Awwal 14, 1432 H/Feb 17, 2011, SPA -- The White House on Wednesday urged U.S. Congressional leaders to accept the budget put forth by U.S. President Barack Obama. New White House Press Secretary Jay Carney's comments came one day after Obama proposed a $3.7 trillion budget that offered $1.1 trillion in deficit reductions over 10 years, and on the same day that Republicans in Congress pressed ahead with legislation to immediately cut $61 billion from domestic programs. Despite a veto threat from Obama and harsh criticism from Senate Democrats, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives was on pace to pass a measure that would cut non-defense spending by 14 percent and approve about $1 trillion to keep federal agencies operating through September. Carney defended the budget saying it “seriously addresses” the United States' long-term debt and growth, and is part of America's efforts to “tighten its belts” in order to allow for growth in the future. Despite Republican efforts to not pass the legislation as Obama has proposed it, Carney said that the president “has reason to believe we can get this done.”
