Obama urges Congress to end budget ‘gridlock’

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Saturday urged members of Congress to reach a short term budget agreement and avert a government shutdown.

“For the sake of our people and our economy, we cannot allow gridlock to prevail,” Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address.

Congress has to reach agreement on some kind of short-term spending plan before Friday, when current spending legislation runs out. If a short-term plan is not passed, federal agencies will close.

Approval of a short-term agreement would allow lawmakers time to work on a longer-term measure to fund the government through Sept. 30, the end of the 2011 fiscal year.

The president said he is willing to discuss spending cuts as long as they don’t damage America’s ability to compete in the world economy by reducing spending on education or infrastructure.

“I look forward to working with members of both parties to produce a responsible budget that cuts what we can’t afford, sharpens America’s competitive edge in the world, and helps us win the future,” he said.

In the Republican address, Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio said there is an “urgency” to rein in federal spending that will require new tax policies and changes to entitlement programs.

“Our goal as Republicans is to make sensible reductions in this spending and create a better environment for job growth, not to shut down the government,” he said. “Getting our debt and deficits under control is the first step we can take.”

Obama cautioned against making cuts that are too drastic now, when the priority should be keeping the government open.

“Both Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and Senate have said they believe it’s important to keep the government running while we work together on a plan to reduce our long-term deficit,” he said.