NPR News 2013-04-11 加文本

NPR News 2013-04-11

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

President Obama says a nearly $ 3.8 trillion budget he announced today shrinks the deficit, while still making needed investments in the country's economy. NPR's Scott Horsley reports the president's plan calls for new taxes, entitlement savings and fresh spending on pre-school and public works.

The president's plan has already drawn criticism from both the left and the right for it's offered to trim spending on medicare and social security and it's called for hundreds of billions of dollars in new taxes. Still Obama says the plan should appeal to century's lawmakers with its balance of deficit reduction and new investment.

And if we can come together, have a serious, reasoned debate, not driven by politics and come together around common sense and compromise, then I am confident we will move this country forward and leave behind something better for our children.

Obama will push that plan tonight when holds a private dinner with a dozen Republican senators. Scott Horsley, NPR News, the White House.

But Congressional Republicans are bracing at the idea of a plan that adds new spending. House Speaker John Boehner.

American people know, you can't continue to spend money that you don't have. The federal government has spent more than what it has brought in in 55 of the last 60 years.

The Obama's budget also calls for deep cuts at Pentagon which plans to reduce the size of its civilian workforce by as much as 50,000 over the next five years. It's part of an effort to implement about $34 billion in cuts.

Two senators have struck a bipartisan deal to expand federal background checks on fire arms. Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey says the checks which currently only cover sales through licensed gun dealers would be extended to all commercial sales.

There are a number of gun control proposals that I think actually would infringe Second Amendment rights and I will tell you categorically that nothing in our amendment prevents the ownership of guns by any lawful person, and I wouldn't support it if it did.

His Democratic colleague Joe Manchin says the compromise can go a long way.

Today's agreement is a first step in a common ground that all of us agree is crucial to keep guns out of dangerous hands and to keep our children safe.

This hour, several groups advocating for immigrant rights are rallying at the U.S. capital in a bid to press lawmakers to swiftly approve comprehensive immigration change. NPR's Amy Walters is on the scene.

There seems to be just a sea of people, white T-shirts, green T-shirts, yellow T-shirts, signs, saying we are the people who banish all together. NPR's Amy Walters is reporting.

Earlier, counter demonstrations were staged by activists who have been pushing for tighter immigration restrictions and expanded border security.

Before the closing bell, Dow was up 129 points at 14,802.

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Former Congressman Anthony Weiner is waving a run for New York City mayor this year. NPR's Joel Rose reports the disgraced Democrat made those comments in an interview published online today.

In a latest story in this weekend's New York Times magazine, Weiner talks kindly about the scandal that brought his political career to a screeching halt in the summer of 2011 when he was caught having lewd interactions with several women online and lying about it. Weiner resigned from Congress, but his marriage to Huma Abedin, a long time aide to Hillary Clinton, survived. And with six months to go before the New York City mayor primary, Weiner says "it's now or maybe never for me". Weiner has spent $100,000 on polling research and still has millions more in his campaign war chest, but acknowledges that some voters will never forgive him. Some people, he says, "just don't have room for a second narrative about me". Joel Rose, NPR News, New York.

First Lady Michelle Obama is taking the administration's campaign for tighter gun control to her family's hometown Chicago. She visited a high school where authorities say 29 current or former students have been shot in the past year. Mrs. Obama challenged business leaders to play a bigger part in reducing gun violence in Chicago's neighborhoods.

A couple who allegedly kidnapped their two young sons after losing full custody, are being held in Florida. Joshua Hakken and his wife Sharyn  were extradited to the U.S. from Cuba to where they had fled by boat. Their children, a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old have been returned to their maternal grandparents who were granted permanent custody of the children last week. The U.S. and Cuba don't have an extradition agreement. But Cuban authorities notified the State Department Sunday of the Hakken's presence on the island.

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, in Washington.