A few hours before President Obama held his third prime time news conference, the House and Senate laid the groundwork for what comes next this year, by approving a $3.4 trillion budget framework.

That plan sets the outlines of the debate on budget and tax issues, and will also be the subject of major debate when we get down to the battle over health care reform.

"In these 100 days, we've begun to move this nation in the right direction," said the President on Wednesday.

The next 100 will give us a good indication of whether the Obama Train stays on time, or if it gets off on the wrong track.

There will be many chances to get bogged down in classic Washington policy battles over the budget, taxes, health care, defense spending and so much more.

Defense spending is a good example.  The Secretary of Defense has recommended changing how millions are spent on new weapons systems.

The problem is when you begin to ratchet back on items like the F-22 Stealth Fighter, you aggravate lawmakers in more than 40 states.

That will be a difficult battle.

On health care, there are minefields aplenty (just dial up anyone from the Clinton Years and they will send in their Greatest Hits.)

That budget plan approved Wednesday allows Congress to include health care reforms in the budget reconciliation process, but that also means the provisions will expire in five years.

I wouldn't exactly label that long term health care reform.

Taxes will be closely linked to health care and more, as higher taxes starting in two years seem likely to be approved for those making over $250,000 a year as a couple and $200,000 as an individual.

But the details will prove interesting, especially in the Senate, where the battle lines get blurred a bit between parties.

Then there is spending. 

While the President and Democratic leaders have talked a good game in recent days about reinstating "Pay As You Go" (PAYGO) rules, that's easier said than done.

The irony about the PAYGO limits is that they were very effective, and strongly supported by the Republican Congress during the Clinton years as a way to keep a lid on Bill Clinton's spending plans.  It worked.

It worked so well that Republicans were chafing under the rules by the time that George W. Bush took office.  So after awhile, they let the rules expire, mainly because they were getting in the way of the Bush tax cuts and the Medicare Prescription Drug initiatve.

So many subjects, so many ways to get off message.

The next 100 will be just as much of a test as the first 100 days, if not more.

You can also follow Jamie Dupree on both Twitter and on Facebook.