Government Spending Debate Affects Politics, Economy

NPR | Jan. 31, 2013 4:31 a.m. | Updated: Jan. 31, 2013 9:03 a.m.

Contributed By:

Renee Montagne, Scott Horsley

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The government is set to make additional cuts to spending, including defense, this spring, unless lawmakers agree on an alternative plan to address the deficit. So far, there's little agreement in Washington about the optimum size or shape of government spending.