http://edition.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/03/11/obama.spending.cuts/By Ed Hornick, CNN
March 11, 2011 -- Updated 2032 GMT (0432 HKT)
President Barack Obama said Friday that another two-week extension of government funding to avert a shutdown was likely, but he called further short-term extensions "irresponsible."
Obama also reiterated his threat to veto a spending measure that makes deep cuts in non-military discretionary spending sought by House Republicans, saying that reducing money for Head Start teachers, Pell Grants and other education programs makes no sense.
"There are going to be certain things that House Republicans want that I will not accept," Obama said of a House bill that calls for $57 billion in cuts in current spending levels from the 12 percent of the federal budget devoted to non-military discretionary funds.
The Senate rejected the House bill this week, as well as an alternate proposal from Senate Democrats that would cut $6.5 billion from current spending levels for the rest of fiscal year 2011, which ends on September 30.