The new Senate pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rule adopted last week as part of the budget resolution makes some key changes to the previous version, created in the FY04 Budget Resolution. It:

• creates a point of order against legislation that would worsen the deficit for any of the following time periods: FY07, FY08, the five-year period from FY08-12, or the five-year period from FY13-17
• remains in effect through 2017
• replaces the point of order against legislation that would increase the deficit beyond the level assumed in the most recently agreed to conference report on the budget

For commentary on the test ahead for Congress regarding compliance with its new PAYGO rules, see: A March 23 paper from the Center on Budget A March 19 masthead editorial in the Washington Post