Obama's budget director: Deficits force ''tough choices''

Budget director Jacob Lew believes the White House will need to cut important programs, due to deficits

By AP/Salon

Published February 6, 2011 4:49PM (EST)

FILE - In this Dec. 6, 2010, file photo President Barack Obama, visiting Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, N.C., speaks about the key to boosting American competitiveness, that it rests in the nation's willingness to invest in a more educated workforce, a deeper commitment to research and technology, and improvements in infrastructure, from roads and airports to high-speed internet. Under pressure to boost the economy the same message will likely be at the center of his State of the Union address Tuesday, Jan. 25. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File) (AP)
FILE - In this Dec. 6, 2010, file photo President Barack Obama, visiting Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, N.C., speaks about the key to boosting American competitiveness, that it rests in the nation's willingness to invest in a more educated workforce, a deeper commitment to research and technology, and improvements in infrastructure, from roads and airports to high-speed internet. Under pressure to boost the economy the same message will likely be at the center of his State of the Union address Tuesday, Jan. 25. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File) (AP)

President Barack Obama's budget director says the White House is making "tough choices" in preparing its new budget plan.

Jacob Lew says cutting overall spending while putting more money toward new initiatives means reducing spending for programs that the administration supports.

As an example, Lew says a Great Lakes environmental cleanup and protection program will be cut by 25 percent. Also being cut: block grants for community development and for community service.

Lew writes in Sunday's New York Times that the economy and job creation won't get the boosts they need if the U.S. is saddled with growing deficits.

Obama plans to send his budget proposal to Congress on Feb. 14. The spending plan is for the budget year that begins Oct. 1.


By AP/Salon

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