President Barack Obama is urging Congress to pass a smaller set of spending cuts and tax changes while they hash out a broader budget deal.Lawmakers face a March 1 deadline when automatic, across-the-board spending cuts, already postponed once, take effect.

In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says he still wants a comprehensive package that deals with the debt. But he says that takes time. He's asking lawmakers to move forward with a short-term deal as they continue working on a longer-term solution.

He says if the cuts aren't averted, the military, middle-class families and the economy could suffer.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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