Obama urges lawmakers to reach deal

US President Barack Obama is urging lawmakers to work together to reach a deal on a budget to avoid a looming government shutdown.



Republicans and Democrats are at odds over the size of the spending cuts outlined in the budget.



Without a deal, the US government will shut down at midnight on Friday.



Republicans are calling for a far greater reduction in the government budget than Democrats are willing to concede.



The republicans are arguing that the reduction is necessary effort to trim the 1.4 trillion dollar US budget deficit.



Meanwhile, Democrats have accused Republicans of linking social policy agendas to the bill, and say the size of the cuts Republicans demand would hinder the US economic recovery.



Obama says a government shutdown would harm the US economy, keep businesses from getting loans and prevent families from being able to tour national parks.