All three deal with money–or rather, how to deal with the lack of it.

1. Budget: The Senate on Wednesday gave an initial OK to use spending cuts and reserve fund cash to make up a $600 million shortfall in this year’s budget. But the real problem will be drawing up next year’s budget–the cuts will likely go way beyond $385 million.

2. Arveschoug-Bird: Controversial legislation to scrap state spending rules should be introduced soon. But Republican infighting over the issue has already started.

3. Transportation: The FASTER initiative, a bill that would raise fees on vehicle registration and car rentals to fund road and bridge repairs, cleared a House committee Tuesday. It had earlier passed the Senate on a party-line vote; the full House will likely take it up next week.