Obama house senate meeting 3152013

Appears In:

Why the US could face another brush with default

$85 billion of automatic spending cuts began to take effect in early March, but at least one analyst sees a potential for bigger hurdles ahead.

US President Barack Obama leaves a House Democratic Caucus meeting with (L-R) US Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), (L) US Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), and (2nd L) House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on March 14, 2013, in Washington, DC. During his third day of meetings with members of Congress, Obama met with Senate Republicans and House Democrats to discuss a number of issues facing the US budget situation.

Chip Somodevilla

Getty Images