Although the American public is giving Congress some of its lowest ratings ever received, Congress has done an admirable job in respect worth pointing out: adherence to the principles of PAYGO. Between the adoption of the conference agreement on May 16, and the start of fiscal year 2008, nine laws affecting budget authority, outlays, or revenues have been enacted, including:

• Food and Drug Administration Amendments
• Extending Andean Trade Preferences
• Extending Transitional Medical Assistance
• Implementing 9/11 Commission Recommendations
• College Cost Reduction and Access Act
• Extending Trade Adjustment Assistance
• TMA, Abstinence Education, and QI Programs Extension

In every instance, Congress has stuck to its guns on PAYGO. But its commitment to PAYGO will be tested in the weeks ahead, as Congress gets ready to adopt a one-year AMT patch and a package of extenders. To comply with PAYGO, these measure will need to raise revenues by the same amount that they cost. A dissenting view of PAYGO issues from -- of all people -- the administration's budget director, Jim Nussle: We think PAYGO for taxes is a little bit perverse and doesn't recognize that it's really your money, it's not the government's money. Nussle forgot to say this at his confirmation hearing this summer, for some reason.