Sen. Jim Inhofe (R.-Okla) has introduced an amendment to the Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act (S 1932) that would require a two-thirds vote of the Senate in order for discretionary spending to escalate over the previous year??¢â???¬â???¢s level. Inhofe said he believes conservatives could defeat discretionary-spending increases if appropriations bills needed 67 votes to pass instead of the current simple majority. His one-sentence amendment states:
??¢â???¬?????Beginning with fiscal year 2007 and thereafter, all non-Defense, non-trust-fund, discretionary spending shall not exceed the previous fiscal year??¢â???¬â???¢s levels, for purposes of the congressional budget process (Section 302 et al of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974), without a two-thirds vote of members duly chosen and sworn.??¢â???¬
