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Data through Sep 17, 2026Compare members
The Vote Ledger
PS

Paul Martin Simon

Senator from Illinois
SENATEDEMOCRAT1975–1997ID S000423
Compare
LegislationHEADLINE
91%with Dems
of 4,274 votes
Nominations
97%with Dems
of 31 · confirmations only
All contested
91%with Dems
of 4,305 · both combined
Steepest move
−9 pts
1987 → 1989
still a Democrat

Career arc

Legislation leads. Each point is one Congress: how often they sided with the Democratic majority on contested bills, resolutions and amendments.

100%75%50%25%0%sides with Democrats ↑sides with Republicans ↓1975198119871993
1995–96104th Congress
Sat as a Democrat
89.2%with Democrats
legislation only
Votes for this Congress are open below
Steepest move: 1987 → 1989, −9 pts — while still a Democrat.
Sat as a DemocratSat as a RepublicanVotes available below

Votes

DateBillVoteTypeCastSided with
Oct 3, 1996H.R. 3539A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize programs of the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes.LEGISLATIONNAYNEITHER · NOT SCORED
Oct 3, 1996H.R. 3539A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize programs of the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes.LEGISLATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Oct 3, 1996H.R. 3539A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize programs of the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes.LEGISLATIONNAYDEM MAJORITY
Full textA bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize programs of the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes.Party majoritiesDemocrats Nay · Republicans YeaCounts toward scoreYes — the parties split.
Where this lands
NAYSided with the Democratic majority
Sep 30, 1996H.R. 3539A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize programs of the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes.LEGISLATIONYEABOTH · NOT SCORED
Sep 30, 1996H.R. 4278A bill making omnibus consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other purposes.LEGISLATIONYEABOTH · NOT SCORED
Sep 26, 1996H.R. 1833A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to ban partial-birth abortions.LEGISLATIONNAYDEM MAJORITY
Sep 24, 1996H.R. 1350A bill to amend the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to revitalize the United States-flag merchant marine, and for other purposes.LEGISLATIONYEABOTH · NOT SCORED
Sep 24, 1996H.R. 1350To prohibit the use of funds received as a payment or subsidy for lobbying or public education and to prohibit the use of certain funds received as a payment or subsidy for making political contributions for the purpose of influencing an election.LEGISLATIONNAYREP MAJORITY
Sep 24, 1996H.R. 1350To clarify the term fair and reasonable compensation and for other purposes.LEGISLATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
9 most recent roll calls shown · 606 contested votes scored in the 104th CongressAll votes this Congress →

By policy area

career · legislation
Economics and Public Finance88.8% · 1,122 votes
Government Operations and Politics93.4% · 392 votes
Armed Forces and National Security94.3% · 333 votes
International Affairs93.2% · 311 votes
Congress93.9% · 277 votes
Labor and Employment96.9% · 161 votes
Agriculture and Food86.5% · 141 votes
Energy84.8% · 132 votes
Transportation and Public Works87.1% · 124 votes
Foreign Trade and International Finance89% · 118 votes
Crime and Law Enforcement88.2% · 102 votes
Taxation90.5% · 95 votes
Education98.9% · 93 votes
Social Welfare96.1% · 76 votes
Environmental Protection89.6% · 67 votes
Public Lands and Natural Resources90.9% · 66 votes
Health95.4% · 65 votes
Commerce95.2% · 63 votes
Finance and Financial Sector91.4% · 58 votes
Immigration91.3% · 46 votes
Science, Technology, Communications90.9% · 44 votes
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues97.1% · 35 votes
Housing and Community Development97.1% · 35 votes
Law96.6% · 29 votes
Water Resources Development50% · 16 votes
Industrial relations92.9% · 14 votes
Families100% · 11 votes
Native Americans100% · 11 votes
Too few contested votes to score
Independent regulatory commissions— · 9 votes
Lobbying— · 9 votes
Private Legislation— · 8 votes
Depletion allowances— · 7 votes
Electronic surveillance— · 7 votes
Black lung— · 6 votes
Mines and mineral resources— · 6 votes
Mortgages— · 6 votes
Vietnamese Conflict— · 6 votes
Arts, Culture, Religion— · 5 votes
Constitutional amendments— · 4 votes
Government securities— · 4 votes
Home repair and improvement— · 4 votes
Income tax— · 4 votes
Municipal finance— · 4 votes
Political participation— · 4 votes
Congressional-Presidential relations— · 3 votes
Credit— · 3 votes
Financial disclosure— · 3 votes
Indian claims— · 3 votes
International economic relations— · 3 votes
Postal rates and revenues— · 3 votes
Public works— · 3 votes
Social Sciences and History— · 3 votes
Conferences— · 2 votes
Contested elections— · 2 votes
Cultural centers— · 2 votes
Embargo— · 2 votes
Executive reorganization— · 2 votes
Life insurance— · 2 votes
Museums— · 2 votes
Printing— · 2 votes
Revenue sharing— · 2 votes
Territories (U.S.)— · 2 votes
Youth— · 2 votes
Animals— · 1 vote
Aquaculture— · 1 vote
Barber and beauty shops— · 1 vote
Chemicals— · 1 vote
Congressional oversight— · 1 vote
Day care— · 1 vote
Disabled— · 1 vote
Domestic relations— · 1 vote
Droughts— · 1 vote
Earthquakes— · 1 vote
Emergency Management— · 1 vote
Government corporations— · 1 vote
Heating— · 1 vote
Impeachments— · 1 vote
Import restrictions— · 1 vote
Intergovernmental relations— · 1 vote
Lakes— · 1 vote
Monuments and memorials— · 1 vote
Noise— · 1 vote
Political representation— · 1 vote
Postal service— · 1 vote
Reclamation of land— · 1 vote
Refugees— · 1 vote
Rehabilitation— · 1 vote
Right to counsel— · 1 vote
Rivers— · 1 vote
Sports and Recreation— · 1 vote

They also voted in 67 areas where the parties never split, so there is nothing to score — never on a contested question: Age and employment, Agriculture in foreign trade, Auditing, Aviation insurance, Awards, medals, prizes, Broadcasting, Cemeteries and funerals, Checks, Child abuse, Citizenship, Clergy, Climate, Clothing industry, Commemorations, Commodity control, Conservation of natural resources, Contempt of legislative bodies, Corporations, Customs administration, Dairy industry, District of Columbia, Emigration, Federal advisory bodies, Federal-state relations, Fire fighters, Fishes, Gambling, Gold, Government life insurance, Government property, Government publications, Human rights, Insect control, Interest, Intergovernmental fiscal relations, International agencies, Leases, Libraries, Lotteries, Marine mammal protection, Marine resources conservation, Motor vehicles, Municipal budgets, Municipal home rule, Municipal politics and government, Narcotics, National emblems, Nuclear facilities, Nuclear weapons, Photovoltaic power systems, Political prisoners, Power resources, Prices, Public records, Real estate business, Real property, Recall of officials, Recreation areas, Referendum, Rural conditions, Salaries, Solar energy, Strategic materials, Terrorism, Tobacco, Water conservation, Witnesses.

Blue is the share of votes siding with the Democratic majority; the tick marks 50%.

Service record

11 Congresses
94th · 197599th · 1985104th · 1995
Democrat · House · IL94th–98th
Democrat · Senate · IL99th–104th
Term datesexact
Members · Illinois
PS

Paul Martin Simon

Senator from Illinois
SENATED1975–199711 CONGRESSES
Compare
LegislationHEADLINE
91.2%with Democrats
of 4,274 votes · 8.8% with Republicans
Nominations97%of 31 votes
All contested91%of 4,305 · combined
Steepest move−9 pts1987→89, as a Democrat

Career arc

10050019751995
1995–96 · 104th · Democrat89.2%

Legislation leads. Tap a point to read that Congress.

Votes

Democratic majorityNay
Republican majorityYea
Counts toward scoreYes
Open roll call
Latest 6 shown · 606 contested votes scored in the 104th

By policy area

career
Economics and Public Finance88.8% · 1,122
Government Operations and Politics93.4% · 392
Armed Forces and National Security94.3% · 333
International Affairs93.2% · 311
Congress93.9% · 277
Labor and Employment96.9% · 161
Agriculture and Food86.5% · 141
Energy84.8% · 132
Transportation and Public Works87.1% · 124
Foreign Trade and International Finance89% · 118
Crime and Law Enforcement88.2% · 102
Taxation90.5% · 95
Education98.9% · 93
Social Welfare96.1% · 76
Environmental Protection89.6% · 67
Public Lands and Natural Resources90.9% · 66
Health95.4% · 65
Commerce95.2% · 63
Finance and Financial Sector91.4% · 58
Immigration91.3% · 46
Science, Technology, Communications90.9% · 44
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues97.1% · 35
Housing and Community Development97.1% · 35
Law96.6% · 29
Water Resources Development50% · 16
Industrial relations92.9% · 14
Families100% · 11
Native Americans100% · 11
Independent regulatory commissions— · 9
Lobbying— · 9
Private Legislation— · 8
Depletion allowances— · 7
Electronic surveillance— · 7
Black lung— · 6
Mines and mineral resources— · 6
Mortgages— · 6
Vietnamese Conflict— · 6
Arts, Culture, Religion— · 5
Constitutional amendments— · 4
Government securities— · 4
Home repair and improvement— · 4
Income tax— · 4
Municipal finance— · 4
Political participation— · 4
Congressional-Presidential relations— · 3
Credit— · 3
Financial disclosure— · 3
Indian claims— · 3
International economic relations— · 3
Postal rates and revenues— · 3
Public works— · 3
Social Sciences and History— · 3
Conferences— · 2
Contested elections— · 2
Cultural centers— · 2
Embargo— · 2
Executive reorganization— · 2
Life insurance— · 2
Museums— · 2
Printing— · 2
Revenue sharing— · 2
Territories (U.S.)— · 2
Youth— · 2
Animals— · 1
Aquaculture— · 1
Barber and beauty shops— · 1
Chemicals— · 1
Congressional oversight— · 1
Day care— · 1
Disabled— · 1
Domestic relations— · 1
Droughts— · 1
Earthquakes— · 1
Emergency Management— · 1
Government corporations— · 1
Heating— · 1
Impeachments— · 1
Import restrictions— · 1
Intergovernmental relations— · 1
Lakes— · 1
Monuments and memorials— · 1
Noise— · 1
Political representation— · 1
Postal service— · 1
Reclamation of land— · 1
Refugees— · 1
Rehabilitation— · 1
Right to counsel— · 1
Rivers— · 1
Sports and Recreation— · 1

Also voted in 67 areas where the parties never split — never on a contested question: Age and employment, Agriculture in foreign trade, Auditing, Aviation insurance, Awards, medals, prizes, Broadcasting, Cemeteries and funerals, Checks, Child abuse, Citizenship, Clergy, Climate, Clothing industry, Commemorations, Commodity control, Conservation of natural resources, Contempt of legislative bodies, Corporations, Customs administration, Dairy industry, District of Columbia, Emigration, Federal advisory bodies, Federal-state relations, Fire fighters, Fishes, Gambling, Gold, Government life insurance, Government property, Government publications, Human rights, Insect control, Interest, Intergovernmental fiscal relations, International agencies, Leases, Libraries, Lotteries, Marine mammal protection, Marine resources conservation, Motor vehicles, Municipal budgets, Municipal home rule, Municipal politics and government, Narcotics, National emblems, Nuclear facilities, Nuclear weapons, Photovoltaic power systems, Political prisoners, Power resources, Prices, Public records, Real estate business, Real property, Recall of officials, Recreation areas, Referendum, Rural conditions, Salaries, Solar energy, Strategic materials, Terrorism, Tobacco, Water conservation, Witnesses.

Service record

94th · 1975104th · 1995
Democrat94th–98th
Democrat99th–104th

Party switchers

John Alexander LoganD→R · IL · 40thWesley Wade WatkinsD→R · OK · 105thBen Nighthorse CampbellD→R · CO · 104th
AD320 × 50 · Anchor