At this point in the state budget process, a few days into the new fiscal year and high-level negotiations still hammering out major sticking points, there isn't much for rank-and-file state lawmakers to do when they're at the Capitol.

We talked with Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, a Brooklyn Democrat, now working on her fifth budget, about how she prepares for this period and what she does to occupy her time.

We also check in with Tusk Strategies Partner Shontell Smith to recognize her budgetary prediction powers and learn how a final budget comes together.