Obama to governors: Tell Congress to stop spending cuts

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - President Barack Obama urged state governors on Monday to pressure Congress to prevent US$85 billion (S$106 billion) in across-the-board government spending cuts from going into effect on Friday, saying he is willing to reach a compromise with Republicans.

But the president gave no indication that he would try to start negotiations or take steps to blunt the effect of the cuts.

He bemoaned what he described as a confrontational atmosphere in Washington, where budget battles have provoked one near crisis after another since the summer of 2011.

"Some people in Congress reflexively oppose any idea I put forward," he said before a meeting with governors at the White House.