Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) introduced an amendment to the budget resolution today to fully reinstate pay-as-you-go (PAY-GO) rules. This amendment would require both changes to entitlement spending and any tax cuts to be offset in order to pass by a simple majority in the Senate.

Unfortunately, this rational measure that would help reduce deficits substantially was barely beaten back. It lost in a 50-50 vote, with VP Dick Cheney serving as the tie-breaker. Senators who broke with their party and supported the amendment were Chafee (R-RI), Collins (R-ME), Snowe (R-ME), McCain (R-AZ), and Voinovich (R-OH). Jeffords (I-VT), also voted in support of the PAY-GO amendment.