Awwal 28, 1432 H/March 3, 2011, SPA -- US Vice President Joe Biden was to meet with lawmakers from both political parties Thursday to begin thrashing out some common ground in a protracted battle over the country's federal budget and government spending, dpa reported. Congress and the White House have until March 18 to agree on a budget for the government or face a partial shutdown of federal services. A shutdown had been looming Friday, but lawmakers on Wednesday approved a two-week extension to give them more time. Obama's Democrats and opposing Republicans are at sharp odds over how far to cut government spending this year to begin tackling the country's massive budget deficit, forecast to reach 1.65 trillion dollars this year. The Republican-controlled House has pushed for 60 billion dollars in cuts below 2010 spending levels, but Obama and the Democratic- controlled Senate have warned that overly aggressive cuts will endanger the US economic recovery. Biden has been tasked by Obama with brokering a deal. The vice president was to hold a private meeting Thursday afternoon with the leadership of the House and Senate, the White House said. -- SPA
