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Key Votes: U.S. Senate 110th Congress

Summary of the Congressional Voting Records | House Votes

Vote Descriptions | Senators' Votes

U.S. Senate
110th Congress, Combined Sessions

Vote Descriptions: Show All | Hide All
 
1. Global Gag Rule -- Full Repeal (09/06/2007, Roll Call No. 319)
09/06/2007 -- Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) amendment (S. Amdt. 2719) to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2008 (H.R. 2764). This amendment would repeal the global gag rule, which prohibits U.S. funding to health clinics in other countries that use non-U.S. funds to provide abortion services, or counsel about abortion or take a public position in favor of abortion. The global gag rule has decimated many reproductive health care programs in developing countries and contributes to the high number of injuries and deaths due to unsafe abortions around the world. Passed, 53-41, 9/6/07. First Session Record Vote No. 319. A vote FOR the amendment was correct.
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2. Denying Contraception to Overseas Health Centers (09/06/2007, Roll Call No. 320)
09/06/2007 -- Sen. Sam Brownback (R- KS) amendment (S. Amdt. 2708) to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2008 (H.R. 2764) to remove a commonsense provision that would allow overseas health centers otherwise ineligible for USAID funding under the global gag rule to receive U.S.-donated condoms and contraceptives. The global gag rule prohibits U.S. funding to health clinics in other countries that use their own non-U.S. funds to provide abortion services, counsel about abortion or take a public position in favor of abortion. In 2003, the Bush administration expanded the policy to cover all programs receiving foreign aid, not just those concerned with reproductive health. Failed, 40-54, 9/6/07. First Session Record Vote No. 320. A vote AGAINST the amendment was correct.
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3. Promoting Fetal "Rights" (08/02/2007, Roll Call No. 302)
08/02/2007 -- Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO) amendment (S. Amdt. 2535) to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization (H.R. 976) would enact into law the "unborn child" regulation, which allows states to offer coverage for prenatal care to pregnant women as a state plan option under SCHIP. President Clinton had covered pregnant women by simply including them in the regulation. The Bush regulation, adopted in 2002, did not offer health care coverage to pregnant women per se, only covered any service connected to her fetus, and was seen as another effort to advance the legal status of the fetus. Failed, 49-50, 8/2/07. First Session Record Vote No. 302. A vote AGAINST the amendment was correct.
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4. De-Funding Family Planning Programs (10/18/2007, Roll Call No. 379)
10/18/2007 -- Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) amendment (S. Amdt. 3330) to the FY'08 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act (HR 3043) to de-fund family-planning clinics nationwide. The amendment would deny all federal health grants to any health center that provides abortion care, even using non-federal funds. Failed, 41-52, 10/18/07. First Session Record Vote No. 379. A vote AGAINST the amendment was correct.
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5. Abortion Ban at Indian Health Service Clinics (02/26/2008, Roll Call No. 30)
02/26/2008 -- Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) amendment (S. Amdt. 3896) to Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments (S.1200) to “recodify” the Hyde ban on funding abortion care at Indian Health Service clinics. Passed, 52 - 42, 2/26/08. Second Session Record Vote No. 30. A vote AGAINST the amendment was correct.
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6. Teen Endangerment Enforced (03/13/2008, Roll Call No. 71)
03/13/2008 -- Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) amendment (S. Amdt. 4335) to the FY’09 Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 70) to increase funding for the Department of Justice to fund the vigorous enforcement of a prohibition against taking minors across state lines without following the parental involvement laws of the minor's home state, consistent with the so-called Child Custody Protection Act. This legislation – termed the Child Endangerment Act by reproductive rights advocates – denies young women their constitutional right to abortion and would make felons of their aunts, grandmothers and other supportive family members; 43 states have adopted such laws. Failed, 49 - 49, 3/13/08. Second Session Record Vote No. 71. A vote AGAINST the amendment was correct.
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7. Health Care for Pregnant Women (03/13/2008, Roll Call No. 80)
03/13/2008 -- Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) amendment (S. Amdt. 4379) to the FY’09 Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 70) that would facilitate health care coverage of pregnant women under the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Passed, 70 – 27, 3/14/08. Second Session Record Vote No. 80. A vote FOR the amendment was correct.
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8. Funding Stem Cell Research (04/12/2007, Roll Call No. 127)
04/12/2007 -- A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research (S. 5). One of several efforts made to overturn George W. Bush 's irresponsible ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, S. 5 would authorize the use of federal funds to conduct and support research that utilizes human embryonic stem cells, but limiting to excess embryos from fertility clinics that would otherwise be discarded. 4/11/07, passed 63-34, First Session Record Vote No. 127. A vote FOR the bill was correct. Vetoed by President Bush on 6/20/07.
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9. Medicare Prescription Drug Negotiation (04/18/2007, Roll Call No. 132)
04/18/2007 -- The Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007 (S. 3) to allow price negotiation by amending the part of the Social Security Act which forbids the federal government to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs under the Medicare program. A regressive 2003 bill, the Medicare, Prescription Drug, Modernization and Improvement Act (H.R. 1), forbade government negotiation and began to shred the safety net for seniors and others covered under the Medicare program. A motion to stop the filibuster (cloture) and move to a vote on S. 3 (60 votes required) failed, 55-32, 4/18/07. First Session Record Vote No.132. A vote FOR the motion to end the filibuster was correct.
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10. Strengthening Hate Crime Law (09/27/2007, Roll Call No. 350)
09/27/2007 -- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) amendment (S. Amdt. 3035) to amend the FY '08 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1585) by adding the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (S. 1105). The amendment would extend existing federal hate crimes laws beyond the narrow scope of protected federal activities and would include violent crimes committed on the basis of actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. Previously, federal prosecutors could only intervene in bias-motivated crimes when the victim was involved in a "federally-protected" activity such as serving on a jury, attending a public school or voting. Additionally, the bill authorizes grants of $5 million in FY '08 to state and local law enforcement agencies for prosecuting violent hate crimes. A motion to stop the filibuster (cloture) and move to a vote on S. 1105. Passed, 60-39, 9/27/07. First Session Record Vote No. 350. A vote FOR the motion is correct. This hate crimes amendment was later stripped out of the main bill in a House-Senate conference version.
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11. Enforcement of Immigration (05/24/2007, Roll Call No. 177)
05/24/2007 -- Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) offered an amendment (S. Amdt. 1158) to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S.1348) that would do away with state and local policies that prohibit law enforcement officers from asking individuals about their immigration status. Asking about immigration status can interfere with efforts to promote public safety. Allowing inquiries about immigration status could lead to racial or ethnic profiling and drive immigrants further underground. Failed, 48-49, 5/24/07. First Session Record Vote No. 177. A vote AGAINST the amendment was correct.
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12. Budget Priorities (05/17/2007, Roll Call No. 172)
05/17/2007 -- Fiscal 2008 Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 21), the conference report (final version) of a concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government. Senate Concurrent Resolution 21 laid out a budget plan that reversed many regressive spending policies from previous years and included new funding for education, child care, veteran's programs, State Children's Health Insurance Programs and other important domestic needs. Passed, 52-40, 5/17/07. First Session Record Vote No. 172. A vote FOR the Budget Resolution conference report was correct.
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13. Minimum Wage Increased (01/24/2007, Roll Call No. 23)
01/24/2007 -- Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 (H.R. 2) would raise the federal minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour in several stages over two years. Nearly two-thirds of all minimum wage workers are women. Before the increase, full-time minimum wage workers were paid $10,712 annually or about two-thirds of the amount needed to lift a family of three out of poverty. Senate Republicans leaders refused to allow a floor vote unless a bill including small business tax cuts was attached. Motion to end the filibuster (60 votes required) failed, 54-43, 1/24/07. First Session Record Vote No. 23. A vote FOR the motion to end the filibuster was correct. Ultimately, the increase in the minimum wage was adopted on 5/24/07 as part of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act of 2007 (H.R. 2206).
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14. Higher Education Fellowships (07/31/2008, Roll Call No. 194)
07/31/2008 -- The Higher Education Opportunity Act (H.R. 4137) conference report reauthorizes the Higher Education Act and includes provisions that would make college more affordable, including year-round Pell grants and streamlined financial aid forms. An important component of the bill, sought by the women's community, was the Patsy Mink Graduate Fellowship Program authorizing fellowships with a post graduation teaching requirement for students seeking a doctorate or other terminal degree. The fellowship program is aimed at aiding women, who comprise 39 percent of full-time college faculties even though they frequently hold less-senior instructional positions, or they work at two-year educational institutions rather than research universities. Another provision in H.R. 4137 aligned the Higher Education Act hate crimes categories with those used by the FBI. Passed, 83-8, 7/31/08. Second Session Record Vote No. 194. A vote FOR the conference report was correct. Signed into law on 2/14/08.
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15. Judicial Nominee Leslie Southwick (10/24/2007, Roll Call No. 393)
10/24/2007 -- Nomination of Leslie H. Southwick of Mississippi to the U.S Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, one of many Bush nominees with a poor record on women's rights and civil rights. Before the vote, NOW wrote to the Senate Judiciary Committee, "Judge Southwick has a disturbing record and an appalling lack of sensitivity on women's rights, racial justice, and discrimination based on sexual orientation." The filibuster against his nomination was stopped (i.e. cloture invoked) by a 62-35 vote; Southwick was confirmed 59-38, 10/24/07. First Session Record Vote No. 393. A vote AGAINST Southwick's confirmation was correct.
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16. Prohibiting Pay Discrimination (04/23/2008, Roll Call No. 110)
04/23/2008 -- Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007 (H.R. 2831) to amend title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1967 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 would correct a misinterpretation of Title VII made by the Supreme Court in May 2007 that sharply limits the ability of those who have suffered pay discrimination to seek back pay and other compensation. The Act would reinstate the longstanding rule that treated each and every discriminatory paycheck as a new act of discrimination. 60 votes required. Motion to stop the filibuster (i.e. invoke cloture) failed, 56-42, 4/23/08. Second Session Record Vote No. 110. A vote FOR the motion is correct. As of 10/15/08 the bill had not been adopted in the Senate.
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Legend

  • Y: Voted Yes (No position by organization)
  • N: Voted No (No position by organization)
  • + : Voted With Us
  • - : Voted Against Us
  • P: Voted Present
  • NV: Did Not Vote
  • I: Not in Office
  • S: Speaker (Typically the speaker does not participate in roll call votes.)

  • Alabama Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Shelby (R-AL) - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - -
    Sessions (R-AL) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    Alaska Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Stevens (R-AK) + + + + - - + + - - - - - + - -
    Murkowski (R-AK) + + + + - - + + - - - - - + - -
    Arizona Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Kyl (R-AZ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    McCain (R-AZ) NV NV - - NV NV + + NV NV - NV - NV - NV
    Arkansas Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Lincoln (D-AR) NV NV + + + + + + + + + + + + - +
    Pryor (D-AR) + + + + - + + + + + - + + + - +
    California Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Feinstein (D-CA) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - +
    Boxer (D-CA) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + NV +
    Colorado Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Salazar (D-CO) + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + +
    Allard (R-CO) - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - -
    Connecticut Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Lieberman (I-CT) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - +
    Dodd (D-CT) + + + NV NV + + NV + + + + + + NV +
    Delaware Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Carper (D-DE) + + + + + + + + + + + + NV + + +
    Biden (D-DE) NV NV + NV + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Florida Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Martinez (R-FL) - - - - - - - - - - + - - + - -
    Nelson (D-FL) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Georgia Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Chambliss (R-GA) - - - - - - + - - - - - - + - -
    Isakson (R-GA) - - - - - - + - - - - - - - - -
    Hawaii Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Inouye (D-HI) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Akaka (D-HI) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - +
    Idaho Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Crapo (R-ID) - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - -
    Craig (R-ID) NV NV - - - - - - - - - - - + - -
    Illinois Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Obama (D-IL) NV NV + NV NV + + + + + + + + NV + +
    Durbin (D-IL) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Indiana Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Lugar (R-IN) - + - + - - + + - + + - - + - -
    Bayh (D-IN) + + + + - + + + + + - + + + + +
    Iowa Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Grassley (R-IA) - - - - - - + - - - - - - + - -
    Harkin (D-IA) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Kansas Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Roberts (R-KS) - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - -
    Brownback (R-KS) - - - - - - - - NV - NV NV NV + - -
    Kentucky Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Bunning (R-KY) - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - -
    McConnell (R-KY) - - - - - - + - - - - - - + - -
    Louisiana Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Vitter (R-LA) - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - -
    Landrieu (D-LA) + + - + - - + NV + + - + + + + +
    Maine Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Collins (R-ME) + + + + + + + + + + - + + + - +
    Snowe (R-ME) + + + + + + + + + + + + + P - +
    Maryland Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Mikulski (D-MD) + + + NV + + NV + + + + + + + + +
    Cardin (D-MD) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Massachusetts Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Kerry (D-MA) + + - + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Kennedy (D-MA) + + - NV + + + + + + + + + NV NV +
    Michigan Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Stabenow (D-MI) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Levin (D-MI) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Minnesota Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Coleman (R-MN) - - - - - - + - + + - - + NV - +
    Klobuchar (D-MN) + + + + + + + + + + + + + NV + +
    Mississippi Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Lott (R-MS) - - - - I I I + - - - - - I - I
    Cochran (R-MS) - - - - - + - + - - - - - + - -
    Wicker (R-MS) I I I I - - - I I I I I I + I -
    Missouri Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    McCaskill (D-MO) + + + + + + + + + + - + + + + +
    Bond (R-MO) - - - + - - + - - - - - - + - -
    Montana Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Baucus (D-MT) + + + + + + + + + + - + + + + +
    Tester (D-MT) + + + + + + + + + + - + + + + +
    Nebraska Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Hagel (R-NE) - - - - - - - - + - + - - NV - NV
    Nelson (D-NE) - - - + - - + - + + - + + + - +
    Nevada Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Ensign (R-NV) - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - -
    Reid (D-NV) + + + + - - + + - + + + + + + -
    New Hampshire Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Gregg (R-NH) - - - - - - - + - + - - - + - -
    Sununu (R-NH) - - - - - - - - - - - NV - + - +
    New Jersey Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Menendez (D-NJ) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Lautenberg (D-NJ) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    New Mexico Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Bingaman (D-NM) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Domenici (R-NM) - - - - - - NV - - - + - - NV - -
    New York Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Schumer (D-NY) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Clinton (D-NY) NV NV + NV NV + + + + + + + + NV + +
    North Carolina Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Dole (R-NC) - - - - - - + - - - - NV - + - -
    Burr (R-NC) - - - - - - - + - - - - - + - -
    North Dakota Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Conrad (D-ND) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - +
    Dorgan (D-ND) + + + + + + + + + + - + + + - +
    Ohio Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Brown (D-OH) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Voinovich (R-OH) - - - - - - - - - + + - - + - -
    Oklahoma Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Coburn (R-OK) - - - - - - - - - - - NV - - - -
    Inhofe (R-OK) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    Oregon Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Wyden (D-OR) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Smith (R-OR) + + - - - - + + + + - NV - + - +
    Pennsylvania Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Casey (D-PA) + - - + - - + - + + + + + + + +
    Specter (R-PA) + + + + + + + + + + + - + + - +
    Rhode Island Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Reed (D-RI) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Whitehouse (D-RI) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    South Carolina Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    DeMint (R-SC) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    Graham (R-SC) - - - - - - + - - - + - - + - -
    South Dakota Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Thune (R-SD) - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - -
    Johnson (D-SD) + + NV + - - + NV NV + NV NV NV + - +
    Tennessee Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Alexander (R-TN) - - - - - - + + - - - - - - - -
    Corker (R-TN) - - - - - - + - - - - - - - - -
    Texas Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Cornyn (R-TX) - - - - NV - + - - - - - - + - -
    Hutchison (R-TX) - - - - - - + + - - - - - + - -
    Utah Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Hatch (R-UT) - - - - - - - + - - - NV - + - -
    Bennett (R-UT) - - - - - - - + - - - - - + - -
    Vermont Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Leahy (D-VT) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Sanders (I-VT) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Virginia Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Warner (R-VA) + + - NV NV - + + - + - - + + - -
    Webb (D-VA) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Washington Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Cantwell (D-WA) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Murray (D-WA) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    West Virginia Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Rockefeller (D-WV) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Byrd (D-WV) + + + + - NV NV + + + - + + + - +
    Wisconsin Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Kohl (D-WI) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Feingold (D-WI) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    Wyoming Senators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    Barrasso (R-WY) - - - - - - - I I - I I I + - -
    Thomas (R-WY) I I I I I I I - - I NV - - I I I
    Enzi (R-WY) - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - -
     
     

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