[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 130 (Thursday, November 16, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11064-S11065]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INHOFE:
  S. 4062. A bill to freeze non-defense discretionary spending at 
fiscal year 2007 levels effective in fiscal year 2008; to the Committee 
on the Budget.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I am here to work on what should be an 
area of widespread, bipartisan agreement with the introduction of the 
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2006. Many, many people in both parties 
profess the need to reduce our Government's spending. When I hear 
individuals waxing poetic about the need for fiscal discipline, I 
usually offer a simple, one-sentence amendment to restore some 
discretionary spending discipline, but you should see my friends on the 
other side of the aisle run for the hills when someone proposes we 
actually do something about it. When the moment comes to move from mere 
words to real action on fiscal discipline, over and over I have 
confronted nearly united opposition to it on the other side of the 
aisle.
  Last year we did make some progress on our shared goal. We actually 
held last year's non-security discretionary spending down below the 
rate of inflation. Let me repeat that: We actually held last year's 
non-security spending, over which we had discretion, down below the 
rate of inflation.
  Again, we are faced with the same task.
  The President agrees that we must hold down spending and has proposed 
to hold down discretionary spending. The Budget Committee agrees we 
must hold down spending and has proposed to hold down discretionary 
spending. The American people agree we must hold down spending. Senator 
Dorgan has said that we need to provide spending cuts in a significant 
manner. Senator Feingold has said, ``We also need to continue to cut 
spending in Federal programs. . . .'' Senator Levin stated how we need 
to cut spending when he advocated that ``Discretionary spending . . . 
[be] frozen for 5 years.'' It seems that both parties agree that we 
must hold down discretionary spending.
  Well, let's hold down discretionary spending.
  I will read the one sentence that is really the entirety of this 
bill. I'm sure everyone in this body is familiar with it now--nearly 
all of my friends on the other side of the aisle have voted against it 
twice in the last twelve months, usually at a time when they are 
promoting fiscal discipline. It says: ``Beginning with fiscal year 2008 
and thereafter, all non-defense, non-trost-fund, discretionary spending 
shall not exceed the previous fiscal year's levels without a two-thirds 
vote.'' This is simply a cap on discretionary spending.
  It is very simple, cut and dry, something that can pass. I hope those 
individuals who have a more complicated approach to this will recognize 
this is something that is doable.
  I want to focus briefly on one point in the President's most recent 
budget proposal. President Bush wisely sent us a budget that encourages 
long-term fiscal constraint by including several budget process and 
program oversight reforms, including setting enforceable limits on 
total spending to stabilize budget growth in the long-term. Simply put, 
the President proposes that we put in place a process by which we can 
control discretionary spending.
  I have been working on a solution to the massive problem of 
government spending with this simple language for quite some time. I 
have actually wanted to offer it previously on appropriations bills, 
but held off. I offered it as an amendment last November and again this 
year in March. It has been defeated every time I offer it--every single 
time. It's usually defeated by nearly unanimous opposition on the other 
side of the aisle. And what's more, they usually vote against it in a 
debate during which they cry foul of deficits and declare the need for 
fiscal restraint. It's astounding how much rhetoric we hear about the 
need to hold down spending and the need for fiscal

[[Page S11065]]

restraint. I guess for some, it truly is much easier said than done.
  So, I am offering it again.
  I will restate the crux of this bill, the Fiscal Responsibility Act 
of 2006, one more time before I close: ``Beginning with fiscal year 
2008 and thereafter, all non-defense, non-trust-fund, discretionary 
spending shall not exceed the previous fiscal year's levels without a 
two-thirds vote.'' Folks, it's that easy. I ask that you join me in 
holding down spending.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 4062

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Fiscal Responsibility Act of 
     2006''.

     SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL ENFORCEMENT.

       (a) Enforcement.--Section 312 of the Congressional Budget 
     Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 643) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(g) Excess Non-Defense Discretionary Federal Spending 
     Reduction Point of Order.--
       ``(1) In general.--It shall not be in order in the House of 
     Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill or 
     resolution (or amendment, motion, or conference report on 
     that bill or resolution) that would cause spending for non-
     defense, non-trust-fund, discretionary spending for the 
     budget year to exceed the amount of spending for such 
     activities in fiscal year 2007.
       ``(2) Allocations.--The allocations under section 302(a) 
     shall include allocations for the amount described in 
     paragraph (1).
       ``(3) Super majority waiver or appeal.--This subsection may 
     be waived or suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative 
     vote of two-thirds of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An 
     affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Members of the Senate, 
     duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the Senate to 
     sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of 
     order raised under this subsection.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--This section shall apply beginning 
     with fiscal year 2008.
                                 ______