Obama Welcomes Budget Deal, Calls for Immediate Talks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S President Barack Obama on Wednesday welcomed passage of a stopgap measure to keep funding the government for two more weeks and said he wanted spending cut talks with Republicans to start right away.

"I'm calling on Democratic and Republican leaders of Congress to begin meeting immediately with the Vice President, my Chief of Staff, and Budget Director so we can find common ground on a budget that makes sure we are living within our means," Obama said in a statement.

(Reporting by Alister Bull; Editing by Patricia Zengerle)