Tuesday in politics: Obama presses Congress on automatic budget cuts, and more

President Barack Obama will hold an event Tuesday morning to press Congress to avert automatic budget cuts due to take effect in less than two weeks.

The event will focus on emergency responders, a group of workers the White House says could be affected if state and local governments lose federal money as a result of the $85 billion in across-the-board cuts known as the sequester.

Vice President Joe Biden participates in a Facebook town hall hosted by “Parents Magazine” at 3:30 p.m. EST Tuesday. The topic: Administration efforts to reduce gun violence.

Biden directed a gun-violence task force following the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., that left 20 children and six adults dead. Task force proposals include bans on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines and universal background checks for all new gun purchases.

The online town hall comes a day after the Democratic-controlled Colorado House of Representatives passed bills requiring background checks for all gun purchases, a ban on ammunition magazines with more than 15 rounds and a measure allowing colleges in the state to ban concealed weapons on campus.

The legislation still must be passed by the Colorado Senate.

And then there is this: Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano will be in Nogales, Ariz., Tuesday to view border security operations and to discuss ongoing efforts to secure the border while facilitating lawful travel and trade.,

Sources: Yahoo News’ The Ticket, Associated Press and Reuters.