Obama asks Congress for short-term budget fix

FILE - This Feb. 3, 2012 file photo shows the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters in Washington. Trying to ratchet up pressure on Congress, the White House on Friday detailed what it said would be the painful impact on the federal work force and certain government assistance programs if ?large and arbitrary? scheduled government spending cuts are allowed to take place beginning March 1. They include layoffs or furloughs of ?hundreds of thousands? of federal workers, from FBI agents, U.S. prosecutors and food safety inspectors to air traffic controllers, said White House budget officials at a briefing. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

FILE - This Feb. 3, 2012 file photo shows the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters in Washington. Trying to ratchet up pressure on Congress, the White House on Friday detailed what it said would be the painful impact on the federal work force and certain government assistance programs if ?large and arbitrary? scheduled government spending cuts are allowed to take place beginning March 1. They include layoffs or furloughs of ?hundreds of thousands? of federal workers, from FBI agents, U.S. prosecutors and food safety inspectors to air traffic controllers, said White House budget officials at a briefing. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama is urging Congress to pass a smaller set of spending cuts and tax changes while they hash out a broader budget deal.

Lawmakers face a March 1 deadline when automatic, across-the-board spending cuts, already postponed once, take effect.

In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says he still wants a comprehensive package that deals with the debt. But he says that takes time. He's asking lawmakers to move forward with a short-term deal as they continue working on a longer-term solution.

He says if the cuts aren't averted, the military, middle-class families and the economy could suffer.

In the Republican address, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska says the U.S. must ramp up domestic energy production by streamlining regulations, investing in research and approving the Keystone XL pipeline.

___

Online:

Obama address: www.whitehouse.gov

Republican address: www.youtube.com/gopweeklyaddress

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-09-Obama/id-3043a3d83a404e2aaa796a8cf275d3aa

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