U.S. President Barack Obama is meeting with top Republican and Democratic lawmakers this morning to discuss efforts to avoid across-the-board budget cuts set to take effect within hours.

The White House meeting is largely viewed as symbolic, after dueling bills to avoid the cuts were defeated in the Senate Thursday.

Without an agreement before the Friday deadline, the $85 billion in automatic spending cuts appear inevitable.

President Obama has said the effects of the cuts on federal … [Read More]

—–
Source: VOA News: War and Conflict