Budget

In his budget, the president chose to tax one sin more than others.

Republican Rep. Paul Ryan wants to balance the federal budget within 10 years, largely through scrapping Obamacare and remaking Medicaid and Medicare. Like all budgets, the plan is based on assumptions, namely that a balanced budget in such a short time is a good thing and that economic growth will outpace the growth in government spending.

Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, with their second plan for cutting the deficit, get attention because their proposals fall in the middle between political extremes.

For one thing, 63,000 kids would get booted from Head Start.

Congress hasn't always had a hand in crafting federal spending plans.

President Obama will use a deep campaign database and volunteer network in a new nonprofit. Some are concerned because it can take corporate money.

Wealthy, poor and in-between residents tell us how shrinking government would affect their personal finances

The French government has just unveiled a budget for next year that includes major tax hikes for the rich and for businesses. France is the second largest economy in the euro zone and so far it has managed to remain a leader in the debt crisis, rather than a victim -- for the most part anyway.

GOP vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan wants to slash the deficit through major spending cuts. A similar plan is already being carried out in the UK.