Automatic cuts re-emerge as budget battle issue

WASHINGTON (AP) — The broad, automatic spending cuts known as sequestration have re-emerged as a central issue in efforts to end the partial government shutdown and avert a federal default.

Many conservatives view the past seven months of lower spending as one of their rare accomplishments and want it to continue. But some defense hawks see the next round of cuts falling almost entirely on the Pentagon and many Republicans want to shift that burden to domestic programs.