Obama, GOP steering onto budget collision course

[cbdo2007]

(AP) – 5:35 pm, 2/15/2011

WASHINGTON (AP) — On a collision course over spending, House Republicans advanced a sweeping, $61 billion package of budget reductions on Tuesday despite a veto threat and a warning from President Barack Obama against cuts "that could endanger the recovery."

Congressional Democrats said the Republican cuts would reduce U.S. employment rather than add to it and leapt to criticize when House Speaker John Boehner said "so be it" if federal government jobs are lost.

Spending legislation must be signed into law by March 4 to prevent a government shutdown that neither side says it wants. The GOP bill, separate from the 2012 budget Obama unveiled on Monday, covers spending for the fiscal year that ends on Sept. 30.

The current legislation would affect domestic programs ranging from education and science to agriculture and parks, and it marks the first significant attack on federal deficits by Republicans elected last fall with the support of tea party activists. Passage is likely by week's end in the House, but a frosty reception is expected later in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

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