He warned Republicans against shutting down the government calling it “irresponsible” especially if the budget included items that he would veto.
“You know eventually we’re going to do it anyway, so let’s just do it without too much drama,” Obama said lightly, referring to Congressional Republicans who caved to the White House every time budget season came around.
Obama alluded to some Republicans in Congress who expressed their desire to defund Planned Parenthood, even at the expense of a government shutdown.
“Let’s do it without another round of threats to shut down the government, let’s not introduce unrelated partisan issues,” Obama lectured. “Nobody gets to hold the American economy hostage over their own ideological demands.”
Obama also requested more spending on military, scientific research, infrastructure, education, and public health, warning that he would not sign a budget that included spending cuts that locked in the sequester.
He argued that it was up to Congressional Republicans to keep the “economic momentum” of his second term as president moving forward.
“Pass a budget, prevent a shutdown, don’t wait till the last minute … get it done,” he concluded.
