UPDATED 7:44 AM EST, February 9, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is urging Congress to pass a smaller set of spending cuts and tax changes while they hash out a broader budget deal.
Lawmakers face a March 1 deadline when automatic, across-the-board spending cuts, already postponed once, take effect.
In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says he still wants a comprehensive package that deals with the debt. But he says that takes time. He's asking lawmakers to move forward with a short-term deal as they continue working on a longer-term solution.
