Democrats and Republicans in Congress can't agree on a budget, but there's no disagreement about using the House GOP spending plan to highlight an election-year divide.

President Barack Obama has called the GOP blueprint a backward "radical vision" and "thinly veiled social Darwinism" that would let many people struggle while the rich benefit. Republicans say their plan is a sober approach to dealing with out-of-control government spending and higher taxes in an era that demands fiscal austerity.

From town halls to job fairs to meet-and-greets with voters during Congress' two-week recess, Democrats and Republicans focused on the budget in a preview of the seven-month campaign to November.

Both parties say they expect the budget to be an issue in the fall.