NATIONWIDE -- The looming sequester budget cuts have public officials in Washington defending their side of the debate.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick was on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday morning.

He said he sees both sides of the argument but the governor disagrees with Republicans who say the President failed to lead on this issue.

"This notion about not having leadership, this is about leadership. And, the President has shown that a balanced approach, which is about cuts and closing loopholes that enables us to invest in things and grow jobs, is more important and appropriate for us at this time," said Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.

Republican Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana joined Patrick on the show and countered that the sequester was the President's idea in the first place.

He added that United States budget is full of waste and that the President needs come up with what he says are deeper, smarter spending cuts.