Obama to appeal to Democrats in 2015 budget

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is releasing a new budget plan that strives for unity among Democrats rather than compromise with Republicans, dropping cuts to Social Security and seeking more money for infrastructure, education and job training.

Obama's almost $4 trillion budget plan is likely to have a short shelf life, however. It comes just three months after a hard-won, two-year bipartisan pact had set the parameters for most of this election year's budget work.

Obama will call for an additional $56 billion on top of the 2015 limit set by December's agreement for the budget year beginning in October. The rise is a combination of Pentagon readiness with domestic initiatives like boosting manufacturing hubs, cutting energy waste, job training and enhancing pre-school programs. Republicans are likely to balk at the increase.