Obama's budget targets tax loopholes of rich
US president's blueprint to shield the middle class, grow economy and cut deficit is mocked by Republican leader as 'left-wing wish-list'
To Republican mockery, President Barack Obama rolled out a US$3.77 trillion budget yesterday that laid out his battle lines in a new fiscal showdown in Washington, but irked liberal allies.
Obama said his blueprint for fiscal year 2014 would shield the middle class by closing tax loopholes that help the rich, would grow the economy, cut the deficit, train future American workers and protect senior citizens.
"For years, the debate in this town has raged between reducing our deficits at all costs and making the investments necessary to grow our economy," Obama said in the White House Rose Garden.
"This budget answers that argument, because we can do both. We can grow our economy, and shrink our deficits."
Republicans, however, immediately rejected Obama's plans. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell branded them as a "left-wing wish-list".