What would the US economy look like if Congress passed a budget?

Tourists walk past the U.S. Capitol as the Congress remains gridlocked over legislation to continue funding the federal government September 30, 2013 in Washington, DC. The House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution with language to defund U.S. President Barack Obama's national health care plan two days ago, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has indicated the U.S. Senate will not consider the legislation as passed by the House.

Imagine if Congress passed a budget, there was no argument over increasing the debt ceiling, and the President signed a farm bill, an immigration reform package and a plan to give businesses incentives to hire new employees. What would the economy look like in this rose-colored scenario?

Imagine fairy dust fell over the nation's capital.

In this fantasy world, Congress passed an actual budget and rather than the sequestration, implemented a series of targeted spending cuts and tax hikes that began to tame the deficit and long-term debt.

There was no argument over increasing the debt ceiling, and the President signed a farm bill, an immigration reform package and a plan to give businesses incentives to hire new employees.

What would the economy look like in this rose-colored scenario?

Host A Martinez talks to Marketplace reporter David Gura about how the Congress and the White House might be the biggest stumbling block on the road to recovery.