President Barack Obama is calling on Congress to increase spending in domestic programs. Obama will attempt budget cuts totaling $17 billion — or about one-half of 1 percent of the $3.4 trillion budget Congress has approved for next year. At the same time, Obama hopes to increase spending in programs he deems productive. White House budget director Peter Orszag said the president's plan for program cuts is just a start. Congress still needs to stanch the growth of the Medicare and Medicaid health care programs for the elderly and the poor. “$17 billion a year is not chump change by anyone's accounting,” Orszag said. Most of the major elements of Obama's budget for next year were released in February, and additional details were coming out Thursday and next week.
