President Obama laid out the details of his budget proposal yesterday, which includes spending cuts, tax increases, and new spending. Heidi Moore, finance and economics editor for the Guardian, offers her take on the winners and losers if this budget passes. 

Decoding Dreams in New Research | Obama's Budget to Be Announced Wednesday

Ezra Klein, columnist at The Washington Post and MSNBC contributor, discusses the latest from Washington, including the proposed cuts to social programs in President Obama's newest budget and the next round of budget negotiations in Congress.

The New York state budget passed just before the April 1st deadline. Casey Seiler, Capitol bureau chief and columnist for the Albany Times-Union, explains the winners and losers in this year's budget, and who spent the most money lobbying last year.

The New York State Senate finished up voting on the state budget in a middle-of-the-night session that ended at 4:30 AM Wednesday. It's part of a long standing Albany tradition of closed door negotiations and overnight voting on budgets and other issues.

The city’s independent budget analysts warned on Wednesday that the fiscal health of the city faces a serious threat: all the city's municipal labor unions are working with expired contracts.

About 1,450 gas stations in and around New York City will be required to be wired to run on back-up generator power under the state budget expected to be passed Thursday.  

At 4:56am Saturday morning, Senate Democrats passed a budget for the first time in four years. Karen Tumulty, national political correspondent for the Washington Post, discusses the dueling Republican and Democratic budget proposals, whether there were any surprises in the 500+ amendments proposed during the Senate negotiations, and other news of the week from Washington.

The New York State budget is crawling to a conclusion, as legislative leaders and Governor Andrew Cuomo continue closed door meetings to try to strike a final deal.

State lawmakers are close to agreeing on a new state spending plan that would include a deal to raise taxes on the wealthy, and raise the minimum wage. They failed to seal a pact Monday night, but say they will be back Tuesday morning to try again.

Obama and Boehner continue to square off over long-term deficits, while Congress tries to come up with a budget. Nancy Cook, budget and tax correspondent for the National Journal, discusses Democrat Patty Murray and Republican Paul Ryan's dueling plans. Plus: After CPAC, the RNC has released a "Growth and Opportunity Plan" (read it below) that includes a call for immigration reform, a shorter primary season, and a turn to "data-driven" campaigning. Will it jumpstart a GOP turnaround?

.@nancook says Murray/Ryan budgets "are more political docs at this point" but "at least they outline the priorities" wny.cc/XkxeGI

— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) March 18, 2013

This week, President Obama has met with nearly every member of Congress, a goodwill effort as Democrats and Republicans try to balance the budget and avoid the government shutdown. Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich reports the latest from D.C.

State lawmakers are hurrying toward getting a budget agreement in place, with a stepped up schedule of conference committees and meetings with Governor Cuomo.

One thing we know, or can be pretty sure about, is that long after there is a new pope at the Vatican, the bickering over the next U.S. Federal Budget will continue, and in Congress there is no pope to hurry things along.

The current divisions in Congress over the budget and the sequester drama may be another opportunity for Congressman Ryan to showcase his conservative cred. Does the number two from the Romney 2012 presidential campaign now want to be number one?

Senate Republicans are pushing for middle class tax breaks in the new state budget, including a return to the STAR property tax rebate checks curtailed in 2009.