WASHINGTON (AP) - The president and GOP lawmakers are trading accusations of blame over the $85 billion in federal spending cuts that began to take effect yesterday.

In his weekly media address, President Barack Obama blamed Republicans in Congress for the cuts which he says will have "a ripple effect across the economy" that will worsen the longer they stay in place. He says Republicans in Congress refuse to close "a single wasteful tax loophole that helps reduce the deficit."

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers says GOP lawmakers passed budget bills in the House that would have kept the cuts from taking effect. She says Republicans have "done the work and shown that these choices can be made in a responsible, thoughtful way," referring to House bills the GOP has passed with little or no Democratic support.

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