Yet if California's budget passes, one in eight Americans will suffer a mood-lowering rise in their sales and income taxes.

ECONOMIST: California's crisis

After the latest round of federal budget wrangling passes (or, more accurately, is further deferred), Washington will take up immigration reform.

FORBES: Opening U.S. Doors Could Be a Life or Death Proposition

Aaron Marshall, Divided Ohio House passes budget full of cuts on heels of rosy revenue news, Plain Dealer (summarizing key items in the House budget).

FORBES: Ohio House Of Representatives Passes Estate Tax Repeal

But ultimately, obviously, the Congress has to come together after each House passes a budget resolution and work at a compromise.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Under the American system, it is Congress which actually passes the budget.

ECONOMIST: Bush's budget bonanza | The

But until the government passes its main budget it will not be able to give any details of a supplementary one.

ECONOMIST: Japanese bonds

The prime minister again promised to honour his pledge not to cut universal benefits for pensioners - such as free bus passes and winter fuel payments - effectively ringfencing this part of the welfare budget.

BBC: Conservative conference: Cameron in benefit cuts warning