US President Barack Obama is warning the US economy cannot afford a period of weak government, as divisions continue over the country's spending plans.

Obama said such a shutdown would disrupt the US economy, as it recovers from severe recession. He said there's no reason a deal on the budget can't be struck, and that he's ready to negotiate with Republicans over spending cuts.

Barack Obama, US President, said, "It would be inexcusable of us to not be able to take care of last year's business. Keep in mind we're dealiing with a budget that could have gotten done three months ago, could have gotten done two months ago, could have gotten done last month when we are this close, simply because of politics." "We can't have a 'my way or the highway' approach to this problem, because if we start applying that approach where I've got to get a hundred and ten percent of everything that I want or else I'm going to shut down the government, we're not going to get anything done this year and the American people are going to be the ones that suffer."