Key Votes

2012 All Federal, State and Local Relations Key Votes

State
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12/13 MI SB 865 Authorizes Local Officials to Solve Fiscal Crisis Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15) 12/12 MI SB 865 Authorizes Local Officials to Solve Fiscal Crisis Bill Passed - House (64 - 45) 11/29 NJ S 2 Requires Certain Municipalities to Merge Public Services Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) 11/28 NA S Amdt 2955 Expands the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program Amendment Adopted - Senate (85 - 11) 10/25 NJ S 1816 Authorizes Delaware Port Authority to Inspect Hazardous Materials Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 10) 10/25 NJ S 2202 Requires the HMFA to Expand Participation in the New Jersey HomeKeeper Program Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) 10/18 NJ S 1816 Authorizes Delaware Port Authority to Inspect Hazardous Materials Bill Passed - House (53 - 23) 10/18 NJ S 2135 Establishes the New Jersey Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - House (43 - 33) 10/04 NJ S 2135 Establishes the New Jersey Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) 9/20 NA H J Res 118 Congressional Disapproval of Department of Health and Human Services Rule to Waive Certain Requirements for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF) Joint Resolution Passed - House (250 - 164) 8/24 CA AB 1081 Prohibits Excessive Detention of Undocumented Immigrants Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 26) 7/25 NA HR 6168 President Obama's Proposed 2012-2017 Offshore Drilling Lease Sale Plan Act Bill Failed - House (164 - 261) 7/25 NA HR 6082 Congressional Replacement of President Obama's Offshore Drilling Plan Bill Passed - House (253 - 170) 7/11 NA HR 6079 Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 Bill Passed - House (244 - 185) 7/06 CA SB 1029 Authorizes the Sale of State Bonds for a High-Speed Rail Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) 7/05 CA SB 1029 Authorizes the Sale of State Bonds for a High-Speed Rail Bill Passed - House (52 - 28) 7/05 CA AB 1081 Prohibits Excessive Detention of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) 6/21 NA HR 4480 Domestic Energy and Jobs Act Bill Passed - House (248 - 163) 6/19 NA S Amdt 2156 Increases Funding for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (33 - 66) 6/19 NA S Amdt 2172 Rescinds Bonuses to States for Administering Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Amendment Rejected - Senate (41 - 58) 6/18 NC HB 7 Authorizes Community Colleges to Opt Out of Federal Loan Program Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 16) 6/14 NC HB 7 Authorizes Community Colleges to Opt Out of Federal Loan Program Veto Override Passed - House (71 - 46) 6/13 RI H 7909 Requires State Health Laws to Comply with the Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) 6/13 NA S Amdt 2392 Reduces Funding for Food Stamps Amendment Tabled - Senate (65 - 33) 6/11 RI H 7909 Requires State Health Laws to Comply with the Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - House (56 - 9) 6/06 PA SB 1310 Authorizes Repayment of Unemployment Debt to the Federal Government Concurrence Vote Passed - House (129 - 67) 6/05 PA SB 1310 Authorizes Repayment of Unemployment Debt to the Federal Government Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 19) 5/31 IL SB 3442 Requires Recycling of Plastic Bags Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 15) 5/30 IL SB 3442 Requires Recycling of Plastic Bags Bill Passed - House (72 - 44) 5/18 MO SB 749 Authorizes Employers to Exempt Contraception from Healthcare Coverage Conference Report Adopted - House (105 - 33) 5/18 MO SB 749 Authorizes Employers to Exempt Contraception from Healthcare Coverage Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 6) 5/16 NH CACR 26 Authorizes the Legislature to Amend Supreme Court Rules Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 5) 5/16 MD SB 1301 Amends Teacher Pension Funding Bill Passed - House (86 - 51) 5/15 MD SB 1301 Amends Teacher Pension Funding Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13) 5/09 IA SF 2315 Amends the Mental Health and Disability Services Program Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 31) 5/02 AZ HCR 2004 Establishes State Sovereignty Over Certain Natural Resources Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 20) 4/30 AZ HCR 2004 Establishes State Sovereignty Over Certain Natural Resources Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 14) 4/27 CO SM 3 Urges Congress to Authorize Religious Exemptions to Providing Birth Control Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 20) 4/25 AZ SB 1332 Requires the Federal Government to Give Back Land to Arizona Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 9) 4/24 AZ SB 1182 Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8) 4/23 AZ SB 1332 Requires the Federal Government to Give Back Land to Arizona Bill Passed - House (35 - 15) 4/19 AZ SB 1182 Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act Bill Passed - House (34 - 22) 4/19 MO HB 1534 Prohibits Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - House (108 - 44) 4/11 NH SB 202 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (239 - 95) 4/11 NE LB 1161 Authorizes Land Study in Nebraska for Keystone XL Pipeline Route Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) 4/09 AZ HB 2434 Requires Federal Agents to Notify Local Law Enforcement Prior to Taking Action Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 17) 4/05 MD HB 443 Establishes State Health Insurance Exchanges Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) 4/04 AZ HB 2434 Requires Federal Agents to Notify Local Law Enforcement Prior to Taking Action Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8) 3/29 GA HB 347 Reduces Unemployment Benefits Conference Report Adopted - House (98 - 60) 3/29 GA HB 347 Reduces Unemployment Benefits Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 17) 3/29 MO SB 749 Authorizes Employers to Exempt Contraception from Healthcare Coverage (26 - 5) 3/28 NH HB 1560 Joining an Interstate Health Care Compact to Opt-Out of Federal Health Care Programs Bill Passed - House (221 - 131) 3/26 MN HF 545 Requires State Budget to Include Federal Insolvency Contingency Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 60) 3/26 MD HB 443 Establishes State Health Insurance Exchanges Bill Passed - House (94 - 44) 3/23 ID SJM 104 Urging Congress to Repeal Insurance Coverage of Contraception Joint Resolution Passed - House (51 - 16) 3/23 ID H 619 Prohibits Speed Limit Regulation by Local Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) 3/22 CA AJR 22 Requests a Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Joint Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22) 3/19 SD SB 157 Prohibits Cities From Limiting Outdoor Digital Billboards Veto Override Failed - House (43 - 24) 3/19 SD SB 157 Prohibits Cities From Limiting Outdoor Digital Billboards Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 7) 3/19 MN HF 545 Requires State Budget to Include Federal Insolvency Contingency Plan Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 12) 3/15 ID H 619 Prohibits Speed Limit Regulation by Local Authorities Bill Passed - House (56 - 10) 3/15 KY SB 18 Amends Redistricting Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 11) 3/15 NH HB 1405 Authorizes Moratoriums on Refugee Resettlements Bill Passed - House (190 - 109) 3/14 ID H 464 Prohibits Local Ordinances from Limiting Oil and Gas Extraction Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) 3/08 UT SB 208 Interstate Health Care Compact Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 7) 3/08 UT SB 208 Interstate Health Care Compact Conference Report Adopted - House (45 - 27) 3/07 UT HB 148 Authorizes the Transfer of Federal Lands to the State Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14) 3/07 UT HB 148 Authorizes the Transfer of Federal Lands to the State Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6) 3/06 AZ HCR 2056 Matches State Minimum Wage to Federal Minimum Resolution Passed - House (39 - 18) 3/05 AZ SCR 1008 Declaration of State of Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8) 3/03 WA HB 2319 Requirements for Health Benefit Exchange Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 39) 3/01 WA HB 2319 Requirements for Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) 3/01 AZ SB 1083 Establishes the Arizona Special Missions Unit Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) 3/01 AZ SB 1507 Prohibits Implementation of the United Nations Rio Declaration Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) 2/29 FL HB 609 Prohibits Unpaid Wage Collection Ordinances Bill Passed - House (77 - 38) 2/28 WY HJR 7 Requests the President to Repeal the Rule Requiring Coverage of Contraception Joint Resolution Passed - House (40 - 17) 2/28 WY HB 85 Establishes a Task Force for Government Continuity Bill Failed - House (27 - 30) 2/27 UT HB 511 Authorizing Eminent Domain over Federal Land Bill Passed - House (57 - 14) 2/24 GA SB 447 Reduces Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) 2/24 UT HB 198 Prohibits Regulation of Family Food Bill Passed - House (53 - 16) 2/24 VT H 559 Establishes a Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - House (88 - 38) 2/24 UT HB 104 Prohibits Local Ordinances Against Idling Vehicles Bill Passed - House (42 - 28) 2/23 KS HCR 5007 Authorizes Kansas to Determine Its Health Care Policies Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14) 2/23 ID HJM 10 Urges Congress to Pass Rights of Conscience Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (53 - 15) 2/22 NH HR 29 Urges Repeal of Rule Requiring Health Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives Resolution Passed - House (227 - 121) 2/21 WI SJR 21 Prohibits mandated health insurance Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 16) 2/17 ID H 464 Prohibits Local Ordinances from Limiting Oil and Gas Extraction Bill Passed - House (54 - 13) 2/09 AZ SB 1061 Authorizes Schools to Opt-Out of the National School Lunch Program Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) 2/03 FL SB 1174 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (80 - 37) 2/01 RI S 2178 State Senate, State House, and Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (56 - 12) 2/01 WA EHCR 4409 Congressional and State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 4) 2/01 RI S 2178 State Senate, State House, and Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 2) 1/31 IN HB 1269 Authorizes Indiana to Join the Interstate Health Care Compact Bill Passed - House (62 - 35) 1/20 VA HB 251 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19) 1/19 CO HR 1003 Repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Resolution Passed - House (33 - 31) 1/18 NH HB 228 Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Abortion Bill Passed - House (207 - 147) 1/13 TN HB 1558 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) 1/13 VA HB 251 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (74 - 21) 1/12 TN HB 1558 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (68 - 25) 1/05 NH HB 628 Recording and Tracking Complaints of Abuse by Transportation Security Agents Bill Passed - House (188 - 136)

About the Selection and Descriptions of Key Votes

Project Vote Smart provides easy access to Congressional and State voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Key votes typically include the initial passage of legislation and final conference report vote versions (the compromised versions of bills passed in separate House and Senate versions). 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

Descriptions of the votes are written by Vote Smart staff and based on information included in the Congressional Record, State House Journals, or Senate Journals, with additional background information from newspapers, magazines, etc. Vote Smart provides summaries for each selected key vote. The summary does not necessarily reflect the final version of the bill.

The Key Votes Program follows Project Vote Smart's strict policies, procedures and structure that guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. In order to ensure that all Key Votes are non-partisan in their selection and language, each is approved by a group of over 160 political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.