Republicans pressure Obama over budget, spending

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Republicans are pressuring United States (US) President Barack Obama to unveil a federal budget, saying failure to introduce a blueprint by Monday as required shows the White House is not serious about curbing spending.

House Republicans plan to take up a measure this week that would force the president to identify the date that his fiscal year budget would balance when he submits it to Congress later this year. If the budget does not do so, Mr Obama would have to submit a new one that does.

"This week, the House will act on a measure requiring the president to submit a balanced budget, and we hope he uses this opportunity to offer the American people his plan to do that," House Speaker John Boehner said.

Republicans in the House will soon pass a budget, but "for the fourth time in five years this White House has proven it does not take trillion-dollar deficits seriously enough to submit a budget on time," Mr Boehner added.