While speaking to college students in New York on Friday, President Barack Obama warned Republicans against trying to defund his healthcare law and discussed issues regarding education and minorities according to ABC News.
Obama told the group of students that the argument over healthcare law is nothing new, but emphasized the U.S. has been able to cut deficits ever since his signature healthcare policy.
"My position is going to be that we can have a budget that is sensible, that doesn't spend on programs that don't work, but does spend wisely on those things that are going to help ordinary people succeed," he said. "When Congress gets back to Washington, this is going to be a major debate."
Obama also criticized members of the Republican party who are seeking a government shutdown for not proposing a solid economic plan. According to The Associated Press, one third of House Republicans have said they want to see a government shutdown.
In response to the amount of House Republicans working for a shutdown, Obama suggested they focus on "pocketbook, bread-and-butter" issues, like education, instead. He suggested that law schools should cut their programs from three years down to two in order to cut costs.
"This is probably controversial to say, but what the heck. I'm in my second term," he said.
Earlier this year, the Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University announced their launch of a two-year accelerated J.D. program -- the first of its kind.
Although most students asked Obama about education policy, he also addressed issues surrounding the LGBT community and minorities. While he said he expects society to become more accepting, he noted that even if discrimination magically disappeared, the legacy of bigotry would still affect success for Blacks, Latinos, Native Americans, and other minority groups.
Obama's stop in New York was the second-to-last one of his bus tour, which ends tonight in Scranton, Pa. -- hometown of Vice President Joe Biden, who plans to join the president at the event.
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