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First Word: Moving on, or not?

After the sequestration deadline came and went, leaders in both parties looked ahead to the next budget deadline and expressed a mutual desire to avoid any
President Obama in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on March 4, 2013. (Photo by Carolyn Kaster/AP)
President Obama in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on March 4, 2013.

After the sequestration deadline came and went, leaders in both parties looked ahead to the next budget deadline and expressed a mutual desire to avoid any sort of government shutdown. Speaker John Boehner said the House will pass a spending measure this week to keep the government running through the end of the fiscal year -- right now, funding is set to expire at the end of March.

Obama told reporters on Friday that he hoped "after some reflection, as members of Congress start hearing from constituents who are being negatively impacted… that they step back and say, all right, is there a way for us to move forward on a package of entitlement reforms, tax reform, not raising tax rates, identifying programs that don't work, coming up with a plan that's comprehensive and that makes sense."

Meanwhile, Mitt Romney gave his first interview since his failed White House bid, and he's been struggling with the loss: "It kills me not to be there, not to be in the White House doing what needs to be done.”

Here's  a look at the stories shaping tonight's rundown:

  • Seeking compromise, President reaches out to rank and file
  • SNL takes on sequester