The Senate's first vote on amendments to the budget resolution today was on Senator Conrad's (D-ND) pay-as-you-go (PAY-GO) provision. Under Conrad's amendment, both changes to entitlement spending and any tax cuts would have to be offset in order to pass by a simple majority in the Senate. The amendment was cosponsored by Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Bill Nelson (D-FL). The amendment failed to pass by a vote of 50-49 with Sen. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) absent. While it would have required 60 votes to pass because it was not germane to the budget reconciliation bill - there is a silver lining. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) voted in favor of the amendment - a change in his position on this issue since it was last voted on in March . There are now 51 Senators supporting the reinstatement of full PAY-GO rules. Therefore it is likely these rules will be approved as part of next year's budget resolution.