News Releases

Did the Senate vote to repeal Obamacare?
July 27, 2017, 3:05 p.m.

<div> On July 25, your social media feed was likely filled with victory cries from those seeking to repeal and replace the <a href="http://votesmart.org/bill/10637" style="font-size: 12.8013px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Affordable Care Act</a> (ACA) with the still-evolving Senate version of the <a href="http://votesmart.org/bill/22765" style="font-size: 12.8013px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">American Health Care Act</a> (AHCA). Opponents also took to social media with messages of defeat. However, the debate is anything but finished. So what’s actually going on with the Senate healthcare bill? Is the Affordable Care Act repealed? And, what is the Senate voting on? Well, it’s tricky, so bear with me—I’m not even sure if someone currently voting in the capitol can easily explain where the debate stands. I’ll simplify the issue and provide a brief timeline of how we got to where we are today. </div>

Trump Announces US-Cuba Relations Changing Once Again
June 19, 2017, 4:26 p.m.

“Good afternoon. Today, the United States of America is changing its relationship with the people of Cuba.” These were the opening lines of Barack Obama’s <a href="https://votesmart.org/public-statement/943109/" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8013px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">announcement</a> of his plans to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba back in December of 2014. Those words could have also opened President Trump’s <a href="https://votesmart.org/public-statement/1166226/remarks-by-president-trump-on-the-policy-of-the-united-states-towards-cuba" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8013px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">speech on Friday</a> where he announced plans to roll back some of the changes set forth by the Obama administration.     “We will not lift sanctions on the Cuban regime,” President Trump proclaimed, ”until all political prisoners are freed, freedoms of assembly and expression are respected, all political parties are legalized, and free and internationally supervised elections are scheduled. Elections.”   These plans come just weeks after the bipartisan coalition consisting of US Senators <a href="https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/65092/" style="font-size: 12.8013px; text-decoration: none;">Amy Klobuchar</a> (D-MN), <a href="https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/558/" style="font-size: 12.8013px; text-decoration: none;">Mike Enzi</a> (R-WY), <a href="https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/53353/" style="font-size: 12.8013px; text-decoration: none;">Patrick Leahy</a> (D-VT), and <a href="https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/28128/" style="font-size: 12.8013px; text-decoration: none;">Jeff Flake </a>(R-AZ) <a href="https://votesmart.org/public-statement/1162172/" style="font-size: 12.8013px; text-decoration: none;">introduced legislation</a> that would lift the Cuban trade embargo.

Catch Up on the James Comey Controversy Before Today’s Hearing
June 8, 2017, 1:51 p.m.

On May 9, FBI Director James Comey was let go from his position by President Donald Trump–leaving many to wonder what incidents led to such a serious end.

Political Research Wrap Up: Comey, Healthcare, and Foreign Policy in Under 140 Characters
June 2, 2017, 8:19 p.m.

James Comey, health care, and foreign policy in under 140 characters. Read on to find out what has kept Congress and President Trump's Twitter account so busy.

What is an Omnibus Bill?
June 27, 2016, 2:31 p.m.

 Have you seen a recent headline about Congress passing an omnibus bill? Curious about what this obscure sounding piece of legislation is? Below we provide a non-partisan explanation of omnibus bills.....

Bathroom bills bearing down on states across America
March 11, 2016, 5:56 p.m.

Emerging onto the floor of numerous state legislatures across the United States of America is a new and divisive kind of legislation: “bathroom bills.” Bathroom bills are proposed legislation that address whether individuals may use the bathroom that corresponds with the gender they identify with or with the gender they were assigned at birth.

Vote Smart Live-Tweeted the Republican Primary Debate on CNBC
Oct. 29, 2015, 6:59 p.m.

Did you miss our Live-Tweet event for the Republican Debate? You can get a recap of all we did here!

Unmatched Free Database on 150,000 Politicians Now Available
Sept. 7, 2014, 8:27 p.m.

Vote Smart (VoteSmart.org), the leading non-partisan national research organization focused on politicians and elections, announced a series of massive additions to its factual database on over 150,000 current and former elected officials and candidates. 

April Common Ground E-Newsletter
April 26, 2013, 6:25 p.m.

Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter <a href="http://votesmart.org/newsletter#.UXrNJHrsaso" target="_blank">here...</a>

Bipartisanship – Topped with Cheese and Baked at 350, for About 45 Minutes
April 22, 2013, 6:32 p.m.

We here at Project Vote Smart often lament the lack of civility in Congress and in state legislatures across this nation.

Project Vote Smart: Experience and Lessons Learned
March 7, 2013, 10:55 p.m.

Vote Smart exists to help citizens and organizations trying to provide citizens with easy access to abundant, accurate, relevant information about those who govern or those who wish to replace those who do.

The Election is Over, But We're not Done!
Nov. 16, 2012, 3:17 p.m.

During the 2012 election cycle, 1.5 million NEW users discovered <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=&msgid=218455&act=11111&c=718974&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.votesmart.org" style="color: rgb(85, 170, 221) !important; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Vote Smart</a> adding to the millions already "voting smart."

All About the Vice-Presidential Candidates
Aug. 16, 2012, 9:35 p.m.

For those of you living under rocks, <a href="http://votesmart.org/candidate/21942/mitt-romney" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8012809753418px; font-style: normal; line-height: 19.2019214630127px;" target="_self">Mitt Romney</a> announced his running mate last Saturday – Wisconsin congressman <a href="http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/26344/paul-ryan#.VcDISPNVhHw" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8012809753418px; font-style: normal; line-height: 19.2019214630127px;" target="_self">Paul Ryan</a>. You've probably heard a fair amount about Ryan, probably about his time spent as chair of the House Budget committee, and the budget proposal he crafted. But what about the information voters really want to know, like the fact that he's a fan of Monty Python*? At <a href="votesmart.org" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8012809753418px; font-style: normal; line-height: 19.2019214630127px;" target="_self">votesmart.org</a> you can find out all you need to know (and more) about both vice-presidential contenders.

Vote Smart Olympics 2012
July 27, 2012, 2:54 p.m.

The opening ceremony for the 2012 summer Olympics officially begins on Friday July 27th, but here at <a href="votesmart.org" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8012809753418px; font-style: normal; line-height: 19.2019214630127px;" target="_self">Project Vote Smart</a> we’re interested in a different race – the Presidential Election.  And while the 10,500 athletes are proudly representing their respective countries, Project Vote Smart staff and interns are hard at work researching the over 40,000 candidates and officials fighting to represent us. <div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8012809753418px; font-style: normal; line-height: 19.2019214630127px;">   </div>

Comments on Unemployment Rate
June 1, 2012, 9:51 p.m.

The US unemployment rate was published at 8.2% for the month of May, rising a tenth of a point from April's 8.1%. Here's what several congress members had to say about it...

GOP field narrowing, but are candidates really gone?
Jan. 20, 2012, 5:49 p.m.

The South Carolina Republican Presidential Preference Primary is scheduled for Saturday, January, 21st and while in most of our minds there are only four candidates still vying for the GOP nomination, one look at the ballot will tell a slightly different story. 

Congressional Beginnings
Oct. 6, 2011, 10:36 p.m.

The First Thing You See - Updated
July 17, 2009, 9:11 p.m.

This Summer at Vote Smart
June 19, 2009, 11:21 p.m.

The Legislative Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Aug. 19, 2008, 9:04 p.m.

The Legislative Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Jan. 23, 2008, 2:17 a.m.

Navigating Thomas: Bill Texts
Dec. 13, 2007, 5:14 a.m.

The Inside Scoop on Appropriations: Where does the money come from?
Nov. 22, 2007, 7:05 a.m.

Bills and Resolutions
Nov. 15, 2007, 1:54 a.m.

Bills and Resolutions
Aug. 17, 2007, 10:43 p.m.

BioWorld
June 23, 2007, 1:59 a.m.

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