Obama's final budget proposal calls for 5% spending boost
US$4.15t package will mark closing rounds of lengthy fiscal battle with Republicans in Congress
Washington
US President Barack Obama sent the final budget proposal of his presidency to Congress on Tuesday, a US$4.15 trillion package that will mark the closing rounds of a long-running fiscal battle with Republicans in Congress over the nation's spending priorities.
The proposal would boost total spending by 4.9 per cent, mainly as a result of increases in mandatory programmes, most notably Social Security, and a rise in interest payments on the national debt. In keeping with the two-year budget deal struck with Congress in December, the president requested only a slight increase, less than one per cent, in discretionary spending programmes overall, though Republicans still accused him of profligate spending.
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