Washington, March 03: US President Barack Obama has signed a stopgap funding measure that would keep the federal government operational for two more weeks.
The bill trims $4 billion from the current-year budget in a bid to keep budget divisions from forcing a government shutdown.
Obama called on his Republican foes in Congress to join Democrats to find common grounds despite fierce divides over spending cuts, budget deficit reduction measures and investment plans, AFP reported.
“I’m pleased that Democrats and Republicans in Congress came together and passed a plan that will cut spending and keep the government running for the next two weeks,” he addressed congressmen on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Democratic-led senators voted 91-9 for the legislation, which includes some four billion in spending cuts. The move came one day after the Republican-led House of Representatives approved it 335-91.
“Living with the threat of a shutdown every few weeks is not responsible, and it puts our economic progress in jeopardy,” Obama stated.
The bill’s passage means there will be no partial shutdown on Friday, however, Congress will face another deadline in two weeks.
He said any eventual agreement should “cut spending and reduce deficits without damaging economic growth or gutting investments in education, research and development that will create jobs and secure our future.”
US Republicans have demanded steep spending cuts but Obama has warned that cuts that are too deep could put the country’s fragile economic recovery at risk
The Republicans drafted the measure, rallying broad Democratic support by using spending cuts included in Obama’s proposed budget and savings from a welcomed ban on funding congressional earmarks.
——–Agencies