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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 1, 2011 | National | S 1917 | Extends Payroll Tax Cut and Establishes Tax on Income Over $1 Million | Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 49) |
Dec. 1, 2011 | National | S 1931 | Reduces Payroll Tax Rate | Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 78) |
Nov. 29, 2011 | IL | HB 1883 | Property Tax Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 18) |
Nov. 17, 2011 | RI | H 6319 | Amending the Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2) |
Nov. 10, 2011 | National | S Amdt 928 | American Jobs and Economic Growth | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 56) |
Nov. 10, 2011 | National | S J Res 6 | Disapproval of FCC Regulation of Internet and Broadband Industry | Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
Nov. 3, 2011 | WI | SB 202 | Repeals Punitive Damages for Workplace Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
Oct. 27, 2011 | WI | SB 12 | Limits Attorney Fees in Consumer Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
Oct. 20, 2011 | WI | SB 95 | Evaluating Teacher Performance Using Standardized Test Scores | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
Oct. 18, 2011 | National | S Amdt 740 | Repeals Funding for Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 55) |
Oct. 11, 2011 | National | S 1660 | American Jobs Act of 2011 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 49) |
Sept. 22, 2011 | National | S Amdt 633 | Extends Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 28) |
Sept. 21, 2011 | National | S Amdt 625 | Reducing and Extending Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
Sept. 21, 2011 | National | S Amdt 642 | Modifies Eligibility Requirements for Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 57) |
Sept. 21, 2011 | National | S Amdt 641 | Requires Extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance to be Contingent Upon Ratification of Free Trade Agreements with Columbia, Korea and Panama | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54) |
Sept. 21, 2011 | National | S Amdt 645 | Repeals the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program for Firms | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 54) |
Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 922 | Project Labor Agreements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 931 | Payroll Debit Cards | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
Sept. 8, 2011 | National | HR 1249 | Patent Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 9) |
Sept. 8, 2011 | CA | SB 299 | Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
Sept. 6, 2011 | CA | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
Sept. 1, 2011 | CA | SB 185 | Considering Race, Ethnicity and Gender in College Admissions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
Aug. 30, 2011 | CA | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
July 13, 2011 | NC | SB 727 | No Dues Checkoff for School Employees | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
June 23, 2011 | DE | HB 100 | Background Checks for Contractors on School Premises | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 5) |
June 22, 2011 | NH | HB 2 | Recertification of Employer Retirement Contribution Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 5) |
June 22, 2011 | NH | HB 2 | Recertification of Employer Retirement Contribution Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 5) |
June 20, 2011 | NJ | S 2937 | Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
June 19, 2011 | LA | HB 342 | Requires Certain Employers to Use E-Verify | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
June 9, 2011 | National | S Amdt 390 | Amending Small Business Regulations | Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46) |
June 8, 2011 | National | S Amdt 392 | Debit Card Transactions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45) |
June 6, 2011 | TX | SB 8 | Management and Operation of Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
June 2, 2011 | CA | SB 568 | Recycling Polystyrene Food Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
May 31, 2011 | CA | SB 469 | Requirements for Expansion by Large Retailers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
May 25, 2011 | CT | SB 913 | Requires Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
May 25, 2011 | LA | SB 6 | Teacher Retirement | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 19) |
May 18, 2011 | NC | HB 578 | State Health Plan Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
May 18, 2011 | MI | SB 7 | Employee Contribution to Health Care Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
May 12, 2011 | MI | HB 4362 | Business Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
May 11, 2011 | NV | AB 211 | Prohibiting Discriminatory Employment Practices Based On Gender or Expression | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
May 11, 2011 | WI | SB 13 | Repealing Regulations for Telecommunications Services | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
May 11, 2011 | PA | SB 612 | Guidelines for Teacher Suspension | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
May 7, 2011 | UT | HB 328 | State Government Work Week | Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 6) |
May 6, 2011 | FL | HB 5007 | Amends Business Regulations | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (18 - 21) |
April 29, 2011 | IN | HB 1216 | Public Works Projects | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 20) |
April 18, 2011 | AZ | SB 1609 | Public Workers' Pensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
April 14, 2011 | NC | SB 265 | Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
April 12, 2011 | GA | HB 234 | Reduces Sales Taxes for Tourism Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 10) |
April 11, 2011 | MD | HB 235 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination | Motion Agreed - Senate (27 - 20) |
April 5, 2011 | AZ | HB 2619 | Unemployment Security Special Assessment | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
April 5, 2011 | National | HR 4 | Repeals the Form 1099 Provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12) |
March 30, 2011 | NH | SB 121 | Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 5) |
March 28, 2011 | NC | SB 265 | Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
March 26, 2011 | MT | SB 372 | Business Equipment Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
March 17, 2011 | AZ | SB 1611 | Requires Verification of Citizenship for Certain Benefits | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19) |
March 15, 2011 | IA | SF 301 | Low Interest Loans for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
March 14, 2011 | GA | SB 40 | Immigration Status Verification of Private Business Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21) |
March 14, 2011 | AZ | SB 1345 | Limits Number and Compensation of Municipal Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 16) |
March 14, 2011 | AZ | SB 1322 | Competition for City Services | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
March 10, 2011 | UT | HB 317 | Specifies that Gold and Silver Coins are Legal Tender in Utah | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7) |
March 8, 2011 | AZ | SB 1363 | Labor Organization Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
March 3, 2011 | NJ | S 1216 | Loans for Women and Minority-Owned Businesses | Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 16) |
Feb. 28, 2011 | AZ | SB 1388 | Regulation of Firework Sales | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 17) |
Feb. 23, 2011 | SD | SB 156 | Prohibits Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
Feb. 16, 2011 | OH | HB 1 | Establishes JobsOhio | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2) |
Feb. 16, 2011 | AZ | HB 2001 | Tax Reductions for Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
Feb. 8, 2011 | WY | SF 52 | Repealing Teacher Tenure | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
Feb. 2, 2011 | VA | SB 747 | Prohibits Discrimination in State Employment Based on Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
Feb. 2, 2011 | National | S Amdt 9 | Repealing the IRS 1099 Provision from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Motion Agreed - Senate (81 - 17) |
Feb. 2, 2011 | National | S Amdt 28 | Repealing the IRS 1099 Provision from the Health Care Bill | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54) |
Feb. 2, 2011 | WI | SB 10 | Wetland Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
Feb. 1, 2011 | ID | S 1006 | Right to Work Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
Jan. 27, 2011 | AR | SB 113 | Prohibit Abortion Health Care Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
Jan. 25, 2011 | WI | AB 3 | Tax Incentives for Job Creation | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
12/01 | S 1917 | Extends Payroll Tax Cut and Establishes Tax on Income Over $1 Million | Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 49) |
12/01 | S 1931 | Reduces Payroll Tax Rate | Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 78) |
11/29 | HB 1883 | Property Tax Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 18) |
11/17 | H 6319 | Amending the Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2) |
11/10 | S Amdt 928 | American Jobs and Economic Growth | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 56) |
11/10 | S J Res 6 | Disapproval of FCC Regulation of Internet and Broadband Industry | Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
11/03 | SB 202 | Repeals Punitive Damages for Workplace Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
10/27 | SB 12 | Limits Attorney Fees in Consumer Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
10/20 | SB 95 | Evaluating Teacher Performance Using Standardized Test Scores | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
10/18 | S Amdt 740 | Repeals Funding for Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 55) |
10/11 | S 1660 | American Jobs Act of 2011 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 49) |
9/22 | S Amdt 633 | Extends Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 28) |
9/21 | S Amdt 625 | Reducing and Extending Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
9/21 | S Amdt 642 | Modifies Eligibility Requirements for Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 57) |
9/21 | S Amdt 641 | Requires Extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance to be Contingent Upon Ratification of Free Trade Agreements with Columbia, Korea and Panama | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54) |
9/21 | S Amdt 645 | Repeals the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program for Firms | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 54) |
9/09 | SB 922 | Project Labor Agreements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
9/09 | SB 931 | Payroll Debit Cards | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
9/08 | HR 1249 | Patent Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 9) |
9/08 | SB 299 | Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
9/06 | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
9/01 | SB 185 | Considering Race, Ethnicity and Gender in College Admissions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
8/30 | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
7/13 | SB 727 | No Dues Checkoff for School Employees | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
6/23 | HB 100 | Background Checks for Contractors on School Premises | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 5) |
6/22 | HB 2 | Recertification of Employer Retirement Contribution Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 5) |
6/22 | HB 2 | Recertification of Employer Retirement Contribution Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 5) |
6/20 | S 2937 | Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
6/19 | HB 342 | Requires Certain Employers to Use E-Verify | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
6/09 | S Amdt 390 | Amending Small Business Regulations | Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46) |
6/08 | S Amdt 392 | Debit Card Transactions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45) |
6/06 | SB 8 | Management and Operation of Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
6/02 | SB 568 | Recycling Polystyrene Food Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
5/31 | SB 469 | Requirements for Expansion by Large Retailers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
5/25 | SB 913 | Requires Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
5/25 | SB 6 | Teacher Retirement | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 19) |
5/18 | HB 578 | State Health Plan Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
5/18 | SB 7 | Employee Contribution to Health Care Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
5/12 | HB 4362 | Business Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
5/11 | AB 211 | Prohibiting Discriminatory Employment Practices Based On Gender or Expression | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
5/11 | SB 13 | Repealing Regulations for Telecommunications Services | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
5/11 | SB 612 | Guidelines for Teacher Suspension | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
5/07 | HB 328 | State Government Work Week | Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 6) |
5/06 | HB 5007 | Amends Business Regulations | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (18 - 21) |
4/29 | HB 1216 | Public Works Projects | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 20) |
4/18 | SB 1609 | Public Workers' Pensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
4/14 | SB 265 | Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
4/12 | HB 234 | Reduces Sales Taxes for Tourism Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 10) |
4/11 | HB 235 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination | Motion Agreed - Senate (27 - 20) |
4/05 | HB 2619 | Unemployment Security Special Assessment | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
4/05 | HR 4 | Repeals the Form 1099 Provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12) |
3/30 | SB 121 | Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 5) |
3/28 | SB 265 | Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
3/26 | SB 372 | Business Equipment Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
3/17 | SB 1611 | Requires Verification of Citizenship for Certain Benefits | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19) |
3/15 | SF 301 | Low Interest Loans for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
3/14 | SB 40 | Immigration Status Verification of Private Business Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21) |
3/14 | SB 1345 | Limits Number and Compensation of Municipal Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 16) |
3/14 | SB 1322 | Competition for City Services | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
3/10 | HB 317 | Specifies that Gold and Silver Coins are Legal Tender in Utah | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7) |
3/08 | SB 1363 | Labor Organization Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
3/03 | S 1216 | Loans for Women and Minority-Owned Businesses | Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 16) |
2/28 | SB 1388 | Regulation of Firework Sales | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 17) |
2/23 | SB 156 | Prohibits Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
2/16 | HB 1 | Establishes JobsOhio | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2) |
2/16 | HB 2001 | Tax Reductions for Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
2/08 | SF 52 | Repealing Teacher Tenure | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
2/02 | SB 747 | Prohibits Discrimination in State Employment Based on Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
2/02 | S Amdt 9 | Repealing the IRS 1099 Provision from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Motion Agreed - Senate (81 - 17) |
2/02 | S Amdt 28 | Repealing the IRS 1099 Provision from the Health Care Bill | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54) |
2/02 | SB 10 | Wetland Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
2/01 | S 1006 | Right to Work Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
1/27 | SB 113 | Prohibit Abortion Health Care Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
1/25 | AB 3 | Tax Incentives for Job Creation | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |