 Mandatory State Contracting with Domestic Companies Bill Passed - House (69 - 30)
1/27 AB 1 Wisconsin-Based Products and Services Purchasing Goals Bill Passed - House (77 - 22)
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)
3/11 AB 862 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
3/11 AB 482 Prohibiting Teacher Residency Requirements Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
3/06 SB 523 Great Lakes Water Resources Compact Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
3/05 AB 47 Health Savings Account Tax Deductions Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
3/05 AB 346 Nuclear Power Plant Construction Bill Passed - House (57 - 38)
3/05 AB 151 Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (70 - 24)
3/05 AB 67 Business Education Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (55 - 40)
3/05 AB 901 Austism Treatment Funding Bill Passed - House (55 - 39)
3/04 SB 537 John Doe Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/28 A Amnd. 1 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
2/28 A Amnd. 2 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
2/28 AB 770 Corporate Research and Development Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (84 - 13)
2/28 AB 710 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
2/28 AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
2/28 AB 581 Gun Possession During Emergencies Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
2/28 AB 870 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
2/26 A Amnd. 1 Divestment Due to Genocide Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (50 - 47)
2/26 AR 13 Supporting the Individual's Right to Bear Arms Resolution Passed - House (78 - 18)
2/26 AB 695 John Doe Proceedings Bill Passed - House (84 - 13)
2/26 SB 178 Insurance Coverage for Autism Treatment Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
2/19 S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17)
2/19 S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
2/19 SB 171 Financing of Judicial Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
2/19 SB 396 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
1/23 AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - House (61 - 35)
1/15 SB 130 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
1/15 SJR 5 Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 1)
1/15 AB 363 Limiting the Scope of Citizen-Proposed Ordinances Bill Passed - House (48 - 44)
12/11 ASA 1 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 41)
12/11 SB 176 Compensation for Discharged Police Officers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
12/11 SJR 5 Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
12/11 AB 581 Gun Possession During Emergencies Bill Passed - House (84 - 13)
12/11 AJR 5 State Christmas Tree Joint Resolution Passed - House (84 - 12)
11/08 SB 299 School Tax Credit Formula Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
10/30 AB 427 Prevention of Coercive Abortion Bill Passed - House (65 - 32)
10/23 AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
10/23 AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 39)
10/15 SB 2 Transportation Funding Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
10/15 SB 1 2007-2008 Budget Bill Failed - House (44 - 53)
10/15 SB 1 2007-2008 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
9/18 AB 506 2007-2009 Biennium Education Budget Bill Passed - House (70 - 27)
9/18 AB 507 2008 Levy Limits Bill Passed - House (52 - 45)
7/10 AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (51 - 44)
6/26 SS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
5/16 AB 30 Felon Employment in Educational Agencies Bill Passed - House (64 - 29)
5/16 SB 129 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)

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