Budget Enforcement Procedures: Senate Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Rule

Publication Date: October 2002

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

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Abstract:

The Senate "pay-as-you-go," or PAYGO, rule generally requires that any legislation increasing direct spending or reducing revenues be offset. A motion to waive the rule requires an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the membership (i.e., 60 Senators if no seats are vacant). The rule expired on September 30, 2002. On October 16, however, the Senate agreed to restore and extend the PAYGO point of order through April 15, 2003. Beginning in 1993, six points of order under the PAYGO rule have been raised against an entire bill or an amendment. Of these six points of order, four were sustained and two fell upon the adoption of a waiver motion. This report will be updated as developments warrant.