A NEW SPENDING CUTS PACKAGE:

Last month conservative backbenchers changed the direction of House GOP fiscal policy by introducing “Operation Offset” — a package of potential savings in government spending that would offset the tens of billions of dollars needed to recover from Hurricane Katrina.

At first, the package was met with disapproval by House Leadership. But weeks later, Hastert and others have embraced parts of the package and are scheduling a vote on the House floor this Thursday that would increase savings by $15 billion. That vote is a direct result of the actions of the House conservatives led by Mike Pence.

Now, a band of fiscal conservatives in the Senate plan to offer a similar proposal. Tomorrow, at 12:30 Senators Ensign, McCain, DeMint, Graham, Sununu, Coburn and Brownback will hold a press conference in which they will unveil the details of their own savings package.

Good.