President Barack Obama unveiled an election-year U.S. budget plan on Monday that would see a $6.7 trillion increase in the debt over the next decade despite what he called “very difficult” cuts to government spending and programs.
Obama, gearing up for the November 6 general election, said the American economy was on the mend but “not out of the woods yet” and called for more spending on education and infrastructure to boost hiring, downplaying the fiscal austerity message that dominated his 2011 fights with Congress.
The president’s budget proposal for fiscal 2013, which begins on October 1, previews the populist economic themes he will take to the country as he campaigns for re-election this year amid continued high unemployment and fragile growth.
Read more: Pres. Obama calls for new spending in election-year budget
